This Fanatec Sparco Formula Steering and Button Module Rally that I assembled in my last article below, I would like to write about its settings and my impressions of its actual use in iRacing.

Unboxing and Assembly of Fanatec’s Sparco Steering Wheel and Button Module Rally | MASK | Blog

• Podium Button Module Rally
• ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

As for this button module rally, I noticed that there are a lile bit of restrictions when using it for formula since it is a component optimized for real rally cars and used in actual competition in the first place.

Also, at this time (March, 2025), the LCD screen of the button module rally is buggy.

Firmware update for Fanatec Button Module Rally

First, let’s bring the firmware up to date for the Button Module Rally.

The current version (March, 2025) of Fanatec’s firmware was 464. Please download the driver, which is considered stable, from here.

Fanatec Apps & Driver Download

Then do an Update in the Fanatec Control Panel. As you can see, only the Button Module Rally (BMR) is displayed in red and it says “Firmware is available! is written. Click on the green “UPDATE” button on the right.

Then I click on the next warning that looks like OK, and the UPDATE starts.

It probably took about a minute.

This completes the firmware update.

Change button colors in Fanalab

Using the Fanalab software, you can change the color and brightness of the buttons.

The three rotary switches at the bottom can also emit LEDs on the numbers at the top of the switches.

Podium Button Module Rally

Fanatec Sparco Formula steering wheel with Button Module Rally

So I installed it and tried it with Super Formula Lights in iRacing.

As expected, I installed it thinking that most of the bugs would have been fixed since it has been on the market for about a year, but the bugs in the LCD display have not been fixed and are very noticeable.

In the picture below, the display shows “ 0[0 ", and I do not know what it is supposed to show. Currently, information such as speed, shift position, etc. are not properly displayed. It’s not cool and I hope it will be fixed soon 🤔.

I will let you know when it is fixed with a firmware update.

I have already updated the firmware, but nothing has changed. We will have to wait for a beta release or the next UPDATE.

Latest Beta Drivers - Bookmark this thread to be notified of new uploads!

So far (as of March 2, 2025), the 464 that has already been published seems to be the latest.

Even at the end of 2024, it has been pointed out that there is a problem with BMR, and Fanatec seems to be aware of it.

So far (as of March 2, 2025), the 464 that has already been published seems to be the latest.

Even at the end of 2024, it has been pointed out that there is a problem with BMR, and Fanatec seems to be aware of it. Furthermore, according to a post by a Fanatec representative at the end of February 2025, Fanatec will release a driver in the spring that will improve the bugs related to BMR.

About the rigidity of Fanatec Sparco Formula

As for rigidity, there is no problem at all: the steering is firmly connected to the wheelbase because I use the Podium Hub and have selected the QR2 (standard) quick release. Also, since the steering wheel is made of metal main, you can feel that there is plenty of room for rigidity.

Podium Hub + QR2 Wheel-side

This time, I am playing with a Clubsport DD+ (CSDD+) connected to a CSDD+ that delivers up to 15Nm. Ihave added a shaft extension to the CSDD+ to allow more flexibility in driving position setting.

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

As for the shafts, they are usually priced at about $100, but due to a setting error on Fanatec’s part, they were priced at a little over a dollar.

As for the shaft, I ordered a shaft that normally sells for about $100, but due to a (probably) misconfiguration on Fanatec’s part, it was just over $1.00. Then they really sent it to me at that price and I am using it.

DD Shaft Extension

For that, Fanatec will forgive me since I purchased the new V2 handbrake as a first penguin on Black Friday, as well as the odd steering wheel combination this time around. All of these will be regular priced and will generate some profit on the Fanatec side.

The handbrake has been converted to a load cell brake. Many people say that the brakes are heavy, but “if the cockpit is rigid enough,” you can feel that the load cell conversion has improved the controllability of the brakes. Compared to the previous generation V1.5, the handbrake is a solid evolutionary piece. The price has gone up, though.

Now, let’s get back to the story.

Strength is still marginally strong at 15Nm for Clubsport DD+

As noted at the beginning of the item, the rigidity and strength of the Sparco Formula feels generous enough. As for comfort, I was playing with it for about an hour, trying various things with the max torque of the Clubsport DD+.

ClubSport DD

The steering wheel fits my hand well and I didn’t feel any pain anywhere in particular, with the Classi 2 rim, the sharp angle around my thumb hurt, but with this Sparco, it is angled so it fits better. (I think other steering wheels are basically angled as well)

• Podium Button Module Rally
• ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

Thick panel operation feel

I think that the cross keys, buttons, etc., will be operated mainly with the thumbs, but I did not have any major difficulties. Incidentally, while driving, my thumbs can reach the left and right cross keys and each one nearest push button (in the image below, the A/D and HYB buttons).

To operate the other buttons, however, you will need to remove your hand from the grip.

The Button Module Rally is about 23mm thick, so fewer buttons are immediately accessible with the thumb than with an integrated steering wheel.

It’s thicker, lumpier, and I like it a lot.

On the other hand, the Formula V2.5 (X) has a rotary switch around the thumb and three buttons above the thumb on each side. As the model has been on the market for a long time, the Formula V2.5 seems to have better access to the buttons.

For CSLDD and GTDDPRO up to 8Nm torque, Formula V2.5(X) is not very rigid, but it is more reasonable, lighter with full buttons, and may be better balanced. (However, for V2.5, I would like to see an upgrade to increase rigidity and change the materials)

ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X

I have the Advanced Paddle Module on this steering wheel, so in addition to the paddles, there are also two buttons on the top. The paddles are very accessible, so I think it would be a good idea to assign them to functions that I use frequently.

Podium Advanced Paddle Module

Ability to adjust FFB at hand while running
One of the nice features of Fanatec is that you can adjust various parameters of FFB at your. It is hard to see in the picture below, but there is a small black button just to the right of the LCD screen in the center, and when you press it, the display will look like the one below. In models equipped with a cross-shaped key that doubles as a rotary switch, you could change parameters by rotating the key, but for Button Module Rally, you need to press the up and down of the cross-shaped key.

Well, it is certainly a considerable advantage to be able to adjust FFB at hand, which was not possible with the Podium Hub alone. (Basically, all Fanatec steering wheels except the Podium Hub alone can adjust FFB at your fingertips.)

Podium Button Module Rally

The Fanatec Button Module Rally has no LED for engine RPM!

After installing the Fanatec Button Module Rally, I thought “Oh, this is inconvenient” because there is no LED for engine RPM. Most models have an LED for RPM, so it would have been nice to have this as well, but perhaps the RPM indicator was unnecessary in that case, since the design was prioritized to be attached to the actual Ford rally car in the first place.

In the case of formula cars, the steering wheel may be crammed with information, so I wondered what to do, and after much trial and error, I came up with the following two methods.

Set each button to change color at a specified RPM.

With Fanalab, I set the LEDs to have the same color combination as shown above normally, but when the specified RPM is reached, all buttons are set to change color to red. This allows the user to know at a glance when it is time to shift up. It is possible to specify the number of revolutions and color for each button, so there are many ways to do this.

But it takes a lot of time and effort.

Load the data of the car currently in use on this below screen of Fanalab, and press Save after the settings are made, and the same settings will be made the next time.

Installing a dash panel using the Fanatec App

If you install the Fanatec App on your iPhone (or iPad) or Android, you can easily display a dash panel like the one on the right in the photo below. You can also use something like this.

If you have a Wifi connection to the same access point as your PC, it will pretty much automatically get the IP address and work with the SIM software to display the telemetry. I decided to fix my iPhone, which I don’t use anymore, semi-permanently, but I think it would be hard to set up my main phone every time I use it.

Why “ 0[0 “…

I explained how to use the Fanatec app with phone.(please use translator)

テレメトリーが表示できたりFFBをいじれるFANATECアプリについて | MASK | ブログ

If it’s a GT car, LEDs for engine RPM may not be necessary.

If it’s the type of car that has gauges in the car, you may not have to worry about it that much since there is an RPM indicator. However. It would still be convenient to have it.

If you don’t need the button to light up, I thought this could be an option as it has an engine RPM light and is rigid.

Podium Steering Wheel GT3 Endurance

How should the spare blank buttons be utilized?

As you can see in the lower right corner of the photo, there are six nine white spare buttons and two lettered buttons. (There are six in the photo, but they seem to have been hidden in the bag that came with them, for a total of eleven.)

Regarding this spare button, I was asked if the seal enclosed in the button cap, an optional item for Fanatec, could be used.

Button Caps and Sticker Set

I got one set of these when they were on sale a long time ago, so I put a spare set of buttons on them to try them out. The size is perfect. I think it will stick adhesively.

However, if you apply this sticker as it is, the size is so perfect that it will be easy to peel off. Therefore, I think it would be better to cut it to the utmost limit before applying it. Another drawback is the price of this optional item. It is only a plastic button cap and a little sticker for the button, but it currently costs $39.99, so I don’t recommend it.

• I bought mine for about $5 when it was on sale… so I can use it without too much guilt.

FANATEC BMW GT2V2とFormula V2ステアリングににボタンキャップ(Button Caps and Sticker Set)を取り付けてみた | MASK | ブログ |

I made a sticker for the button with the Tape maker

If you would rather buy this optional item just for the stickers, you might be happier using that money to buy a Japanese famous tape maker “Tepla” and clear tape. I can make a lot of stickers that I need and put them on my sticky steering wheel.

In the middle of the photo below is a spare button for the Botton Module Rally. The DRS in the foreground, I printed 8-point bold letters on 9mm transparent tape and cut it so that the corners are rounded as well, and it stuck without any problem. The larger DRS probably had about 12 point letters. This would have stuck out from the button.

If you buy a high-resolution model of the printer, it will be more expensive than buying a set of Fanatec button caps. You can get a low-cost model for about the same price as a button cap, but the print resolution may be rough. So, you may try this only if you have a plastic tape measurer and a transparent tape at home.

The leftmost green button is the DRS button we created this time. It seems to be unexpectedly durable for use.
*The button comes off easily by pulling.

• Podium Button Module Rally
• ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

The Sparco symbol is not visible from eye level.
As you can see from the photo above, the Sparco letters are hidden behind the Button Module Rally (BMR) and are not visible.

If someone wants the Sparco mark to be visible at all times, this BMR would not be suitable. In that case, I think it would be better to install Sparco steering wheel around Clubsport Universal Hub V2. (I heard that if you combine the CS Universal Hub V2 with the Advanced Paddle Module, the top paddle won’t respond with the current firmware :March, 2025)

CS Universal Hub V2 + QR2 Pro Wheel-side

This would keep F-marks and Sparco marks on the surface of the steering wheel like this.

If you want to add it later, the Clubsport Universal Hub V2 can add a BMR. (If you combine the CS Universal Hub V2 with the Advanced Paddle Module, the top paddle is not responsive with the current firmware. Also, the buttons on the BMR and Universal Hub may be covered, so the buttons may not have as many functions as expected. (See the following page for reference.)

残念ながらFanatec Button Module RallyにButton Cluster Packを追加しても意味はない｜MASK｜ブログ｜

Steering wheel with large color LCD panel

To introduce a steering wheel that comes with a large color LCD screen in Fanatec, currently only the following steering wheels are available, which are very expensive.

Podium Steering Wheel Bentley GT3

I wonder if they will come out with a formula-type steering wheel with a large LCD screen in the future! I think so, but I think it will cost $1300 at the cheapest.

What about an external steering wheel with LCD?

Some people may be interested in an external manufacurers’ steering wheel; I’ll write about the advantages and disadvantages assuming that a Fanatec wheelbase is used,

As for the advantages, I think many of the manufacturers’ can be reasonably priced to install. (Note that some of them are not as rigid as others.)

