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Racing School
When you start in the world of sim racing and have to choose hardware, it’s a bit like choosing a car… Thrustmaster, Logitech, Fanatec, Asetek, Simagic… The choice is vast! And there’s a good chance you’ll like several of them without knowing which wheel will best suit your needs and expectations.
We’re well aware of this problem, as we’re constantly faced with it in our car simming activities. That’s why we’ve created this site. To share our experiences. To help you make the right choices. To help you make sure you get the most out of sim-racing, based on a wide range of criteria. To give you a few examples:
- Budget
- Quality of force feedback and hardware
- Sensations provided
- Easy to use
- For what type of drivers
- Designed for pure realism or performance
In our quest for the ideal equipment, we publish test articles, comparisons, and videos on our YouTube channel. These videos and articles aim to help you discover the models you like. But also to help you understand whether they’re right for you or not! Because we all have different expectations when it comes to car simulation.
Moreover, if you do not yet know which model to choose according to your profile and your budget, I invite you to consult the guide “Which steering wheel to choose” to find all the questions to ask yourself BEFORE purchasing!
All the equipment on the site has been fully tested and reviewed. So you know exactly what to expect. Don’t hesitate to browse the site’s various sections to find your next piece of sim racing equipment!
A brief definition of sim racing
What is sim racing? It’s the world of car simulation on PC or home consoles.
It’s an extremely vast universe! It encompasses both casual gamers who enjoy arcade or sim-arcade games (like Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Horizon, for example). To the middle ground offered by titles like Project Cars 2 or Automobilista 2. To the hardcore sim racers who only find pleasure in the realism of more advanced driving offered by titles such as iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, or Race Room.
The simulation aspect offered by certain titles has reached such a level of quality and precision that official sim racing championships are multiplying.
Some of these championships include legendary drivers such as Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello, and Max Verstappen, to name but a few.
To find out more: I’m taking you to the virtual 24-hour Le Mans 2023
So what kind of driver will you be? A competitor ready to do anything to reach the podium? A driver looking for a close but realistic fight? The casual sim racer who enjoys driving dream cars? Or the traveler sim racer who wants to discover circuits all over the world?
So, let’s talk hardware.
If you’ve come to our site, it’s probably because you too, want to take your car simulation to the next level. However, you may have trouble choosing the right sim racing hardware to suit your needs, tastes, and budget.
Between bundles, engine bases, steering wheels, pedals, etc., finding your way around is sometimes hard. But the good news is that it’s never been easier to get into sim racing. It’s a booming market, and whatever your expectations and budget, you’re bound to find something to suit you (or your steering wheel?).
So let’s take a look at all the models we’ve been able to try out to find the perfect setup for YOU 🙂
Our “Coup de Coeur” configurations in 2023
The Coup de Coeur section groups together the models of chainstays, pedal sets, shifters, and steering wheels that offer the best value for money today. We’re happy to recommend these models to players looking for maximum sensation without mortgaging the house.
Direct Drive Wheelbase
We chose the Fanatec CSL DD (and its PlayStation-compatible GT DD Pro variant) for the wheelbase. Released in 2021, it radically changed the world of sim racing by giving players access to Direct Drive technology at a lower cost.
Many other models have followed in its footsteps! But if you’re brand new to the world of sim racing, its powerful feedback and ease of use make it an excellent choice.
Pedalset with Load Cell sensors
Let’s move on to the pedals, the centerpiece of a sim racing chassis. As you’ll soon discover, in sim racing, as in real racing, you need better braking to go faster.
If you’re looking for realism in pedal travel length and brake hardness, I loved the Asetek Forte model. As well as being plug-and-play, it offers unbeatable value for money.
For console gamers, the choice is pretty limited. My preference is for the Fanatec Clubsport V3. A sure bet! I used it for two years.
It’s a pedal set equipped with a Load Cell brake (a weight sensor that takes into account the weight you put on the pedal). You can also upgrade with optional kits, which we recently tested.
Formula and GT steering wheels
As for Formula steering wheels, we’re sticking with Fanatec (for base compatibility). The most interesting model is, without a doubt, the ClubSport Formula V2.5. A ton of features, and the possibility of upgrading it over time and according to your desires…
It’s one of the brand’s best sellers for a good reason: it’s got to do the job perfectly. We put it up against the Fanatec CSL McLaren in an article and video some time ago. Find out more by clicking below 🙂
As for the round steering wheel, I prefer the Fanatec ClubSport RS. I’ve long used the ClubSport Porsche 918 RSR, which is unfortunately no longer sold by Fanatec.
It was replaced in 2022 by the ClubSport RS—a model that retains the same functionalities without the Porsche branding but with the addition of magnetic paddles.
Absolute Best Sellers
This section features the most popular sim racing steering wheels. They’re a sure bet, but make no mistake! They’re not necessarily the best choice for your needs. So take the time to read our full tests. Because the choice of the masses is not always the most enlightened..
