Today, I’d like to invite you to test the Ascher McLaren Artura Sport simracing steering wheel. A replica of the McLaren Artura GT4 steering wheel, available in 3 models from Ascher. I spent a month with it, and now I’m ready to give you my detailed feedback and opinion. So, is this steering wheel, priced from €799 incl. VAT, the nugget your setup has been missing? Let’s find out in this test!
Ascher McLaren Artura Sport in brief
What does the Ascher McLaren Artura Sport look like technically?
| Diameter Weight | 30cm, 1.227Kg without QR. |
| Materials | CNC aluminum, plastic. |
| Grips | Ergonomic soft rubber |
| Paddles | 2 magnetic paddles for shifting, |
| Vane operating noise | 84dB |
| Customizable buttons | 14 configurable backlit buttons, 2 7-position switches. Total: 30 functions. |
| LEDs | No |
| Lap counter and flag display | Possible via SimHub directly on backlit buttons IF you use the USB version of the steering wheel, not wireless. |
| Screen | No |
| Quick Release | Standard: 3x70mm spacing to fit the QR of your choice. Optional: Pre-installed Asetek QR (119€), QR Simucube2 (66€), Buchfink Q1R (79€). |
| Compatibility | PC – All bases on the market with QR sold separately. |
| Options | 2 analog paddles for Dual Clutch (189€), 2 Double Shifters (209€), Simucube SC2-compatible wireless steering wheel (40€), Sport button kit (29€). |
| Price | from €799 |
Design and ergonomics
We’re off! We take the steering wheel out of the box, and the first nice surprise is the grips. They’re made of supple rubber and are very pleasant to hold. The 8 buttons on the top of the wheel (4 on each side) are easily accessible with your thumbs. For the 6 at the bottom, however, you’ll need to loosen the grips a little.
For once, the buttons are not just bare shells on which to place stickers, but are engraved with different icons and backlit. You’ll be able to change the icons if you need to, and I’ll show you how later in the test.
The shell is made entirely of CNC aluminum, with a perfect finish. In the center are the Ascher and McLaren logos, which I have to admit seem a little lonely in the middle of the large central faceplate.
Finally, there are 2 blue 7-position switches on the thumbs, with a rather soft click. Let’s see if they’re precise enough in race conditions!
In the box :
- McLaren Artura Sport steering wheel,
- 2 spiral USB cables,
- 2 USB cable extensions,
- Screws and bolts for fitting your Quick Release,
- Complete set of tools,
- Full instructions (English / German),
- Sheet of stickers,
- Spare buttons with different icons.
Magnetic paddles
For gear shifting, the Ascher McLaren Artura Sport is equipped with two aluminum magnetic paddles. They require 0.8Kg of force to activate. With their 83dB peak noise, they may appear noisy, but their sound is very muted thanks to the rubber pads, which don’t really interfere with play. The paddle plates are made of aluminum with chamfered edges. The only drawback is that they can’t be adjusted for width. However, this didn’t cause me any problems, as they’re wide enough to suit both Flo and me.
Rather than opting for “empty” buttons on which to apply stickers, Ascher has decided to offer engraved buttons that can be changed as required. In all, there are 14 buttons already installed on the steering wheel and 23 spare caps supplied in the box. Note that there’s an additional button kit available as an option for €29, further increasing the choice. The choice In my opinion, the variety of icons is already vast enough for everyone to find what they’re looking for. However, the procedure for changing the buttons deserves a tutorial:
Steps for changing buttons :
- Remove the blue caps covering the 7-position selectors using the small 1.5mm Allen key supplied. Be careful to pass the wrench through the small notch on the underside of the switch to avoid scratching the steering wheel.
- Remove the 5 Torx screws holding the plastic plate around the switches, using the TX8 wrench supplied. Then remove the plate completely.
- Use the two small metal levers to remove the buttons without damaging them.
- Put the new button in place.
- Screw the plastic plate back on and replace the blue cap on the switch (but don’t overtighten it, so you won’t have a hard time if you have to repeat the operation!)