There are quite a few disadvantages: it will be Prestige/XBOX non-compatible, Fanatec’s FFB adjustment function will not be available at hand, so you will have to adjust it from the Fanatec app by smartphone or Fanatec control panel onPC, and the cable will extend from the steering wheel.
The software for the steering would have to be additionally activated on PC. Also, the shaft will be longer because you will have to add a quick release, etc., which will make it more difficult to adjust the driving position when changing to another steering wheel…….the list goes on.

If you want a formula steering wheel with a large LCD, I think you should consider what to do.

Conclusion

This time, I introduced Sparco Formula steering wheel and Button Module Rally, so I used them and wrote down my impressions.

[+] Compared to the Formula V2 (currently V2.5X), I can feel the improvement in rigidity and it shines. Also, the Sparco steering wheel felt more comfortable in my hand when I held it.

[-] On the other hand, the price is a little more expensive, there are fewer buttons and no RPM lamp, so you will need to be creative as you will want a lamp when driving a Formula car. (e.g., make the color of the button LED change when a certain RPM is reached) The bug with the LCD display was not cured. We will have to wait for the next update on this.

Do I recommend the set I installed this time? If you ask me, after some SIM, I would say, If you think number of the buttons is enough, the rigidity is solid, and most importantly, the shape is the same as Sparco’s Formula steering wheel. So you will feel it is easy to hold. Also, it shines. Compared to other European brands, the price is reasonable considering the contents. Compared to Chinese ones, it might seem expensive. For those who prefer more buttons, it is better to have more buttons! For those who prefer more buttons, you may feel that there are not so many buttons! You may feel that the Sparco steering wheel has a few buttons. You need to consider bugs still remains. (Let’s wait for 2025 spring firmware update.)

Sparco’s steering wheels run out of stock as soon as they come out in Japan (I’m not sure in other region) or maybe it’s because the allotment is so small?, so you might want to check back every once in a while. So, it would be a good idea to check it once in a while.

That’s how it is.

Composition of the steering wheel this time

The following is the configuration of this steering: Podium Hub with Clubsport Universal Hub V2 (when combined with Advanced Paddle Module,& CS Universal Hub V2) the top two paddles are not responsive with the current firmware, apparently), paddles with regular I hope that the display bug of Button Module Rally has not been fixed, and I hope that the firmware will be fixed as soon as possible.

• Podium Button Module Rally
• ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula
• Podium Hub + QR2 Wheel-side
• Podium Advanced Paddle Module

Fanatec Sparco formula and button module Rally review | MASK | blog | was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I finally managed to purchase Fanatec’s Sparco Formula Steering Wheel and Button Module Rally. As long as the steering wheel has a formula-style shape, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Sparco — what matters is that the hole size and position match. However, after some research, I found that finding a perfectly fitting formula-style steering wheel with matching hole positions seems to be a bit challenging. So, for peace of mind and to satisfy my sense of ownership, I decided to go with Fanatec’s Sparco steering wheel.

The Sparco formula steering wheel in this case costs $159.99.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

The button module rally is $269.99. The total price is $429.98.

Podium Button Module Rally

Add to this the Podium Hub ($169.99, QR2 included) and the Advanced Paddle Module ($199.99), and the total cost is $799.96 for the steering wheel at the current price.

• Podium Hub + QR2 Wheel-side
• Podium Advanced Paddle Module

If you have all of the above, you can build the same steering wheel as I do.

If you want to get a steering wheel that is close to the shape of mine with high rigidity at a reasonable? price, I think you could try Clubsport Steering wheel gt3 endurance for XBOX, which was recently released. (Although the diameter is a little larger than the sparco formula)

Podium Steering Wheel GT3 Endurance

If you count the buttons on the top of the Clubsport Universal Hub, the number of buttons themselves is by far the largest, whether they are easy to use or not. (In a lower seat position, these buttons may not be visible.)

The release date of this Button Module Endurance was quite a long time ago, and compared to the latest SIM racing devices, some people may be concerned about the buttons not glowing. However, the LCD screen is larger, so the amount of information that can be displayed is greater. It is also slightly cheaper than the Button Module Rally.

Podium Button Module Endurance

Now, let’s get back to the Button Module Rally. Here are the Button Module Rally and Sparco Formula steering wheel that have arrived. I would like to open each of them from now on.

Opening the Sparco Steering Wheel

This is the design of the inner box that came out when the box was opened.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

They were placed in these cushioned bags.

Six black bolts are included separately from the steering wheel.

The Fanatec F mark is printed in the center and the Sparco mark is printed at the bottom.
Unfortunately, the F mark will definitely be hidden when the Button module Rally is installed. What will happen to the Sparco mark at the bottom? I'll explain in the next article.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

The holes in the steering wheel are tapered. The bolts that come with the steering wheel also have bolts that match this shape.

The thickness of the frame was 6 mm. I applied force in the direction of twisting the frame while holding the grips, but it did not move at all.

With the Formula V2 steering wheel, the sound is more like a “squeak”, and this is probably due to the aging of the V2 steering wheel, since it uses less metal. (The current version is V2.5, only the paddles are different, but other parts are the same)

ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X

The grips are covered with Alcantara. I wonder what this grip is made of. I think it is probably fixed so that the metal frame is sandwiched between the resin grips, but I don’t have the financial resources to remove the alcantara to investigate lol.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

The steering wheel I purchased is a replica of the Sparco Formula steering wheel. On the other hand, there appears to be a real Sparco Formula steering wheel as shown below, and the real one costs $295.

https://www.sparcousa.com/f10a-2

I didn’t compare them side by side, but I think there is little difference between them. I bought a replica of Fanatec for the SIM, so it should be enough.

Unboxing the Button Module Rally

The inner box is mainly white and comes in a complex shape. When opened, the Module Rally appears.

Lift up the main unit to reveal the instruction manual.

Podium Button Module Rally

For the data of the instruction manual, you can click on “Manual” in the “Download” tab on the ↑ official page of this link.

Contents are as follows: main unit, manual, sticker, star wrench, tweezers, 11 replacement buttons (9 blank buttons, and 2 of them are FOG and WSH buttons.)

The back side looks like this.

As noted in the illustration in the lower right-hand corner of the photo above, the four bolts here must be removed to remove the golden ring from the box. The star-shaped wrench is sharp, so handle it carefully to prevent the wrench from slipping through the screw holes and damaging the Button Module Rally itself.

Podium Button Module Rally

Loosen the bolt and it was successfully removed.
This like all Fanatec steering wheels, has buttons that allow you to adjust the FFB of the Fanatec wheelbase by operating this panel.
The feeling of pressing each button is the impression of a well-built, chunky, and hard button. The red-yellow-blue rotary switch at the bottom also has a solid feel.

Attach Advanced Paddle Module to Podium Hub

In order to build a new steering wheel, we removed the Advanced Paddle Module from the Formula V2 steering wheel and robbed it.

Podium Advanced Paddle Module

First, remove the F-mark cover.

Podium Hub + QR2 Wheel-side

Tighten the four bolts, two on each side, and connect the connectors extending from each cable to the Podium Hub that I originally owned. The cables should be positioned as shown in the photo.

Back to the Podium Hub, fix this F-marked cap and I’m done. Just be careful not to pinch the cable.

Incidentally, this Podium Hub was used until recently for the Classic2 Rim, from which it was robbed. Really, at $169.99 per unit, I can’t afford to buy many of them.

Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Rim Classic 2 — Black Friday Purchase Review

I am currently in the process of contacting support about this Classic 2 Rim, asking them to send me just the cap if the cap is tilted as shown in the picture, but if they deem it unacceptable as a product quality issue, they replied in Japanese a day later. It seems that they don’t have the cap by itself, and they are considering how to deal with it.
Now, back to the Sparco steering. When the Sparco steering wheel is installed from this state, the F mark of Fanatec and the Sparco mark are clearly visible. There seems to be no particular instructions for tightening the bolts, so I tightened them with my index finger and thumb, holding about 1cm from the center of the wrench and applying force to the extent that I did not overdo it.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula

Thanks for the advance paddle module, this still has paddles to play with Fanatec’s highest rigidity, but except for the two paddles, there are only two buttons and two analog paddles, so the Button Module Rally is added at the end.
Secure the spacers in the remaining three holes with the bolts provided.

Finally, the four screw holes on the spacer are used to secure the Button Module Rally. The fixing is done with the included star-shaped wrench. I tightened this with my thumb and forefinger about 1 cm from the bolt, but not too much. The star-shaped wrench is sharp, so be careful not to damage the Button Module Rally.

The USB cable is inserted from the side of the Button Module Rally and connected to the bottom of the Podium Hub. The cable length is a bit long, so it might be better to fix the cable or something to make it look better. I will think about it later.

Surprisingly, Button Module Rally is thick.

Podium Button Module Rally

After this, the switch-type paddle shifters that originally came with the Formula V2 were retrieved from the Formula V2 box and installed on the Formula V2, which no longer had paddles.

Here is a comparison of the two. The Formula V2 makes a squeaking sound when you hold the grip tightly, but the Sparco makes no such sound, and you can feel the increased rigidity.

In the Formula V2, the carbon panel is not laid out in the middle of the grip, as there is a motor inside the grip.
As for Sparco, I feel that the metal frame is probably well connected and rigid even inside the grips. (Not that I’ve opened it up, but…)

The Sparco mark, which I was worried about, is clearly visible even with the button module installed. (Although it may be difficult to see from the cockpit because of the shadow of the button module since it is viewed from above.)

Podium Button Module Rally

As well as the material being metal, Sparco has grips that extend all the way to the bottom, which I believe also contributes to the increased rigidity.

It’s really the same size.

From the top, it looks quite lumpy. So far, I haven’t noticed any major adverse effects from this lumpiness, although the Formula V2 may be a little easier to operate, but once you get used to using Sparco’s set, it doesn’t seem to be a particular problem.

ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X

Incidentally, this steering wheel, which has six holes, should also be compatible with Button Module Rally. It is quite difficult to replace the steering wheel, so I might do it when I really have a hard time finding a topic for my blog. Because I have to remove Button Module Rally, remove Sparco steering wheel, install Classic2 steering wheel, and install Button Module Rally.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Classic 2

For reference, this combination weighed 1826g.

1366g. This is a standard paddle, but lighter.

Fanatec Flat 1 steering wheel is not compatible with Button Module Rally

As an alternative to Formula Steering, this one might come to mind: at $149.99, it’s not much less expensive than Sparco’s, but a little cheaper, and it does not support Button Module Rally.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Flat 1

According to the product description, this Flat1 steering wheel is not compatible with Module Rally. I did not understand why this Flat1 steering wheel was not compatible with Module Rally until I actually had a Module Rally in my hands, but I immediately understood when I installed it this time. This Flat1 steering wheel has only three holes, and although it can be attached to the Podium Hub and Universal Hub, it cannot be attached to the Button Module Rally. (It would be nice if you could machine the counterbored holes to the correct position by yourself, but if you have to go that far, it seems like you might as well spend $159.99 and buy Sparco.)

Can non-Fanatec steering wheels be installed?

As long as the size and position of the holes in the steering wheel are correct, the Fanatec Podium Hub and Button module rally can be installed. Therefore, it is possible to install even a cheap and questionable steering wheel. I wanted to make a safe choice because it is something that is always in contact with my hands, and there was a possibility that I would be dissatisfied if the frame was too thin and rigid, so I decided to go with a safe Fanatec combination for this project.
I remember that steering wheels made by Turn, which is planning to withdraw from the business, or something like that, were relatively reasonable… but when I looked into it, I found the following. The price is similar to Fanatec’s Sparco steering wheel, if you even consider importing it. Or maybe it’s shipping or taxes that make it more expensive.

I was tempted to write a discussion of why Turn withdrew from the business, but that is a discussion for another time.
For now, as long as the PCD (hole position) 70mm with 6 holes fits, you should be able to install it. (If the frame is too small and does not interfere with the Button Module Rally.) There is a template in the “Documents” in the “Downloads” tab of the official link below, though. This is just to check the size to fit the existing steering wheel. If you want to drill the holes yourself, you will need a solid drilling machine to drill the holes cleanly, so unless you are confident in your skills, you should probably buy a steering wheel with PCD70 originally drilled securely.