Logitech G920 test and review
Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro : THE Direct Drive compatible with Playstation !
Logitech G29 steering wheel test and review
Low prices for a smooth start
The small prices section groups together entry-level offers to get you started in sim racing without mortgaging your house or selling your dog. You’ll have to compromise on sensations and realism. But if you want to get started at a lower cost, these are the models you should be looking at.
What complete SimRacing bundle for under €400?
Testing the Cammus DDWB 2021: strong arguments?
Discover the Moza R5: a Direct Drive bundle for €639
Test du Logitech Driving Force Shifter
Testing the Thrustmaster T150, what will it look like in 2024?
Discover the Thrustmaster T128 steering wheel
Discover the Thrustmaster T248 steering wheel
A steering wheel to get as close as possible to the track!
When you’re a fan of car simulations, sooner or later, you will want to take things to the next level and trade in the controller for a steering wheel.
Performance, sensations, pleasure, realism – for all these reasons, we choose to enter the world of sim racing!
To put it plainly, we want to experience racing. To feel the intensity of competition, to play with the limits of our virtual cars. We want to feel like a real racing driver!
A steering wheel brings you a little closer to the real thing and lets you improve your performance. Where a joystick (or worse… a keyboard) offers only very limited precision of movement, a steering wheel delivers surgical precision.
The information transmitted by a force feedback steering wheel is also far more complete and complex. A joystick only vibrates when you leave the track or drive over a vibrator. It will tell you precisely when you enter oversteer or understeer. It will let you feel precisely the road surface, suspension movements, and weight transfers.
We won’t tell you that a steering wheel will make you a better driver. But let’s face it, it’s hard to be at your best with just a joystick.
Choices for your gaming platform
PS4, PS5, and X Box steering wheels
Console gamers are becoming more and more serious in their approach to sim racing. It has to be said that car games and simulations have invaded home consoles, with series such as Gran Turismo, Project Cars and Assetto Corsa, as well as Forza.
So it’s only natural that manufacturers are increasingly interested in consoles and are offering PS4-, PS5- and X Box-compatible products of ever-increasing size.
PC wheels
The PC remains the El Dorado of sim racers. Crazy setups, extreme customization, a strong, professional community… PCs also offer the widest choice in sim racing.
It’s enough to make your head spin. But don’t panic, we’ll sort it out together!
Famous brands
Fanatec flywheels
Fanatec has established itself as THE consumer reference for quality equipment. If you’re looking for the pleasure of flying and a level of quality above the competition, this is the place to go.
Easy to use, precise and controlled force feedback, complete ecosystem. And let’s not forget that it’s thanks to Fanatec and their CSL DD that Direct Drives are now available for under €1,000!
Thrustmaster steering wheels
Thrustmaster has long commanded respect in the world of fastidious sim racers, with its focus on technique and feel. The brand has brought customization and some fine technological advances to the general public. All this while maintaining a very attractive price/quality ratio for beginners
Logitech steering wheels
Everyone knows Logitech. The brand is one of the biggest sellers of SimRacing equipment for beginners. Their convincing value-for-money offerings make them a favorite among newcomers to the virtual track. And that’s despite their lack of innovation over the years.
Simracing equipment isn’t just about steering wheels
Tell me… When you drive your car, you don’t ONLY use your steering wheel, do you? There are other aspects to consider. You’ll also need a pedalset, optionally a shifter (gearbox), maybe even a handbrake, and if you have the space, a cockpit.
*Simracing bundles
Some brands offer Bundles. These are packs that bring together the base (the motor), a steering wheel, a pedalset and sometimes even a shifter. Bundles are usually entry-level or mid-range models, and are very practical for getting started without having to spend hours looking for each component independently.
Below are just a few of the most popular bundles available today.
Which simulation steering wheel should you choose for less than €350?
Testing the Thrustmaster T-GT 2: Is it really worth it?
Logitech G920 test and review
What complete SimRacing bundle for under €400?
Testing the Cammus DDWB 2021: strong arguments?
Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro : THE Direct Drive compatible with Playstation !
Discover the Moza R5: a Direct Drive bundle for €639
Discovery: Moza R3 compatible with X Box and PC ( R9v2 and R12)
Thrustmaster T500RS steering wheel review
Thrustmaster T-GT 2 the answer to CSL DD?
Logitech G29 steering wheel test and review
Fanatec GT DD PRO
Testing the Thrustmaster T150, what will it look like in 2024?
Discover the Thrustmaster T128 steering wheel
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race : intriguing!
Testing the Thrustmaster T300RS: Is it still worth it in 2024?
The basics (engines)
For those who don’t want to settle for a bundle but would rather design a customized setup, it’s possible to purchase each element separately. This is the best way to create your ideal cockpit, one that’s 100% to your liking!
The first step is to choose a base and an engine. Bear in mind that you may locked into a brand’s ecosystem. So it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. All the more so since, depending on the brand and model, the quality of feel will be drastically different.
