Even if the golden age of rallying is long behind us, the WRC championship has become a motor sport staple. As you know, Sébastien Loeb has won the World Rally Championship title 9 times in a row, with 80 races to his name. He’s one of the best drivers in the world, and some consider him to be the number one driver of all time.

Rallying is a very popular discipline among motoring enthusiasts, especially when you see the jumps that cars make on special stages around the world. Just imagine the scene: you’re going flat out at nearly 200 km/h, and you take a jump that keeps you suspended in the air for over 60 meters, with the engine at full throttle throughout the aerial phase. It’s pure bliss. But let’s get back to business: the best steering wheels for sim-racing. I’ve put together a list of 6 entries from the offerings of several brands.

The Fanatec CSL Elite WRC

Fanatec offers a wide range of sim-racing peripherals, including wheels for virtually all motorsport disciplines. Among the wheels on the Fanatec store is the CSL Elite WRC, an officially licensed wheel for the World Rally Championship. The design of this wheel is a mix between sober and flashy, with a brushed aluminum faceplate, the WRC logo in the center and controls spread across the front, with alcantara all around, and also big paddles (which aren’t magnetic, unfortunately) in bright orange and the logo of a tire on mud. Personally, I prefer sober wheels, but I have to admit that the context calls for one like the CSL Elite WRC.

Other design elements include the orange stitching on the alcantara, and the small display at the top of the rollbar. I think it’s well placed, limiting downward eye movement and loss of field of vision on the road.

This steering wheel is perfect for WRC racing, and the Fanatec ecosystem supports it very well in this. You have several DD bases developing different powers, making them ideal for rallying depending on your level. Price-wise, the CSL Elite WRC starts at €220 with the QR2 Lite, but if you’ve got a big base, like the Clubsport DD+, I’d recommend the aluminum QR2. And last but not least, this steering wheel is compatible with all platforms, which I must say is quite rare.

Le Fanatec Podium Monte Carlo

Now it’s time for the best rally steering wheel on the market today. It’s the Fanatec Podium Monte Carlo, designed with Sparco for fans of the WRC and the Monaco Rally.

This steering wheel is based on the Sparco R383, with the addition of the carbon-fiber Monte Carlo Podium hub that will equip the Ford Puma WRCs of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Design-wise, it’s simply stunning, with an aluminum frame, alcantara all over the rollbar, a blue Sparco stripe across the top and no paddles at the rear. As far as I’m concerned, it’s Fanatec’s attention to detail that makes its steering wheels magnificent. And why is that? Well, it’s simple: rally cars don’t need paddles, even if the latest models are equipped with them, because everything happens on the sequential stick.

At the rear is the FIA-certified QR2 Pro, making it suitable for use on real cars. Price-wise, this Podium Monte Carlo retails for €700, making it the most expensive offering on this list, but clearly the most realistic and immersive of the lot. If you’re on a tight budget and want some palettes, you can have ClubSport Rally Sweden for €600, offering virtually the same benefits, plus Xbox compatibility, as Monte Carlo only works on PC and Playstation.

The Moza CS V2P

Like Fanatec, Moza offers a wide range of sim-racing peripherals designed to satisfy the needs of all virtual pilots. In the brand’s catalog, we can find the CS V2P, which is a mid-range, fully-round steering wheel. Its 33 cm diameter is a little large, but it can easily be used for rallying.

The design of the wheel is sober, with a brushed aluminum faceplate, leather all around and controls that are on a hub at the rear. On the front, there are a total of 10 controls, including 6 mechanical buttons, and 2 forged carbon-fiber magnetic paddles at the rear, which are a good size.

The ergonomics of Moza’s wheel are excellent, which should make your life easier in rallying. What’s more, the wheel retails for around €280 (depending on the retailer in France), which I think isn’t too expensive. However, there’s a catch, and that’s compatibility. Apart from the R3 base, which works on Xbox and PC, the rest of Moza’s Direct Drive bases are exclusive to computers.

The Thrustmaster Evo Racing 32R Leather

Thrustmaster is a gaming legend, with peripherals that go back a long way. These days, the brand focuses on driving simulation and aircraft piloting. Speaking of driving, we’ve got a steering wheel for rallying: the Evo Racing 32R Leather.

This steering wheel has a diameter of 32 cm, with leather on the hoop. It’s truly beautiful, and of high quality I must say, which is a slight change from Thrustmaster’s usual style. The faceplate is brushed aluminum, and the controls are on a hub at the rear. In fact, the resemblance with Moza’s CS V2P is quite obvious. The front panel features 14 controls, with 2 magnetic paddles at the rear.

Now for the price. The Evo Racing is priced at around €300, but compatibility pales into insignificance when it comes to platforms. Only the T598 DD base is supported by the PS5, and for the rest of the range, it’s consoles with belt-driven peripherals, and the T818 for PC only.

The Simagic GTS

Let’s move on to the Simagic GTS, a very attractive and racing steering wheel. The design is minimalist, despite the red accents, notably the red stitching. The front end features a kind of faceplate/hub, with all controls distributed around the outside. The result: superb ergonomics, with buttons very close to your fingers.

At the rear, there are 2 magnetic paddles with adjustable spacing, offering a superb racing feel, in addition to the proven reliability of this technology. With a diameter of 30 cm, the GTS is ideal for rally racing, but only on PC. As you know, Simagic’s DD bases are only compatible with Windows computers, which is a shame for console racers.

In terms of price, the Simagic GTS retails for €400 in leather, and €420 in alcantara. Personally, I’m in favor of leather, but alcantara is an option if you’re driving with gloves.

The Logitech RS Round Wheel

Logitech is a major player in the gaming peripherals industry. Its range of keyboards and mice is considered by many to be the best on the market, and I’m not going to argue with that. Logitech has become the go-to for gaming peripherals enthusiasts, with its premium feel and high performance.

The Swiss brand has been present on the sim-racing market for a very long time, focusing mainly on the entry-level segment. But this has changed with the launch of its first Direct Drive base, the Pro Racing Wheel. With 11 nm of constant torque, the base performs well against the competition, despite the fact that its price doesn’t really follow (PS: it’s a bit expensive I think).

To make the range more attractive, Logitech has bolstered its catalog with peripherals, including the RS Round Wheel. This is a 29 cm-diameter wheel, with leather on the hoop and an entirely round shape. The design is minimalist, with a brushed aluminum faceplate. It’s truly beautiful, perfect for rallying.

As for price, the wheel costs €80, but you’ll need a hub to use it with the Direct Drive base. This hub retails for €150 on average, with Xbox and PC compatibility only, which limits your choices in terms of platforms.