Podium Button Module Rally

Still few options for shiny steering wheel made by Fanatec

The Button Module Rally has LEDs embedded in the buttons, which can be illuminated in any color.

Fanatec has yet to fully focus on this “visual” field, and you have to buy a high-end steering wheel to make it glow. Fanatec claims that it can be used in actual vehicles, but if you want a large LCD, you will have to spend $1999.99!

Podium Steering Wheel Bentley GT3

This steering wheel is also available for the actual car but is over $1499.99!

Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3

The most reasonable? The most reasonable is the GTDDExtreme, which comes with a Prestige-compatible wheelbase and costs $1399.99. However, the steering wheel is made mainly of plastic, and although it is light and easily transmits FFB, it is not a very rigid steering wheel.

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

So, I would like to summarize, while looking forward to Fanatec coming out with more easily sought-after shining steering wheels in the future.

Fanatec’s Sparco Formula Steering Wheel and Button Module Rally installation summary

It took me about two hours to remove the Advanced Paddle Module from the Formula V2 steering wheel, disassemble and reassemble the Podium Hub, all while taking pictures. If everything had been brand new and I didn’t need to take photos, I think I could have finished in about an hour. (For first-time users, I recommend taking your time and allowing around two hours.)

Compared to the Formula V2, you can immediately feel the increased rigidity of Sparco’s steering wheel when gripping it firmly. It’s also slightly heavier. So far, the thickness of the Button Module Rally(BMR) doesn’t seem to cause any major issues.

The BMR allows you to adjust the Fanatec wheelbase’s FFB directly from your hand, and the buttons glow. However, I had heard about a long-standing bug with the Button Module Rally, and unfortunately, it still persists — there are issues with displaying parameters correctly. Need to wait for the firmware update.

One downside is the cost. Building a steering wheel from scratch with this setup costs nearly $800, which may feel expensive to many. If you want the most budget-friendly way to get a flashy steering wheel from Fanatec, the DD Extreme’s wheel is an option, but its rigidity isn’t great. Also, the Steering wheel is not sold separately. If you prioritize high rigidity, glow, and price, I think the Button Module Rally is the better choice in the current lineup. (Fanatec quickly respond the issue of the bug)

I also wrote additional review below after I used this Rim.

Fanatec Sparco formula and button module Rally review | MASK | blog |

The configuration of this steering wheel is as follows:

• ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco® Formula
• Podium Button Module Rally
• Podium Hub + QR2 Wheel-side
• Podium Advanced Paddle Module

Unboxing and Assembly of Fanatec’s Sparco Steering Wheel and Button Module Rally | MASK | Blog was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Some of the links on this site include advertisements to maintain and facilitate my review activity.

I picked up the Classic 2 steering wheel (officially named Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Rim Classic 2) during the Black Friday sale in 2024. After using it for several dozen hours in Assetto Corsa Evo and Tokyo Xtreme Racer, I’d like to share my thoughts.

Purchase Details

• Price: $/€ 99.95 / AU$ 149.95 / ¥11400 (Black Friday sale)
• Material: Aluminum frame with genuine leather grip
• Diameter: 35cm

I chose this wheel expecting high quality and rigidity due to its full-circle leather-wrapped grip and aluminum construction.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Classic 2

Important Compatibility Information

This steering wheel rim alone cannot be used directly with a Fanatec wheelbase. You’ll need a hub such as:

• Clubsport Universal Hub V2 (for Xbox)
• Podium Hub
• CSL Universal Hub V2

• CS Universal Hub V2 + QR2 Pro Wheel-side
• Podium Hub + QR2 Wheel-side
• CSL Universal Hub V2 + QR2 Lite Wheel-side

Purchasing the wheel rim and hub as a bundle is usually more cost-effective, so if you don’t own a hub, consider getting a set:

• Clubsport Steering Wheel Classic 2 V2 Set

Since diameter 35cm is relatively large for sim racing, it’s best suited for those who specifically prefer this size.

For those still undecided, check out this price comparison page: Fanatec Steering Wheel type (impression and Prices)

Unboxing the Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Rim Classic 2

The steering wheel arrived in a box approximately 40cm x 40cm x 9cm.

Packaging Details

The inner box was likely shared with other Fanatec steering wheels, as there was no specific “Classic 2” branding.

The wheel was protected in a bag-like cushioning material.

The package included:

・Wheel Rim
・Center cover
・Six M5 screws

The wheel can be used without the center cover if preferred.

Installation & Setup

I mounted the Classic 2 using a Podium Hub.

ClubSport Wheel Rim Classic 2

Installation is straightforward:

• Use the six included M5 bolts to secure the wheel to the hub.
• For a visual guide, check the installation section in the video: Installation Video

Choosing the Right Hub

• Podium Hub: No built-in buttons (additional button modules available)
• Clubsport Universal Hub V2 (for Xbox) & CSL Universal Hub V2: More versatile, with integrated buttons

ClubSport Steering Wheel Classic 2 V2

Material Quality:

• Frame & Center Cap: Anodized aluminum

• Grip: Genuine leather with a smooth texture

To maintain the leather’s matte finish, using gloves is recommended. Otherwise, natural hand oils may cause a glossy sheen over time.

Weight & Torque Specs

• Classic 2 Steering Wheel Alone: ~700g
• Wheel + Hub(QR2): ~1650g

Maximum Tightening Torque

The recommended torque for securing the wheel is not explicitly mentioned in the Podium Hub or Universal Hub V2 manuals. Reddit Discussions forums suggest 5Nm as a common standard for M5 bolts in the cycling world.

For my setup, I tightened the bolts to approximately 4Nm, based on personal experience. Holding a wrench at 10cm from the bolt and applying ~4kg of force achieves roughly 4Nm.

However, Fanatec’s QR2 quick-release system specifies 3Nm, meaning that 3Nm may be sufficient for proper installation.

For more details, check the QR2 user manual under the “Download” tab:

QR2 Wheel-side

If You Lost Mounting Bolts?

If you misplace the mounting bolts, the Podium Hub and Clubsport Universal Hub V2 manuals specify that M5 bolts with a max internal reach of 16mm should be used.

The holes on the cover are tapered, so ensure the bolts fit properly.

On the other hand, it’s somewhat surprising that the bolts don’t appear to be tapered. Nevertheless, the wheel rim is firmly secured.

Alignment & Aesthetics

Is the “F” Logo Properly Centered?

The “F” mark on the center cap appears slightly tilted left. Ideally, the horizontal line in the “F” should be level. Does anyone else notice this with their unit?

ClubSport Wheel Rim Classic 2

Material & Build Quality

• Genuine leather & anodized aluminum create a premium, high-rigidity feel.
• The design resembles classic JDM drift cars or American muscle cars.

Size Comparison with Other Wheels

• Classic 2: 35cm
• GR86 OEM Steering Wheel: 36cm

GT DD Extreme Steering Wheel: 30cm (Fanatec)

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

BMW GT2 V2 Steering Wheel: 32cm

ClubSport Steering Wheel BMW M3 GT2 V2 + QR2 Wheel-side

MOZA TSW Truck Steering Wheel: 40cm

The Classic 2’s 35cm diameter may be large for competitive sim racing, but it closely matches the steering wheels of real-world MAZDA MX-5 Cup and TOYOTA GR86 cars, making it a suitable choice for real-world driving practice.

Racing with the Classic 2 Steering Wheel

I tested the wheel in an Assetto Corsa Evo MX-5 Cup race. The full lap starts at 2:35 in this video: Please watch my Race

What kind of steering wheel is used in the actual MX-5 Cup?

Out of curiosity, I searched to see what kind of steering wheel is actually used in the MX-5 Cup. A Google image search for “MX-5 Cup steering wheel” led me to a listing for a cup car steering wheel priced at $270. It was listed as 12.75 inches in diameter, which is approximately 32 cm.

Compatibility of the Fanatec Classic 2 Steering Wheel with a Triple-Screen Cockpit

This is the cockpit of one of my favorite cars, the Audi 90 GTO. The FHD screens are 32 inches, and they seem to fit the cockpit’s scale and atmosphere well.

Lucas Oil Off-Road Pro 2 Lite Truck

Lucas Oil Off-Road Pro 2 Lite Truck

General Impressions

• The 35cm size makes it great for real-world driving practice.
• For sim racing time attacks & endurance events, a smaller wheel might improve quick corrections.
• With high-torque wheelbases (ClubSport DD+ / Podium DD1/DD2), force feedback can compensate for the rim’s large size, making it easier to feel the effects.

ClubSport DD

• On lower torque wheelbases (CSL DD ~5Nm), self-aligning torque may feel weak due to its 35cm size.

CSL DD QR2 (5 Nm)

Thumb Comfort Issues?

I found that the curve where my thumbs rest is sharp, making it uncomfortable during long races. The lack of cushioning may contribute to this. A wheel with better thumb ergonomics might be preferable for endurance racing.

Final Thoughts on the Classic 2 Steering Wheel

• Build Quality: Premium feel with genuine leather & anodized aluminum
• Realistic Sizing: Close to GR86 & MX-5 OEM wheels (35–36cm)
• Sim Racing Suitability: Slightly large for serious sim racing, but great for realism
• Ergonomics: Thumb positioning softness or shape should be improved for long races

Overall, it’s an excellent wheel for those looking for a realistic, high-quality experience, especially if you’re accustomed to larger OEM steering wheels.

• ClubSport Wheel Rim Classic 2
• ClubSport Steering Wheel Classic 2 V2

Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Rim Classic 2 — Black Friday Purchase Review was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Recently, I received an interesting question from a follower regarding his Fanatec GT DD Pro and Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) on Playstation4(PS4). Here’s a summarized version of the query:

• Gran Turismo® DD Pro Wheel Base (8 Nm)
• Assetto Corsa Competizione

Question:

“I upgraded from a Fanatec CSL Elite to a Fanatec GT DD Pro. While Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition (PS4) worked perfectly with FFB, Assetto Corsa Competizione (PS4) didn’t have any force feedback at all. Changing the settings didn’t help. What should I do?”

Symptom and Steps he Taken:

Game Compatibility Check:

Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition (PS4): No issues with GT DD Pro + PlayStation 4. FFB worked perfectly.

Assetto Corsa Competizione (PS4): FFB didn’t work, and adjusting the settings didn’t fix the issue.

2. Basic Troubleshooting:

Confirmed ACC was updated to the latest version.

Verified that the GT DD Pro firmware was up-to-date (it had been updated immediately after purchase).

Gran Turismo® DD Pro Wheel Base (8 Nm)

Crowd-Sourced Insights:

I shared this issue on X (formerly Twitter), and received several helpful comments from the community. (Check out the original post in Japanese here and use a translation tool if needed.)

The Solution:

Switching to the “purple mode” (compatibility mode) resolved the issue! With the Fanatec GT DD Pro, it seems that the “purple” mode works best for Playstation(PS4) in some cases.

Key Takeaways:

• PS4 compatibility mode (indicated by the purple LED) is essential for certain games like ACC.
• Different software may have different requirements, so always consider switching modes as part of your troubleshooting checklist.
• This might also apply to other models like the GT DD Extreme.

If you found this information helpful, consider clicking the Good button or sharing it with others who might face similar issues!

Gran Turismo® DD Pro Wheel Base (8 Nm)

Troubleshooting FFB Issues with Fanatec GT DD Pro on PS4 Assetto Corsa Competizion was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

• MOZA Vision GS Wheel | MOZA Racing
• R12 and Vision GS Bundle | MOZA Racing

The Vision GS steering wheel was provided by MOZA Racing, and I believe it is the first steering wheel in the industry to have a gyro function in the center monitor.