Fanatec CSL DD
The best on console
Simagic Alpha Mini
Excellent for PC
Asetek Forte DD
TOP quality on PC
Sim racing steering wheels
Now that you’ve chosen a base, it’s time to choose a wheel. Again, the choice depends on your tastes and the type of games you intend to use. Remember, depending on the make of your base, you’ll need to choose an adaptable wheel! Depending on the model, the materials, buttons, and shift paddles can range from mediocre to excellent. It’s up to you to find the perfect compromise to suit your budget and expectations!
Sim racing pedals
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s the choice of pedalboard that will have the greatest impact on your lap times. In reality, your brake pedal can make all the difference. There are 2-pedal pedal sets without clutches and 3-pedal pedal sets with clutches.
Most entry-level models have brake pedals with potentiometers. Braking power, therefore, depends on the angle you apply to the pedal with your foot. Mid-range and top-of-the-range pedalsets, on the other hand, feature load cells that consider the pressure exerted by the foot rather than the position.
But I’ve already explained this at length in my Which Steering Wheel to Choose Guide, so I promise I won’t bore you with it 😉
Check out the Great Simracing Pedal Guide!
Shifters and handbrakes
You can add a gearbox (a shifter) to add even more realism to your setup. Again, you can choose between H-boxes for manual shifting and sequential gearboxes. Some models are two-in-one and switch from sequential to manual in just a few minutes. Finally, handbrakes are especially useful for Drift and Rally fans.
Simracing cockpits
Have you got room at home, a bit of budget, and a passion for car simulation? Then you’ll probably want to install your equipment on a sim racing chassis!
Cockpits are the solution for those who’ve had enough of simulating on their desk or dining table and want to have a fixed setup. The best-known brand of all is of course Playseat, whose name has become a household word for cockpits. But there are a multitude of brands and models to suit your needs, your equipment and your budget!
Chassis brands include Next Level Racing, RSeat and Trak Racer. And most offer integrated bucket seats in addition to their chassis.
Button boxes
Well, button boxes are boxes equipped with buttons and selectors that you can add to your setup to configure more settings for your vehicle.
Don’t have enough buttons on your steering wheel to configure your brake balance, windscreen wipers, turbo pressure and all the other parameters you need to consider when racing? Then it’s time to think Button Box!
There’s a Button Box for every price, with infinite finishes and configurations!
By the way, who are we?
You’re wondering who these drivers are, who tirelessly test every steering wheel they can use? We’re Sam and Flo, a couple in life and on the track! Our passion for the world of sim racing eventually gave birth to this rather crazy project: to give impartial and complete opinions on all the models that pass through our hands.
So, to introduce ourselves:
I (ah yes, it’s Sam by the way!) fell in love with the automotive world as a child. My first step into this world was Need For Speed: Porsche 2000 on PS1. After that, I spent months on the tracks of the Toca Race Driver series, again on PS1. And of course on all the episodes of the Gran Turismo series..
Between 2009 and 2015 I took a break and then decided to get back into the swing of things. That’s when I bought a second-hand force feedback steering wheel, a Thrustmaster T500RS. That still works, by the way!
Flo wasn’t a fan of sim-racing and even less of “video games” before she met me. On the other hand, she was a fan of car racing. So, with a lot of patience, I ended up finding a way to get her interested in sim racing too ^^
Between 2015 and 2017, we stuck mainly to Assetto Corsa and Project Cars 2 on PS4. And then we discovered the JOYs of simracing on PC. An incredible world where ANYTHING is possible. Today, we drive mostly on Assetto Corsa and rFactor 2. For testing purposes, we also spend time on iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Race Room, Dirt 2.0 and BeamNG.
What are we going to do together?
Whether you’re new to the world of sim racing and looking for the best steering wheel to get you started or a seasoned racer looking for the perfect setup, welcome to our hangout! Together, we’ll review the “best “big brands” such as Thrustmaster, Logitech, and Fanatec.
But we’re also going to take a look at models produced by lesser-known brands that offer some crazy products. I’m thinking, for example, of Asetek SimSports, which has produced one of the best Direct Drive bases we’ve ever seen. Or Simagic, which offers unprecedented value for money!
We’ll sort out the top-of-the-range offerings dedicated to passionate drivers with solid finances. Mid-range products aimed at the general public but with remarkable qualities. Then we’ll look at the entry-level range, with affordable wheels for beginners.
And because the aim of sim racing is above all to ENJOY your passion, we’re committed to being impartial in our tests and to giving you all the information we have to help you make the best choice.
Our current “Daily” sim racing setup [UPDATED October 2023]
- Rig: Trak Racer TR8 Racing Simulator
- Direct Drive: Asetek Invicta 27Nm
- Wheels: Asetek Forte Formula – Driftshop Bois
- Pedals: Asetek Invicta (Sam) et Asetek Forte (Flo)
- Shifter: SHH Newt2
- Handbrake: Simagic TB-1
- Screen: BenQ MOBIUZ EX2710Q 27 pouces