Installing the Ascher McLaren Artura Sport on any base
At the rear of the steering wheel, I find the age-old 6x70mm center distance, which will enable me to fit any Quick Release to install the steering wheel on the bases of all simracing brands. There are two scenarios. If you have a Quick Release that can be screwed onto the steering wheel from the outside (in most cases), you’ll use the 3 screw pitches (3x70mm). This is the method I’m going to use to install my Asetek Invicta QR.
However, if you have a QR that needs to be installed from the inside of the steering wheel, you’ll need to :
- Unscrew the 4 Torx screws on the front faceplate using the TX20 wrench supplied.
- Unscrew the 8 screws at the rear using the 2.5mm Allen key supplied.
- Use the small tool supplied to remove the strap holding the DIN connector in place.
- Separate the front and rear of the steering wheel.
- Screw in your QR from the inside using the three screw holes (3x70mm).
- Refit the front and rear panels.
As I told you previously, you can install any QR that has a 6x70mm center distance. But it is also possible to receive the McLaren steering wheel with a pre-installed Quick Release! The QR Simucube 2 is available for €66. The Buchfink QR for €79. And finally the Asetek Invicta QR for €119. In the case of the Invicta QR, you will not have a cable to connect to your PC, nor an “apparent” cable, the Invicta’s connection will be done directly from a USB-C port inside the steering wheel.
How to connect the steering wheel to your PC
To connect the steering wheel to your PC, simply use the DIN aviation and USB cable (except for Asetek users, who use the Invicta QR directly). Don’t hesitate to use the supplied cable extension if necessary. All that’s left to do is to have your steering wheel recognized by the SimHub software. If you don’t already have it, here’s where to download SimHub!
- Open SimHub,
- In the Devices tab, click on ADD new Device,
- Select the Ascher Artura from the list, then click OK,
- That’s it!
SimHub profile for the Ascher McLaren Artura Sport
The brand offers a basic SimHub profile so you can start using your steering wheel without having to worry about the display settings on the backlit buttons. But precisely because you don’t have lap counter LEDs / flags etc., the interesting thing is to make full use of your buttons! You can use them to display race information, such as the vehicle spotter (radar), Traction Control and ABS activations, or race flags.
As always with SimHub, the only limit is your imagination and your real-life needs on the track. But for those who want to start with a profile that’s already a little customized, I suggest you download the one I created during the test. It’s based on the original profile, but with a few additions that I felt were essential. Feel free to tweak it to suit your needs, of course!
Comfort and feel on the track
Let’s not beat around the bush: the Ascher McLaren steering wheel does its job perfectly in terms of on-track enjoyment. The ergonomics of the grips are very well thought-out, and the top 8 buttons are easy to reach with the thumbs without having to remove the hand from the grip. In terms of clicks, the buttons require around 650 grams to activate, so they’re hard enough not to click by mistake, without being ultra-hard. And the paddles are also very pleasant, although non-adjustable.
With my custom SimHub profile, I was able to display all the info I felt was important on the backlit buttons, but I must admit that in my humble opinion, a few LED lap-counters would have been welcome.
There’s no bending, crackling or other noise, and the aluminum structure is perfectly rigid, even on my Asetek Invicta 27Nm base. In short, a job well done!
What about the wireless version of the Artura Sport for Simucube 2?
For owners of Simucube2 bases, it’s possible to buy a wireless version of the steering wheel. Please note, however, that in this case, the battery has an autonomy of 30h with the buttons illuminated and 800h without. And you won’t be able to transmit telemetry data to create customized button displays. Limited interest, then…
Other Ascher McLaren steering wheels
To give the community maximum choice, Ascher offers 4 variants of the Artura steering wheel. The Sport model is the most affordable, along with the GT4. Prices and features then climb with the Artura Pro and Ultimate models.
2 7-position switches,
2 magnetic palettes.
2 7-position switches,
2 thumb rotary encoders, 2 rotary encoders in the center,
4 magnetic paddles, 2 analog paddles.
2 7-position switches,
2 rotary encoders in the center,
2 magnetic palettes.
2 7-position switches, 2 thumb rotary encoders,
2 rotary encoders in the center,
4 magnetic paddles, 2 analog paddles.
My verdict on the Ascher McLaren Artura Sport