Many systems are used, including rigidity, more than enough buttons, and display functions. Although not all of the top-quality material are selected, the materials used are basically of good quality.

You may be interested in the multiple discolorable glowing LEDs, the UI that can be freely customized within the MOZA software, and so on.

Thanks to you, my blog has grown to the point where it sometimes ranks at the top of Google in Japan if you search about racing simulators, but the number of Youtube subscribers is in the 800s at the moment.

I’m very thankful that they send me samples for my site, which is very weak as a Youtube media, because it means that I can make contents.

Especially, I have not been asked by MOZA Racing to write something like this. I always worry about it, but I wrote freely, including negative things. So, I would like to tell you that I have been provided with a sample product. Also, if you purchase MOZA products from the official website link on my site, I receive a few percent advertising fee. (Viwers purchase from my site about once a month or so. Thank you)

So you are providing me with MOZA’s top-of-the-line steering wheel, which will be priced at $749, €829, ¥11990. While I am grateful for the sample product and the opportunity to review it, I will try to be as honest as possible in my impressions.

MOZA Vision GS Wheel | MOZA Racing

The basic performance, such as the rigidity of the steering wheel and the quality of the buttons, is very high. However, this steering wheel is the highest price among MOZA steering wheel. I will write this article from the viewpoint of “how would I feel if I bought one with my own money?”

Conclusion of MOZA Vision GS steering wheel

Good point of MOZA Racing Vision GS steering wheel

• The frame rigidity of the steering wheel is adequate
• Thick M3 sticker that looks costly is selected
• The exterior is made of carbon fiber, and the whole panel has a nice texture.
• The position of the push buttons on the back side is nice.
• The LED buttons have a better texture when pressed than the buttons on the KS steering wheel (they look almost the same).
• The LCD in the center is a touch panel type, with many UIs available, and can be customized quite freely within the software made by MOZA.
• All switches and paddles have a solid feel.

Concern about MOZA Racing Vision GS steering wheel

• Hard to find the point where the steering wheel thumb fits.
• Although this is the most expensive steering wheel in MOZA, the material of the grip is artificial leather. (The FSR steering wheel is made of genuine leather.)
• The blue 3-line mark is made of plastic.
• Paddle contact noise is loud like other high-end MOZA steering wheels. (They are planning to take countermeasures for this in the production version, but I expect the noise to remain loud based on the past trend.)
• The movement of the LCD display when the steering wheel is rotated is slightly jerky due to the gyro sensor (by the way, the LCD can be fixed if it is not necessary to keep it horizontal positon).

(Items that responded that they would be improved from the sample product have been omitted. Please see text)

This movie is supplement of this blog article

Unboxing of MOZA Racing Vision GS steering wheel

Let’s unbox the product!

It came to my house around the end of May 2024, packed in a cardboard box about 15x25x37 cm in size. As usual, plastic black protectors were used on the corners.

So far, MOZA has sent us multiple cardboard boxes from Shenzhen, China, and so far there have been no major scratches or dents on the product boxes that you may concern about.

Back side. We will be excited about this new product. The box above lists it as “VGS,” but the official name of the production version is “Vision GS.”

MOZA Vision GS Wheel | MOZA Racing

First, open the box and you will find the small items inside in a small bag.

Here is a list of those items.

From left to right: a sticker for the button, a sticker to put around the button, tweezers, an Allen wrench for the paddle screws, and the instruction manual.

The stickers include the following:

Below that, the steering wheel itself is in its usual bag. I had to take it out once and take a picture! and stored it again, so it is a little off, but I think it was packaged so that the logo is in the middle.

Exterior of MOZA Racing Vision GS steering wheel

The front plate around the LCD is made of carbon fiber.

Blue-plated metal (I think) decoration is installed around the upper left and right muzzled cross keys and around the three dials at the bottom. The left and right rotary keys are made of blue-plated metal, giving the impression that a lot of money was spent on them.

On the other hand, the three blue lines that seem to have no circles around the Mercedes emblem in the middle are made of blue plastic. I thought it would be cooler if these lines were made of the same metal as the surrounding decorations, or if they were illuminated by LEDs, etc. When I asked the MOZA PR person, she said, “LEDs were not adopted because it is difficult for the light to emit evenly and it would affect the overall effect. It seems that this was the result of various considerations.

MOZA Vision GS Wheel | MOZA Racing

The white translucent buttons are buttons that can issue LEDs, and the color can be freely changed in Pit House, MOZA’s software. Here is a simple summary of what I did a long time ago below.

MOZA Racing R5 のソフトPit Houseについて | MASK | ブログ

The buttons are firm and strong when pressed, and seem to have been selected with the prevention of misoperation in mind.

The blue dials on the thumb area also have a hard feel to them, making them difficult to operate by mistake.

The bottom three dials are also made of metal, which helps to improve the texture. I did not feel any particular problem with the operating feel.

The exterior of the MOZA Vision GS has a futuristic look. Its diameter of 310 mm conforms to the standard size of GT wheels.

Note that it is only 10 mm larger than the 300 mm of the GSV2P steering wheel.

Which is better, the Vision GS or the GSV2 steering wheel? If you ask me, I can’t say, since I don’t own a GS steering wheel, but since appearance is an important factor, I think you should get the Vision GS if you think the “points of concern” mentioned in this review article are trivial.

MOZA GS GT Wheel | MOZA Racing

Materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum alloys are used.

Incidentally, on the back side, there is one black push button on each side, which can be accessed with the ring finger.

The LCD screen of MOZA Racing Vision GS

The centerpiece of this product is the circular LCD in the center. It is 2.85 inches in size.

It has been quite a while since FANATEC said it would release a Bentley steering wheel, but it seems that MOZA released a similar product first.

FANATECからBentley（ベントレー） GT3の実車でも使えるし、使ってないときでも使える？変なステアリングが発表された。| MASK | ブログ

Like FANATEC’s Ventrace steering, it has a gyro function and the LCD display remains level.

Customizable UI of MOZA Racing Vision GS

Ten preset UIs are provided, but it is also possible to create a your own UI dash display.

This time, users can customize the placement of the parameters inside themselves. This is a feature that is not available in FSR steering wheel, MOZA’s other steering system.

There are several steering wheels with LCD screens available on the racing sim market, and some of them can be customized with software such as SimHub. This Vision GS steering wheel does not. Although expensive in terms of price alone, there should be few products with customizable LCD screens that have a good balance of quality, rigidity, and price like the Vision GS.

MOZA is not considering adding a similar function (Customizable UI) to the current FSR steering

I asked MOZA, “Do you intend to add similar customization function to the current FSR through a software update?” The answer I got was that “since the hardware needs to be updated, the customization function will be implemented when the new updated version is developed and sold. I don’t know what will actually happen. Please use this as a reference.

I tried to customize the parameters in the UI

As for the UI, I think it would be easiest and best to be able to use the one originally set up,

I think that the more expert you become, the more you will be concerned about it.

So I did my best to touch and see.

I will try to display only the speed (km/h) in a larger size in the center. Please see the video there. I made the simple UI around one minutes.
It should play from 8:58. (If it is off, click on the timeline in the overview column or adjust it to 8:58)

From the “Dash Panel” of the MOZA Pit House software, press the “Create New” button to open the software dedicated to UI creation.

Select Text and change the content in the Text section on the right. This time, enter “0” as the initial value. Then, set the Top, Bottom, Left and Right items to Center. We made the text box larger.

To link the information in the race sim to the LCD panel, click the ■ mark in the Text item you just created. Then, a selection screen will appear to choose which parlors to display, so select the ones you need and save them.

Select File in the upper left corner and “Save,” and the file creation is complete for now.

Return to Pit House and press the “Upload” mark to make the UI you just created available for use in the steering wheel.

It seems that you can select various parameters, so there are endless ways to use it.

It is also possible to duplicate a preset and customize it based on the preset, so if the UI of your favorite preset does not have the parameters you need, you can add them. I think this kind of usage will allow you to add your own necessary parameters with less burden.

R12 and Vision GS Bundle | MOZA Racing

Grip section is made of artificial leather

Microfiber leather grips (man-made leather) are used. It feels good to the touch and is tightly woven and attached.

On the other hand, I am not sure about the durability of this artificial leather. Personally, I am concerned about hydrolysis. As with any steering wheel, it is probably safe to store it away from UV rays and excessive humidity.

Since the grip of the following FSR steering wheel, which costs less than Vision GS is genuine leather, I wish MOZA’s top-of-the-line Vision GS steering wheel, was also genuine leather, but I guess there were many decisions to be made by the company.

FSR Formula Wheel | MOZA Racing | MOZA Racing

First, I would like to note that I have received feedback that MOZA will improve the product version. As you can see in the photo, the leather treatment on the left and right edges of the sample product was a little sticking out, which was bothersome to us. (For Japanese people under the weaking Japanese currency, we feel this is an expensive product, so I was providing detailed feedback. ) Maybe overseas, it doesn’t seem that so expensive. (What do you think? Is this price cheap for you?) The product version of the FSR steering wheel was installed the leather perfectly. I write this again just to make sure, but they are planning to improve it in the product version.

Rigidity of MOZA Vision GS steering wheel

MOZA Vision GS steering wheel frame

When held, the frame itself does not creak or distort when twisted. It is firm and solid.

MOZA Racing Quick Release

MOZA Racing holds the steering wheel in place by spring-loaded 10 quick-release steel balls that press against a depression in the wheel base. For normal use, the system is completely rigid and has no problems.

If you apply a twisting force (like right hand pushing and left hand pulling) in the direction of extreme forcing, a slight flex will occur, losing out to the strong spring force, but I don’t think you need to worry about it because it is never used in that way.

Although it is a transmission system, regular MOZAs have spring-loaded pins for information transmission and seem to be made to be less prone to failure.

R12 and Vision GS Bundle | MOZA Racing

The paddles of this sample product

The Vision GS steering wheel has two on/off paddles for shifting on top and two analog paddles on the bottom. The analog paddles use a non-contact magnetic sensor with an accuracy of 0.03 mm.

There are no problems with the function of the paddles, and the base portion that supports the paddles is aluminum, giving the impression of a solid and rigid construction.

Paddles are loud, but they will be improved

As is the case with all higher grade MOZA Racing steering wheels, such as GS, RS, and FSR steering wheels, the operating parts of the paddle shifters are aluminum. The base part that receives it is also metal. Therefore, when the paddles are operated, the metal parts are made to collide with each other, causing a sound like castanets sound. Some products have a sound deadening pad applied at the time of manufacture, while others require you to apply the enclosed rubber yourself.

The Vision GS sample product this time had a sound deadening pad embedded in it, but its effect was small, and the sound resonated to a certain extent when shifting gears.

When commercializing the product, they will increase the thickness and hardness of the pad to adjust the sound.

About LEDs on the steering wheel

Like all MOZA steering wheels, the upper bar-mounted RPM indicator is customizable with 10 high-intensity LEDs in 16.7 million colors. They can also be linked to the signal display during a race.

Multiple LEDs and LED buttons are used on the steering wheel, which also has a rotating LCD in the center. The price may be appropriate.

Actual use of MOZA Vision GS

I used it on a new R21.

I installed and used it on the new R21, MOZA’s highest wheelbase. When the Vision GS is installed with the quick release, each LED issues as set, the LCD monitor is energized, and the screen is displayed after a while.

As for the FFB of the new R21, it is MOZA’s highest peak and produces up to 21 Nm of torque. I have no complaints about the rigidity of the steering. To begin with, I don’t think there is much to play with in terms of maximum torque. The heavy FFB puts quite a bit of strain on my body when driving with the steering wheel, which slows down the timing of curves and makes it hard to concentrate on driving because it is physically painful. Also, I think it really hurts your wrists and could lead to tendonitis, so please choose just the right FFB strength.

MOZA Racing R21 | Direct Drive Force Feedback Wheel Base

For me, with R21, 50–60% feels just right. If you drive for hours, you may want to go a little weaker.

