With the imminent arrival of F1 24 on the PCs of gamers the world over, the Germans are up to their tricks! The new Fanatec ClubSport DD F1 ESPORTS V2 Bundle is set to become the new benchmark for PC-compatible steering wheel combos at under €900. So what exactly can you expect when you buy this model? Let’s find out!
The bundle consists of two products. A Direct Drive CS DD base and a ClubSport F1 ESPORTS V2 F1-licensed steering wheel. Let’s start with the features of the base.
| Compatibility | PC, Xbox. (Please note! The steering wheel is not compatible with Xbox, so you’ll need to get a steering wheel compatible with this console if you want to drive on it with your CS DD base.) |
| Dimensions | Length 20.2cm and 24.5cm including QR, Width 15cm, Height 15.6cm |
| Motor | Direct Drive – Brushless Servo Motor Fanatec |
| Torque | Peak: 12Nm Constant: 12Nm Slew Rate : Not communicated (estimated at 6.2Nm/ms according to the graph provided by the brand) |
| Encoder | Not communicated |
| Turning range | 90° to 2520° Adjustable via software |
| Connections | 1 USB-C output to PC Power supply 1 CAN connection 1 Pedalboard connection 2 Shifter connections 1 Handbrake connection |
| Wheel mounting | Quick Release Fanatec QR2 Pro |
Let’s continue with the features of the Clubsport F1 ESports V2 steering wheel
| Diameter | 27cm |
| Materials | Plastic, CNC aluminum. |
| Grips | Alcantara |
| Vibrations | No |
| Paddles | 2 CSL magnetic shift paddles. |
| Vane noise | To be measured |
| Customizable buttons | 11 configurable buttons, 1 analog joystick 1 funky switch 7 positions, |
| LED display | 9 LED turn counters, 6 LED flag displays |
| Screen | 1-inch 3-digit display |
| Quick Release | QR2 Pro (aluminum) |
| Base compatibility | Fanatec |
| Console compatibility | PC, Xbox, PS4, PS5 (Warning! The CS DD base is not Playstation-compatible, so you won’t be able to ride the Sony console with this bundle) |
In the box:
- Fanatec CS DD base.
- F1 ESPORTS V2 steering wheel.
- 340W power supply and 2 EU and ENG plug cords.
- 1 x 290cm USB-C cable
- 4 T-nuts
- Quick start guide
A quick look at the CS DD base
I already did a full review of the Fanatec CS DD base a few months ago, so I won’t go into all the details again. But to sum up, here’s what I thought of it during testing:
At the rear, as always, connectors for other Fanatec peripherals (shifters 1 and 2, pedalset, handbrake). Power socket, USB-C port and always the enigmatic CAN socket.
The constant torque of 12Nm combined with the excellent responsiveness of the chainstay means you can really enjoy riding it. Force feedback details are fine and precise. The base is a clear step up from its little sister, the CSL DD. In fact, it’s twice as responsive as the Podium bases, which is quite something ^^. Installing the base on a chassis is very simple, thanks to the T-nuts which allow the base to be slid onto the chassis and then screwed down. I was able to test the heating of the base, which I never managed to get above 40 degrees despite my attempts at “mistreatment”. (Which leaves a 45° margin before reaching the maximum it can physically withstand)
In short, I was satisfied. Especially as it’s a base I’d bought with my own money, after having had the chance to try it out at ADAC simexpo last October. Clearly, with its new ClubSport range, Fanatec is back on track.
The only downside was that I noticed some cogging on the track when I removed the dampers in the Fanalab and in play. But I have to admit that, outside of a test protocol, nobody is going to remove all the dampers in-game at the risk of having a steering wheel with the consistency of overcooked spaghetti!
Formula One-licensed F1 ESPORTS V2 steering wheel
There’s nothing new about the F1 Esports V2 steering wheel – it’s just the same model as the one you can buy out of bundle on the brand’s website. 11 customizable buttons, a 7-position funcky switch and a clickable analog joystick. All this combined with magnetic CSL paddles for shifting gears, LED displays for lap counter and flags, and a small 1-inch diameter 3-digit display to show vehicle speed, gear engaged and force feedback setting changes.
The good news is the Quick Release that connects the steering wheel to the base. Fanatec delivers the QR2 Pro in the box, a top-of-the-range version of their QR inspired by the Krontec competition models found on genuine GTs, among others.
Mounting the base on a chassis or desk
There are several options for mounting your base on a chassis. First, use the 3 rails under the base or the 2 rails on each side. Then, simply slide the base onto the T-nuts (4 supplied) which you will have first positioned on the chassis. Please note one detail! The M6 screws required for installation are not supplied. I personally chose to use 12mm M6 screws. It’s up to you to decide what size you need, depending on the thickness of your support. Bear in mind that the threads of your screws must not protrude more than 10mm from your support plate.
The other option is to purchase a ClubSport DD Table Clamp metal bracket (sold as an option at €99.95). In this case, you can attach the base to a desk from 5 to 60mm thick. And vary the angle of the base by 20° to position it perfectly facing you. Or place the clamp “under the table” to juggle angles up to 40°.
Attention to detail! 12Nm is still quite powerful, so avoid installing the base on a desk with wobbly legs or a glass table, for example.
Installing Fanalab on your PC
On your PC, you’ll need to download two tools. The first is the Fanatec Control Center. Once installed, this software will enable you to configure your Fanatec hardware and update it over time. Some force feedback settings are also included. But make no mistake, if you really want to push the settings, you’ll need Fanalab :
In Fanalab, you can configure your different force feedback profiles. You can also manage the vibration of your pedals (if you have a ClubSport V3) and the LED displays on your steering wheel. If you need help with the Fanalab settings, you’ll find a complete article/video by following the link below.
To find out more: Everything you need to know about Fanalab software!
Also note that, as with all Fanatec steering wheels, you can adjust your force feedback directly from the steering wheel screen by pressing the little black button on the bottom left of the screen. It also lets you switch between 5 different profiles. Handy for making in-game settings without having to return to the software all the time!
Track testing (being tested as we speak)
As I mentioned at the start of this article, we had already tested the CS DD base a few months ago. For the curious, see : Our test of the Fanatec ClubSport DD. That leaves me to give you my impressions of the Base CS DD combo plus F1 ESPORTS V2 flywheel. On this point, I’d ask you to be a little more patient. I’m currently carrying out tests at home and will be able to give you a full review very soon.
To conclude on this Fanatec ClubSport DD F1 ESPORTS V2 bundle
I’m still testing the steering wheel. I wouldn’t give this bundle a grade at the moment. But I can see that with this pack, Fanatec is offering an interesting and less expensive alternative to the CS DD F1 model we also tested a few weeks ago. While I think about it! If you’d like us to make a direct comparison between the two bundles, please let me know in the comments and I’ll take the time to do so 😉