In general, it is unlikely that you will have any complaints about the stiffness for this steering.

When changing the LCD UI during a race, you will have to bring your hand to the LCD, so you will be driving with one hand. You will probably need bare hands or gloves with free fingertips for the touch screen LCD. (I have checked the instruction manual and Pit House and so far cannot find any commands to change the LCD screen with the switches on the steering wheel.)

I think the best thing to do would be to make a UI that works for you so that you don’t have to change the LCD UI, or create your own UI with the necessary parameters laid out.

• 新型R21レビュー。MOZAの最高級ダイレクトドライブのV2 | MASK | ブログ |
• R12 and Vision GS Bundle | MOZA Racing

I used it with FANATEC Clubsport DD+.

The link is as if it starts at 5:23 of the video.

The Vision GS was originally used with the new R21 by me, but there were days, etc., waiting for an early firmware fix for the Vision GS, during which time the wheelbase was replaced with a Clubsport DD+ from the new R21.

ClubSport DD+

Then I was informed that the Vision GS firmware had been updated. In the process, I connected Vision GS to FANATEC’s Clubsport DD+ using MOZA’s adapter and MOZA Universal Hub.

The MOZA Universal Hub Kit includes above two items and cables. Please check the What’s included in the official page below for the contents.

MOZA Universal Hub Kit | MOZA Racing

If, like me, you want to use FANATEC wheelbase, you can use MOZA products with FANATEC’s Universal Hub or Podium Hub. In that case, however, use the metal QR2. Since the axis becomes longer, the moment applied to the quick release is greater, so I think you will be dissatisfied with the rigidity of the old QR1.

FANATECのPodium Hubが届いたので、MOZAのFSRステアリングをPodium DD1で使ってみた | MASK | ブログ |

I have no complaints about the rigidity of this set (When using FANATEC QR2 Below).

QR2 Wheel-Side

Slight jerkiness during rotation. Gyro sensor response speed is dragging.

he following is a summary of the materials received in advance from MOZA regarding LCDs.

Powered by an ultra-fast 1.3GHz quad-core processor, MOZA VGS performs complex real-time display rendering with nearly zero latency.

The CPU used is a 1.3GHz quad core and the screen refresh rate is 60Hz. Indeed, as stated, the values of gears, parameters, etc. are changed in real time.

On the other hand, when it comes to leveling the screen using the gyro function, the screen does not move with super smoothness when the steering wheel is turned, and the eye can see that there is a slight lag with respect to the tracking of the LCD screen to the steering wheel rotation. I think this is due to the reaction speed and resolution of the gyro sensor.

When I gave my first impression of the device, “I was expecting a slippery screen tracking since I heard it uses a high-performance CPU, but that was not the case,” MOZA gave me the following feedback.

Gravity sensing is affected not only by the quad core, but also by the gyro sensor and algorithms. We are currently working on optimizing it, but it may be difficult to eventually achieve perfect zero latency. Just as there is a certain amount of delay in screen rotation on a smartphone.

During a race, it does not bother me, but I will tell you that it would bother you if you buy it after reading the product nice description and imagining that the leveling function is also super-slippery.

Note that this LCD can be used with the gyro function to keep the screen level at all times, or the gyro function can be turned off to keep the display fixed.

If you are concerned about it, please take a look at the video. I think many people will not mind at all.

Rigidity when using the steering wheel

As a test, I play with the new R21 with a maximum torque of 21Nm, but I do not feel dissatisfied with its rigidity. Also, when I play with FANATEC’s Clubsport DD+, the maximum torque is of course 15Nm, so I do not feel dissatisfied with the rigidity of the system.

To begin with, I don’t think I play with the maximum torque very often. If it is too heavy, it puts quite a bit of strain on your body when steering a turn, which slows down the timing of curves, and it is hard, so you can’t concentrate on driving.

In general, it is unlikely that you will feel dissatisfied with the stiffness of this product.

Thumbnail story

Put your thumb over the top of the frame of the grip and hold the grip in place, as shown in the picture.

In my case, and with respect to the sample product, the more force I then apply, the more my thumb tends to be sucked into the back and my hand is taken upward against the grip.

If I place my thumb over the front of the frame, it will be in just the right position, but as I apply a strong FFB to the wheelbase, I feel that I will end up pulling my thumb into the frame with force. (Although maybe I should set the FFB at an appropriate FFB that would prevent me from doing forceful driving in the first place.)

This may be due to the size of my hands, or maybe there is a better way to grip.

Back to “thumbs”, I think I read somewhere that thumbs should not be put in the steering wheel for safety reasons, but I have seen many F1 drivers with their thumbs in the steering wheel. (The thumb of the left hand in the image is firmly placed in the back of the steering wheel.)

Formula 1 on X (formerly Twitter): "Lewis Hamilton has just gone fastest of anyone through Sector 2, but he's still two tenths down on team mate George Russell across the lap ⚔️#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/oiMsXYRzBb / X"

Lewis Hamilton has just gone fastest of anyone through Sector 2, but he's still two tenths down on team mate George Russell across the lap ⚔️#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/oiMsXYRzBb

With KS steering and FSR steering, you can hook the first joint of your thumb in just the right position. the KS steering’s grip is made of rubber, so it has some grip. the FSR’s genuine leather is also non-slip. It is also easy to position my thumb. (Is it because I got used to it to some extent? The shape?)

Compared to them, I felt it was difficult to position my thumb with my hand.

Perhaps the synthetic leather of the Vision GS will become accustomed as I use it, but this is my impression at the moment.

With the sample Vision GS steering wheel, there is stitching on the thumb area when used with bare hands, which some may find uncomfortable.
This will be improved in the production version, and the stitching will be eliminated in the thumb section.

In line with this, the shape will be changed and the thumb may be positioned more easily. (So far, there is no mention of changing the shape of the frame in the production version.)

Access to the buttons is sometimes a little difficult to reach the cross keys on the grizzly when the grip is held deeply. The FSR steering wheel and KS steering wheel have easy access to these cross keys as for the RSV2, the larger diameter of the steering wheel that came with it made it difficult to access them.

R12 and Vision GS Bundle | MOZA Racing

Planned areas to be addressed from sample product

I was sent this Vision GS at the end of May 2024. In contrast, the release date is July 23 at 10:00 am Japan time. I received the Vision GS less than two months before the release date. Since it was sent to me quite early, I used it and gave our first impressions in good faith in early June.

As this is the most expensive steering wheel from MOZA Racing, I sent detailed feedback and questions to MOZA. Their response is also noted.

It seems that some of them will be reflected in the product.

I am always concern if I should publish the negative content, but I wrote from the point if I paid around 120,000 yen in Japan, what would I think? I am reviewing this from the user’s point of view. (In my case, the compensation for this review is only a sample product, so I would expect the same problem-free quality as the product, which is similar in some ways to those who purchased the product at their own expense).

From the point of view of someone who is involved in design and quality control, you might think, “Just keep your mouth shut there.”

Poor adhesion of parts (to be improved)

When I turned the steering wheel over, the key (metal) on the left stick came off. The cause was that there was not enough glue. I fixed it by applying a smear of glue. It did not break, it just came off.

I think that information will be made known during production and inspection to ensure that this does not happen in the commercial version, and that the product will be produced with some degree of care. I believe that this information will be made known at the time of production and inspection.

Clicking of the right cross key was reluctant at first, but later improved.

At first, I was reluctant to click the right cross stick. For the left direction, I had to press harder to hear the click. However, after repeated operations, the reluctance decreased and it became possible to operate with the same pressure in all directions. Even if the same thing happens to those who have purchased the product, they may quickly get used to it after using it for a while to see how it works.

Top and bottom placement of paddles causes mishandling and glove pinching (to be improved)

The sample paddle shifter has four paddles in total, but the distance between the upper and lower paddles is narrow, and depending on the material and shape of the glove, the glove could easily get caught between the upper and lower shifters. This is not a problem once you get used to it, but the close proximity of the upper and lower paddles may cause mishandling, so it may be something to think about.

When I reported this, I received a response that the shape of the upper and lower paddles will be changed in the product.

Summary of MOZA Racing Vision GS Steering Wheel

The Vision GS steering wheel was provided by MOZA Racing, and I believe it is the first steering wheel in the industry to have a gyro function in the center monitor.

Many systems are used, including rigidity, enough buttons, and display functions. Although not all of the top-quality products are selected, the materials used are basically of good quality.

Many people are interested in multiple glowing LEDs, a UI that can be customized by themselves, etc.

Positive point of MOZA Racing Vision GS steering wheel

• The frame rigidity of the steering wheel is adequate
• Thick M3 sticker that looks costly is selected
• The exterior is made of carbon fiber, and the whole panel has a nice texture.
• The position of the push buttons on the back side is nice.
• The LED buttons have a better texture when pressed than the buttons on the KS steering wheel (they look almost the same).
• The LCD in the center is a touch panel type, with many UIs available, and can be customized quite freely within the software made by MOZA.
• All switches and paddles have a solid feel.

MOZA Vision GS Wheel | MOZA Racing

Concern about MOZA Racing Vision GS steering wheel

• Hard to find the point where the steering wheel thumb fits.
• Although this is the most expensive steering wheel in MOZA, the material of the grip is artificial leather. (The FSR steering wheel is made of genuine leather.)
• The blue 3-line mark is made of plastic.
• Paddle contact noise is loud like other high-end MOZA steering wheels. (They are planning to take countermeasures for this in the production version, but I expect the noise to remain loud based on the past trend.)
• The movement of the LCD display when the steering wheel is rotated is slightly jerky due to the gyro sensor (by the way, the LCD can be fixed if it is not necessary to keep it horizontal positon).

R12 and Vision GS Bundle | MOZA Racing

If you found this article helpful, I would appreciate a like in reddit or my X and my youtube!

MOZA Racing Vision GS Review | Gyro Display | MASK | Blog| was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I got FANATEC GT DD Extreme in 2024 April and have used it for 3 months. When playing Gran Turismo and PC simracing softwrare, I can feel clear difference between them.

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

In fact, there are a second and third review to follow this review.
I will translate its Japanese article into English. If you cannot wait, you can read the automatic translation below.

• 第二弾！FANATEC GT DD Extreme(clubsport dd+)レビュー（金属製QR2装着！ドライビングポジション、LEDの色、謎のギア抜け現象、FullForceは効いてない？） | MASK | ブログ
• 第3弾レビュー　FANATEC GT DD Extreme（Clubsport DD+/GT DD PRO/Podium DD1の違いの比較）

Summary

When you use with Playstation

Even if you are using GT DD Extreme on a Playstation, you should update the firmware first. A Windows PC is required for the firmware update. Apparently, the FFB is not good if you use it with the factory settings. Therefore, you should procure it by yourself or get down on your knees and ask someone you know who has a Windows PC to update the firmware for you before you use it.

When playing Gran Turismo, there was a clear difference between the GT DD PRO and the GT DD Extreme: with the GT DD PRO, the road surface feedback has a geared feel. It has a clattering feel. （Compared to the GT DD PRO, the GT DD Extreme does not have that gear feel, and the feedback is more sticky and throaty. I could feel the greater torque and the improved resolution of FFB. In Gran Turismo, the counter also hits faster. Therefore, even if the car tends to oversteer, the effect of the car automatically moving forward (self-steer) is strong and stable.

Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)

iRacing (PC simulator)

In 2024/4/13, it is running with Formula V2 steering. The color is slightly different, but it is basically the same as this combination that is available.

ClubSport Racing Wheel F1®

As far as iRacing is concerned, compared to GT DD PRO, the feeling of gearing (gaps in the road surface, clattering on the curb) is gone, just as it was in Gran Turismo.

In iRacing, I felt the benefit of the torque strength quite a bit in driving formula cars. In real F3 Suzuka circuit, the driver will feel the about 40Nm-maximum torque on the arms. So the real driver will feel 0–40 Nm FFB.

However, considering the simracing, GT DD PRO can only represent 8Nm, so it compresses that information into 0–8Nm. Therefore, the amount of information is 8/40 = 1/5. With GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+), the FFB is 15/40, which means that even small FFB is transmitted to my hand twice as much as with GT DD PRO, so the road surface condition is easily conveyed. I really felt this effect. (Maybe it’s the same with Formula Gran Turismo, but I think it’s basically mainly for GT cars, so I don’t think I can feel the difference as much as with iRacing’s Formula)

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

Unboxing the FANATEC GT DD Extreme

The box is 47 x 40 x 44 cm high. According to my past review of the GT DD PRO, the box was 41cm x 40.5cm x 38cm, so it looks a bit huge. the GT DD Extreme is supposed to have no pedals in it, but the box is huge for nothing.

FANATEC GT DD PRO Review | MASK | Blog

Now, for some reason, I have 8 motors and 8 steering wheels for Steering controller in my room, so I also have boxes in myroom that I can sell at any time, but it is a big problem to have amount of boxes and products.

With the FANATEC GT DD Extreme, the GT DD PRO and Podium DD1 should no longer be needed, but still, as a box, two will only become one.

I also own a Formula V2 steering wheel and a BMW steering wheel, and once I finish the verification of the QR2 Lite that comes with the official Gran Turismo steering wheel that comes with GT DD Extreme, I will be able to let go of this Gran Turismo steering wheel as well. I am thinking that I can let go of the Gran Turismo steering wheel this time. The four-way key and the o,x, squre and △ buttons are very easy to use, though.

After I let go of it, I am thinking of installing the following Formula Rally steering wheel and FANATEC & Sparco collaboration Formula steering wheel to my Podium Hub, and porting the Advanced Paddle Module of Formula V2.

• Podium Button Module Rally
• ClubSport Wheel Rim SPARCO® Formula

Let’s unbox!

When unboxing, it reads,

True champions emerge when they push themselves to the Extrme.

I hope FANATEC will improve its management and logistics soon to become a true champion, because they are “pushing” too hard to manage their inventory and logistics. It also took quite a while for this GT DD Extreme to arrive.

When I open the box, a sticker, which is included in every product, is enclosed along with the instruction manual.

For the instruction manual of GT DD Extreme, click the “Download” tab on the official GT DD Extreme page below to download the PDF file.

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

Please read it carefully before ordering. If you bought it without serching deeply, it would be a good idea to read it carefully until it arrives.

When the tier of the instruction manual is removed, the GT DD Extreme steering wheel appears.

This is back of the wheel.

And finally, the wheelbase. Once I took a video of it, I didn’t take a picture of it! so I put it back and reshot it, so the white vinyl was originally a bit cleaner.

And inside the box is an AC adapter, a power cable, a USB cable, and a nut to put in the groove of the Clubsport DD+.

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

As with the GT DD PRO, three or four nuts are slid into the bottom of the Clubsport DD+ to fix it from the bottom, or four nuts are inserted into the sides, two on each side, to fix it from the left and right.

On the left is the bottom of the Clubsport DD+. On the right is the side view.

Adapters for FANATEC GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+)

Thanks to the reason, I have a lot of adapters for Hancon, so I am pasting the name of the wheelbase.

I weighed that adapter. Including the cable on one side, it weighed about 1330 grams and had a capacity of 340W.

Note that the GT DD PRO weighs approximately 930g. The capacity was 180W.

Weight, size and installation of FANATEC Clubsport DD+ wheel base (motor)

The GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+) weighed 8600g. The GT DD PRO weighed about 5070g. So the GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+) is about 3 kg heavier.

Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)

This photo from the back shows the reason for its weight. The length of the motor is different. The width is probably the same. It was about 15.5~16cm. As for the length, the grooved part of the Clubsport DD+ was 12.5cm, while the grooved part of the GT DD PRO was 8cm. Incidentally, the part where the groove is dug is made of metal. The nuts used on the GT DD PRO can be used as they are.

In the previous stage of reviewing the GT DD Extreme, I had installed the GT DD PRO. Before I forgot the feeling of driving Gran Turismo with the GT DD PRO, I installed the GT DD Extreme. My cockpit for the race SIM provided three holes to fix the GT DD PRO.

For reference, I will post what distance to drill the holes. This is a template for drilling holes in Podium DD1/DD2, and the distance between the center and left/right holes is 39.2 cm. This should be basically the same for all FANATEC wheelbases, and I have been able to install CSW, GT DD PRO, Podium DD1, and GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+) with the same hole locations.

Podium Wheel Base DD1 QR2

For the front and rear positions of the holes, it is required to fix them in three or four positions; in the case of three holes, it is safer to keep them in the depth direction as shown in the figure on the right, instead of in a horizontal row.

So, I was able to install it.

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

Clubsport DD+ Compatibility

This is the back side of the Clubsport DD+,
From left to right, you can plug in the RJ cables for shifter 1, shifter 2, pedals, and handbrake. Below that is the USB-Connect the Clubsport DD to your PC, PlayStation, or XBOX. The bottom right is for the power cable. The bottom left is the format for CAN, which will be available in the future. Instead of connecting the shifter, pedals, and handbrake all to this wheelbase with RJ cables, the wheelbase will be able to recognize all devices even if they are connected Clubsprot DD+ -> shifter -> handbrake -> pedals. In the future.

When used with a PC, the pedals, shifter, and handbrake can be connected directly to the PC via USB, but the Playstation or XBOX must be connected directly here. So, if you want to play on a Playstation or XBOX with a FANATEC wheelbase, you will need FANATEC pedals, shifters, and handbrakes.

About the steering wheel included with FANATEC GT DD Extreme

The material of the handle is described as “vegan leather”: it is not real animal leather, but artificial leather.

The diameter is 300 mm, the same diameter as the McLaren steering wheel shown below and various P1 steering wheels (V2/WRC/BMW steering wheel). The weight was 1300 grams.

The official Gran Turismo steering wheel includs with the GT DD PRO set is 280 mm and weighs 1042 g (QR1 Lite) and 1337 g (metal QR1).

The official GT DD Extreme Gran Turismo steering wheel uses the following carbon fiber reinforced plastic QR2Lite, which is lighter than the GT DD PRO steering wheel with metal QR1.

QR2 Lite Wheel-Side

FANATEC steering wheel diameter and weight data ↓

Lined up FANATEC Racing Wheels with the lighter order with describing the weights

FANATEC GT DD Extreme steering wheel controls

It has a total of five cross keys. All of them can be pushed in, and the lower left cross key is a rotary switch that can be rotated.

It has a plating-like texture compared to the GT DD PRO’s, which is a round plastic one. There is also an RGB LED ring around that stick that can be illuminated. You can also change the color as shown in the picture below.

There is also a horizontal LED light in the center that glows in conjunction with the number of rotations.

It is labeled FlagLED, and the “three” shaped ones on either side glow when a Flag appears during the game.

Also included in the center is a large 2.7-inch display.

I believe this is a display similar to the one used on the following Porsche steering wheels in the Podium series, the highest grade of FANATEC. I will verify what can be displayed on the center display at a later date.

This is supposed to be a display similar to the one used in the following Porsche steering wheel from the Podium series, the highest grade in the FANATEC line. We will verify what can be displayed on the center display at a later date.

Podium Steering Wheel Porsche 911 GT3 R Leather

In general, GT DD Extreme steering wheel has an improved texture compared to the GT DD PRO steering wheel, making Gran Turismo more comfortable to play. What follows is the steering wheel that comes with the GT DD PRO set if purchased. The only thing that glows is the LCD display in the center, and the four colorful rings are plastic rings that do not glow. The grips are rubber.

Rigidity of the GT DD Extreem Steering wheel

The BMW GT2V2 steering wheel has a metal framework. Compared to that, it deflects somewhat when pushed. The arms on the left, right and bottom grow gnarly from the center, but the upper part has no arms coming out from the center, so it is weak there.

ClubSport Steering Wheel BMW M3 GT2 V2

FANATEC GT DD Extreme steering wheel with four paddle shifters

For the main large paddle it is 3 mm thick, black anodized aluminum. The GT DD PRO, which has a maximum torque of 8 Nm, is made of plastic, while the DD Extreme is made of aluminum, which gives it a better texture. In addition, it has a magnetic shifter, which seems to have a slightly longer stroke than the magnetic shifter that comes with the Clubsport steering wheel, but the click feeling is much improved compared to the steering wheel that comes with the GT DD PRO.

The small paddles also include two analog clutch paddles, left and right, with four switchable modes. (The GT DD PRO doesn’t have these.)

The analog paddles make it possible to operate the delicate clutch at the start of a race at hand, just like a real racing car.

It also has a mode that allows it to be used as a brake or throttle, so those who cannot prepare pedals due to space or other reasons, or those who have a limp can operate this steering wheel using only their hands. The steering wheel is different, but for reference only.

How to enjoy Gran Turismo 7 without pedals by using Steering Wheel Controller| MASK | Blog |

Currently, analog paddles are included with the McLaren Steering and the Advanced Paddle Module. So you can use them as gas pedal & brake, so if you want analog paddles, the GT DD Extreme is not a must.

• CSL Elite Steering Wheel McLaren GT3 V2
• Podium Advanced Paddle Module

Not many people will purchase this ultra-premium steering BMWM4GT3 steering wheel, but it also comes with analog paddles.

Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3

The standard quick release for FANATEC GT DD Extreme steering is QR2 Lite

The GT DD Extreme uses the following QR2 Lite: QR2 is also available in other standard metal models and QR2 PRO, which is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

QR2 Lite Wheel-Side

According to the official page, this QR2 Lite alone for GT DD Extreme steering will allow ClubSport DD+ to generate up to 15Nm.

Basically, FANATEC steering wheels are programmed in such a way that the high-torque mode, which generates more than 8Nm, is restricted unless a metal QR2 is installed.

Also, please note that some CSL steering wheels, such as the following WRC steering wheels, do not allow high-torque mode even if metal QR2 is installed. (To check, please refer to the “Special Notes” section of the official page of each steering wheel.)

• CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2
• CSL Steering Wheel BMW
• CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC

The color of the power light on the FANATEC GT DD Extreme is important.

The mode changes according to the color of the power light. This can change modes with each press of the power button. It doesn’t work at all on the PlayStation! It may be the PC mode, which is red, and that may be the cause. You have to press the power button to change the mode to blue.

This is also described in the instruction manual (see “Downloads” tab in the link below).

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

Requires FANATEC pedals to play on PlayStation or XBOX

The GT DD Extreme does not come with pedals; if you are playing on a PC only, you can use pedals from any company as long as they are connected directly to your PC via USB. So when playing on a PC, I used the more maniacal Heusinkveld pedals.

However, to play on PlayStation or XBOX, the FANATEC pedals need to be connected directly to the wheel base (the part of the motor) with the included cable.

Currently, with FANATEC pedals, the three main types (CSL, V2, and V3) written below are the options.

• CSL Pedals
• CSL Pedals LC

If you are considering a serious PC racing SIM in the future, you should choose either the V2 or V3 pedal (including Inverted). Both have a 90 kg load cell capacity. The load cell of the cheapest upper CSL pedal is 60 kg, so it is quite different from those who know 90 kg. with the CSL pedal, if you brake forcefully at 60 kg, you are more likely to brake lock. If you have good control, you may be fast without CSL pedals and load cell pedals, but you may want to get V2 or V3.

• CSL Elite Pedals V2
• ClubSport Pedals V3
• ClubSport Pedals V3 inverted

If you are not familiar with this and are considering using PC SIM and Prestige together, please think you have been tricked and buy V2 or V3. It will work later. (But you need a reasonably solid cockpit.)

Below is my V2 pedals' Review

FANATEC CSL Elite Pedals V2レビュー | MASK | ブログ

If you are on a budget, I think you will be more satisfied with the V3 or V3 Inverted because it looks cool with the machined look and the ability to fine-tune the angle and position of the pedal. (I think you’ll want to buy the option to change the weight of the gummy brakes, too.) Whether you go with the suspended Inverted is your choice. (The Inverted is more expensive and has an additional ¥12,900 damper compared to the bare V3.)

ClubSport Pedals V3 Damper Kit

On the other hand, if you have a poor cockpit or think that Gran Turismo is your main focus for now, you may start with CSL pedals (without load cell). 2 pedals.

CSL Pedals

FANATEC shifter and handbrake may be added

If you enjoy driving a production car, you will probably want a shifter.

As already mentioned about pedals, when playing with PlayStation or XBOX, you need to install pedals, shifter, and handbrake directly to the wheel base (motor part) made by FANATEC.

So basically, you need to prepare pedals, shifters, and handbrakes made by FANATEC.

As already mentioned for pedals, when playing on PlayStation or XBOX, you need to install pedals, shifters, and handbrakes directly on the FANATEC wheelbase (motor part).

So basically, you need to prepare pedals, shifters, and handbrakes made by FANATEC.

• ClubSport Shifter SQ V 1.5
• ClubSport Handbrake V1.5

Summary

When you use with Playstation

Even if you are using GT DD Extreme on a Playstation, you should update the firmware first. A Windows PC is required for the firmware update. Apparently, the FFB is not good if you use it with the factory settings. Therefore, you should procure it by yourself or get down on your knees and ask someone you know who has a Windows PC to update the firmware for you before you use it.

When playing Gran Turismo, there was a clear difference between the GT DD PRO and the GT DD Extreme: with the GT DD PRO, the road surface feedback has a geared feel. It has a clattering feel. （Compared to the GT DD PRO, the GT DD Extreme does not have that gear feel, and the feedback is more sticky and throaty. I could feel the greater torque and the improved resolution of FFB. In Gran Turismo, the counter also hits faster. Therefore, even if the car tends to oversteer, the effect of the car automatically moving forward (self-steer) is strong and stable.

iRacing (PC simulator)

In 2024/4/13, it is running with Formula V2 steering. The color is slightly different, but it is basically the same as this combination that is available.

ClubSport Racing Wheel F1®

As far as iRacing is concerned, compared to GT DD PRO, the feeling of gearing (gaps in the road surface, clattering on the curb) is gone, just as it was in Gran Turismo.

In iRacing, I felt the benefit of the torque strength quite a bit in driving formula cars. In real F3 Suzuka circuit, the driver will feel the about 40Nm-maximum torque on the arms. So the real driver will feel 0–40 Nm FFB.

However, considering the simracing, GT DD PRO can only represent 8Nm, so it compresses that information into 0–8Nm. Therefore, the amount of information is 8/40 = 1/5. With GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+), the FFB is 15/40, which means that even small FFB is transmitted to my hand twice as much as with GT DD PRO, so the road surface condition is easily conveyed. I really felt this effect. (Maybe it’s the same with Formula Gran Turismo, but I think it’s basically mainly for GT cars, so I don’t think I can feel the difference as much as with iRacing’s Formula)

Gran Turismo® DD Extreme

For whom want to buy FANATEC GT DD Extreme

FANATEC will not ship until all items in your cart are in stock so I strongly recommend that you place separate orders for in-stock items and out-of-stock items.

Basically, compared to GT DD PRO, there was a clear difference between GT DD Extreme and GT DD PRO, so I think there is a performance difference in price. For those who may introduce a PC simulator in the future, it also has sufficient FFB expressiveness, so I think it can be used for a long time without shifting your attention to others.

Compared to GT DD PRO, the additional $600 or more difference is more than $1100 if pedals are included. Adults who want something better and can afford a little more in life can buy. For that person, I think around $1000 difference is a margin of error for a hunting machine that he/she may play with for hundreds of hours. Resale is also to be expected.

Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)

There is a press release that the CEO of FANATEC was recently removed at the request of the bank that financed the company and the management team was replaced. I do not have a MBA, nor do I know much about manufacturing and retailing or international accounting standards, so I do not know whether FANATEC will be able to survive in Germany without any problems, whether only the brand will survive, or worse, whether it will all disappear. In Japan, far away from Germany, I do not know. I think we have to consider the risk (supply and driver renewal), but personally, I believe that a brand that is so widely recognized and whose value has increased so much will probably remain.

Should a student with a regular part-time job or living on scholarship buy GT DD Extreme? If you were to say that. I’ll reply, “Even the GT DD PRO is a good enough handheld.” When I was a student, I was satisfied with a cheap $100 handheld controller. So, for me, even GT DD PRO is super high-end. (If you want to play Formula, 8Nm might be a little bit less…) I think it might be easier to get a sense of fulfillment by gradually getting a shifter, handbrake, and steering wheel for the money difference between the GT DD Extreme and the GT DD PRO. I think so.

• Gran Turismo® DD Extreme
• Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)
• CSL Cockpit

FANATEC GT DD Extreme Review | MASK | BLOG was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Some of the links on this site include advertisements to maintain and facilitate my review activity.

This post is based on this Japanese article.

This time I would like to write about my experience in designing a monitor stand for 3 screens of a racing simulator.
As you enter the world of sim racing, you may be interested in 3 screens or VR to enjoy racing simulators more.
I used to use VR for space reasons, but I moved to a new house and installed 3 screens because I had more space for the simulator.

Devices are below:

• ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X
• Podium Wheel Base DD1 QR2
• Sprint Black * Heusinkveld advanced simracing products

Is it VR or 3 screens that makes a racing sim more enjoyable?

I know a lot of people have this question, but personally I don’t think it matters either way.

Advantages of VR when playing a driving simulator

I think VR is much more realistic than 3 screens.
VR is compact and easy to install. 3 screens are hard to install.
The installation cost of VR is lower than 3 screens.
In my experience, VR sometimes lacks stability in operation, so there is a risk of stopping the race due to equipment problems. On the other hand, with VR, you have a clear field of view even if you look back to the left or right, whereas the 3-screen does not cover all the way to the back, so if you bend your neck to look back, there is no screen there.

Advantages of 3 screens for playing driving games

3 screens are versatile and convenient. It is very powerful when you take pictures or videos. I think there is less risk of malfunction when using 3 screens.

In the end, I decided to use three screens

I chose 3 screens in the end, but for those who don’t have the space for a screen installation, VR can be an awesome weapon if you can put up with some inconvenience.
(Although those who value scores in iRacing will need to ensure operational stability…)

Three screens are hard to fix with low cost

Speaking of 3 screens, I installed 3 32" LCDs in 2022 as below article.
I attached a surplus aluminum frame member to the cockpit, installed a monitor arm on it, and somehow managed to place 3 screens.

I installed 3-32 inch displays for sim racing

However, the entire load was placed on the cockpit, which tended to sway slightly, and the monitor also swayed when the cockpit swayed.
Due to the nature of the monitor arm, it was very difficult to fix the screen in the desired position, and even when the monitors were taped together, it was not possible to fix them in a good position.
I think the main reasons were that I was stingy with the monitor arm and lacked of number of aluminum frames.

• ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X
• FANATEC QR2 Base-Side (Type-M) and QR2 Wheel-Side Review | MASK | Blog |

Taking advantage of the move, I began work on a full-size 3-screen racing simulator monitor stand

I moved and took the opportunity to start production of a stand to securely mount the three screens.
Since the cockpit frame is black, I decided that the frame for the three screens would also be black. The metal hardware was made of bright silver metal (probably die-cast aluminum). (Probably die-cast aluminum).
If I chose anodized black metal fittings, it would be a little expensive, and the default color of metal fittings in MISUMI’s design software is the standard color, so I couldn’t be bothered to select black components from the list again.
If I start to worry about the color of the silver fittings, I will paint them appropriately with a $1-black spray.

Why DIY instead of buying this commercial product?

This time we made a monitor stand for 3 monitors,

Cost Issues

The cost of a large monitor stand that would accommodate the width of my noise reduction system below would be well over $500 if purchased commercially.
And there are rumors that some inferior foreign imports may have the holes in the wrong position.
If so, it will be difficult to negotiate returns and processing.

I improved the racing cockpit noise reduction system

For the sake of a blog story

I was willing to go to some trouble to produce a content.

I got DIY parts.

I had the opportunity to get give away hardware that a person had designed for himmself but he was too busy to use.

MASK@自宅でレーシングシミュレーターを作った人 on Twitter: "ある方から、超貴重な凄いものを譲って頂きました☺️設計とか、お引越し等の問題もあり、すぐにとはいきませんが、近々モニタの崩壊問題が解決されるかもしれません🤣ver2を作ったのに、時間が無くて交換せずにver1のままで運用しているらしい🤣そのver2を譲っていただきました☺️ pic.twitter.com/AATYwMwhgy / Twitter"

ある方から、超貴重な凄いものを譲って頂きました☺️設計とか、お引越し等の問題もあり、すぐにとはいきませんが、近々モニタの崩壊問題が解決されるかもしれません🤣ver2を作ったのに、時間が無くて交換せずにver1のままで運用しているらしい🤣そのver2を譲っていただきました☺️ pic.twitter.com/AATYwMwhgy

About the DIY Aluminum Frame

The aluminum frame I used this time was made by a Japanese manufacturer (MISUMI). I also designed my SIM Rig by using this service. This company provides 3D design software for aluminum frames, and after the design is completed, you can place an order from the software, and they will send you a frame cut to the length of the drawing.

DIY Aluminum Race Sim Cockpit Setup for FANATEC 3/4 (Design)

Design process (not so much)

The concept behind the design of this 3-screen stand was to create a stand that could hold a cockpit floating system, be black, reasonably solid, and cheaper than buying off-the-shelf products.
That was the goal. First, I posted a very rough sketch on X (Twitter) and asked for your reactions.

Fortunately, there are many SIM hobbyists who follow me on X (Twitter), so I was able to get a variety of opinions. I was able to eliminate the weak points in my design and optimize it.

Opinions etc. from X (Twitter)

We had a discussion about how to make it rigid.

Design version 1

Final version

In version 1, we initially set the length of the part that touches the ground to 1000mm, but when we compared it to the actual sim, it was quite long, so we asked the opinions of people who actually made the sim and set it to 550mm.

The 454mm stick in the foreground was needed for a shifter or something, so it was bought on the side.

How do you mount the monitor for the three racing simulator screens?

• Sprint Black * Heusinkveld advanced simracing products
• ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X

I thought about using metal brackets to mount it without using a bracket,
However, it is best to follow the teachings of our predecessors.
I borrowed the method from someone who already made one and said, “No problem.
It costs about $15 each, but it is reassuring to know that there is a precedent, and it would be a waste of money and time if I gambled and bought a cheap one and it failed, so I chose a reliable one.
My impression is that it is a solid product, with a leveler included.

Sanwa Supply CR-LA301 Monitor Arm

I will post the assembly process later.

As for my impression of the assembly process, even at 550mm, I don’t think the stand will topple at all when I make contact with it.
Even in the event of an earthquake, the center of gravity of the stand seems to be in the middle, so it is unlikely to topple over easily.
For mental stability, it might be better if the bottom bar was a little longer.

My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo

A story about designing a monitor stand for three screens of a racing simulator | MASK | Blog | was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Some of the links on this site include advertisements to maintain and facilitate my review activity.

This post is based on this Japanese article.

At the end of last year, 2022, I summarized how much I had splurged on SIM-related supplies over the year, as shown in the link below. Looking at the number of accesses last year, it seems that some people enjoyed such content as a way to kill time during the year-end and New Year holidays, so I think I’ll give it a try again this year.

2022年、僕のレーシングシミュレータ散財の反省会| MASK | ブログ |

Now, in 2023, I had splurged on a racing simulator.

I installed GT DD PRO, a 3-screen stand, installing QR2, participating in FANATEC Black Friday, and purchasing a bezel-free kit. Thanks to this, I can now play with this atmosphere on three 32-inch screens. (EA WRC does not fully support 3 screens at this point, so the area around the dashboard is a bit unnatural)

I thought that in 2022, investment in race SIMs would be almost completed. So, at the time of writing this article, I guess I haven’t spent much money in 2023. That’s what I think, but what happens when I’ll summarize from now?

Also, although I did not purchase them, thankfully I received several review requests from MOZA Racing, so I now have more MOZA products in my room.

About Japanese currency “yen”

$1 = about 145 yen

In January, I splurged on a FANATEC GT DD PRO

In 2022, before the coronavirus pandemic had even begun, he won a PS5, which was still rare, and then bought a GT7. I played with the pad for a bit, but I really wanted to try playing with the hammer. I decided to buy the GT DD PRO 8Nm full set (3 pedals). 130,495 yen ($903.50) including shipping

At the time of writing this article, two pedals are sold as a set.

Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)

I chose this set because I sometimes live in two locations due to long-term business trips and job assignments. If you only have one location, you can create a GT7 sim setup by combining the products you already have. if not, I think GT DD PRO (8Nm) alone would be fine.

FANATEC GT DD PRO Review | MASK | Blog

After that, information came out about Clubsport DD+, which is compatible with PlayStation and has a torque of 15Nm. Clubsport DD+ has already been released around November, and FANATEC official says it will be “soon” released in Japan. At the time, it was called “Soon”, but even now, at the end of 2023, it has not been released. A product called Podium Racing Wheel F1, which is an official version of Podium DD1 compatible with PlayStation, has been on sale overseas for several years, but this too has not been released in Japan. (This product is listed as discontinued and will no longer be sold again.)

In February, I splurged to buy Heusinkveld pedals.

Heusinkveld’s Sim Pedals Sprint. It was 798.48 Euro and the amount debited from the card was 114,450 yen. ($792.43) I am purchasing 3 pedals with an additional plate to secure the pedals.

I wanted a certain level of high specs pedals, and although other new pedals were being released from other brands at the time, the reviews so far were generally good and the price was just about affordable, so I decided it was a safe bet. I ended up purchasing it. There are no particular complaints regarding controllability. It’s also nice to be able to finely adjust the position and angle of the pedals.

Sprint Anthracite * Heusinkveld advanced simracing products

The nuts that come with the pedal plate are not compatible with the grooves of my aluminum frame. Selecting and ordering nuts is a hassle, so I’m currently using the included nuts, but they are installed in a very forced way, so they tend to loosen. I have to purchase new nuts.

Sprint Baseplate Anthracite * Heusinkveld Advanced Simracing Products

Personally, I don’t need the second pedal plate.

In April, I splurged on a DIY monitor stand to fix triple screens neatly.

I used monitor arms to fix 3 monitors. Using monitor arms from the cockpit was difficult because the arms were extended from the rig (base frame of the wheel base). As a result, the monitors easily went down in few hours as show in the picture.

The way it was assembled was really unreasonable, and there was little freedom in positioning the monitor. I was worried that monitors weren’t aligned accurately, which made it look bad.

I installed 3-32 inch displays for sim racing

When I thought about installing a DIY monitor stand, I was hesitant to add more SIM items because I feared the space for the simulator would become chaotic. However, there we (some Japanese) says a myth that the earlier you invest in SIM equipment, you will enjoy the more time, so I decided to do my best to design and install it.

As for the cost, the amount ordered by Japanese company (MISUMI) at the time was 24,916 yen ($172.48)(I may have ordered a little more, including the metal fittings for the cockpit). Three VESA mounts for screens cost 5,940 yen($41.12).

Maybe most of people think it’s reasonable at 30,856 yen($213.60) for the parts. However, the metal fittings I received are one-off and priceless items from my friend on X(twitter). If I sell it, it might cost close to 10,000 yen($69.22).

In order to float the SIM cockpit for soundproofing purposes, a balance disc is placed underneath, but taking this into consideration, the width of) the monitor frame must be made very wide. I had a hard time finding just the right size, and I completed making my own.

Firstly, I thought the designing the frame seemed bothersome for me, so I was looking for commercially available item. but if I wanted to install three 32-inch screens, the market price for a commercially available product would likely exceed 50,000 yen($346.03) and I was not sure if the enought width to avoid the balance discs (for noise reduction). So, it was natural for me to design myself.

3画面レーシングシミュレーターのモニタのフレームが届いたからDIYで組み立ててみた | MASK | ブログ

After making various adjustments, I was able to advance to this point.

MASK@自宅でレーシングシミュレーターを作った人 on Twitter: "ラリーゲームほとんど触ったことない僕がEA Sports WRCをみっちり５時間ぐらい練習した後に撮った↓動画の一部です。https://t.co/c6oWwUVWKQ多々壁にヒットしますが、スクールモード等で練習して、同じコース何度も練習したら、たまにそれっぽく走れるようになってきました。... pic.twitter.com/Jzqpl57mvl / Twitter"

ラリーゲームほとんど触ったことない僕がEA Sports WRCをみっちり５時間ぐらい練習した後に撮った↓動画の一部です。https://t.co/c6oWwUVWKQ多々壁にヒットしますが、スクールモード等で練習して、同じコース何度も練習したら、たまにそれっぽく走れるようになってきました。... pic.twitter.com/Jzqpl57mvl

Thanks to you, the cost was around 30,000 yen.

Triple screens or VR? for racing simulator

Setting triple screen needs a lot of space.

I have also used VR in the past. At that time, I was not 100% confident in the stability of the race because I would lose the connection between my PC and VR during the race and had to retire, and I simply wanted to use 3 screens, so I moved from VR to 3 screens.

The three screens are impressive and more stable than VR. On the other hand, if you use VR, it will be quite compact, and depending on the equipment, the cost will be cheaper than 3 screens & a monitor stand. I think the performance of recent VR has improved compared to when I used it a few years ago. If you are still using one screen, please think carefully about whether to use three screens or VR. (As the performance of VR has improved, higher PC specifications may be required.)

I didn’t have a 2ch speaker for the July race SIM, which was inconvenient, so I splurged.

Even if you call it a splurge, it’s only 2,430 yen($16.82), so I think it’s a heartwarming price in the SIM world.

When I was playing by myself, it’s really nice to wear headphones and listen to the sound of the engine revving at high volume as my ride.

Occasionally, if I want to take a video of my car driving and upload it, I need to output sound to the microphone. So, I bought the speaker hoping that it would produce good sound.

It’s very cheap at around 2,000 yen($13.84), so my impression is “it produces sound.”

-The maximum output is 2.4W, so the deep bass is small and not powerful enough.
-When I raise or lower the volume, the sound level does not change linearly, making it difficult to adjust the volume.

Therefore, if you want to use it as a main speaker, this product is NOT recommended for SIM because it does not have much power.

In September, I splurged on FANATEC QR2 at a celebratory price even though I felt it was expensive.

I was worried when I bought GT DD PRO, and I was also worried when I bought this. This is a set of QR2 for DD1/DD2 and QR2 on the steering side. Total 32,788 yen($).

QR2 Bundle (Type-M)

For more details, please see the review page below. After replacing it with the QR2, it fit perfectly and I could feel the rigidity.

FANATEC QR2 Base-Side (Type-M) and QR2 Wheel-Side Review | MASK | Blog |

As a result of the structure from the shaft to the steering wheel, the FFB should be transmitted more directly from the wheel base to the hands. Also, with the QR1, to fix against high torque, a bolt was tightened to connect the steering side of the QR1 to the wheelbase side. Now, since QR2 doesn’t need this, it is now much easier to remove and install the steering wheel.

What was sad was that on Black Friday, the wheelbase side of the QR2 was sold for 4,000 yen($27.68).

QR2 Base-Side (Type-M)

Even though I originally bought it for over 20,000 yen($138.42). Well, I’m convinced that I was able to provide review to everyone as “first penguin,” but… Since I wasted money for the Type-M.

I only have one QR2 wheel side and I’m reusing one QR2 for some wheels(Formula V2, BMWGT2V2, Podium Hub, Grand Turismo Licenced wheel) to provide review for everyone.

QR2 Wheel-Side

This is an article about my impressions when I installed the QR2 on the Gran Turismo official steering wheel that comes with GT DD PRO.

FANATECのGT DD PRO公式ステアリングにQR2 Wheel Sideを取り付けてみた | MASK | ブログ |

If you are using QR1 and are dissatisfied with the current situation and want to change it somehow, I think you should try changing it. It’s true that you can experience the change when you change to QR2, but if you feel that there are no problems at the moment, I think there is no need to force the change and you can continue to use QR1 as is.

In November, I was lured by FANATEC’s Black Friday bargains and splurged.

This time I controlled my materialistic desires and only bought really cheap things.

FANATEC button cap and sticker 1,146 yen($7.93) including shipping

Button Caps and Sticker Set

I have summarized this in an article since it arrived.

FANATEC BMW GT2V2とFormula V2ステアリングににボタンキャップ(Button Caps and Sticker Set)を取り付けてみた | MASK | ブログ |

QR2, Base Side (USB-C) 3,296 yen($22.81) including shipping
It was originally over 10,000 yen($69.21), but is it a featured product even though it has just been released? It was sold off as. It was listed as available at the end of December, so I thought it would be shipped, but it doesn’t seem like it will be shipped before the end of the year. I’m not in a particular hurry, so I’d like to wait patiently. When this arrives, I think I’ll have QR2 for the steering wheel I use mainly. Is this FANATEC’s strategy?

QR2 Base-Side (Type-C)

I wanted to create a gaming room atmosphere, so I splurged on LEDs.

When taking photos and videos, I wanted to create an extraordinary feeling, so I decided to use LEDs. There are two 5 meter tapes, one of which is placed on back of the monitor stand. 2,790 yen($19.30)

ゲーム部屋をLEDで安価に青色にライティングして怪しいゲーミングルームにする方法| MASK | ブログ |

The remaining one was attached to a board and used as lighting for photography. (Used as white light when shooting without making it flicker this much)

MASK@SIM Racing&PC game&JPN&飯テロ on Twitter: "前購SIM用に入して余ったLEDテープを、クラフト用の下敷きに貼り付けて、照明作った😎動画撮る時に使えそう。↓この記事で、レビュー？っぽいことしたやつ。https://t.co/hgjMghS4k7 pic.twitter.com/QJpShWxav9 / Twitter"

前購SIM用に入して余ったLEDテープを、クラフト用の下敷きに貼り付けて、照明作った😎動画撮る時に使えそう。↓この記事で、レビュー？っぽいことしたやつ。https://t.co/hgjMghS4k7 pic.twitter.com/QJpShWxav9

In November, I ended up worrying about the frame of the LCD monitor, so I splurged on a bezel-free kit.

I should have bought it sooner, but for some reason I kept waiting buying it but ended up buying it. I bought it around Black Friday, but it wasn’t really discounted. I bought this kit because I wanted it, and because everyone stocked up on SIM supplies on Black Friday. I thought there would be a high demand for the bezel-free kit and there was a possibility of it running out the stock. As if my guess was correct, the item was out of stock for a long time right after that. 10,836 yen($74.98)

今更３画面３２インチレーシングシミュレーターにベゼルフリーキットを取り付けてみた | MASK | ブログ |

After all, since the bezel disappears, the sense of realism is improved. With a 32-inch lens, the length of the lens was not long enough with the included parts to fix it properly, so I had to forcefully attach it with tape.

MASK@SIM Racing&PC game&JPN&飯テロ on Twitter: "ベゼルフリーキット、こんな感じ😬 pic.twitter.com/RvWXXxi2wn / Twitter"

ベゼルフリーキット、こんな感じ😬 pic.twitter.com/RvWXXxi2wn

I wanted the software and splurged on Steam.

EA SPORTS™ WRC 5,600 yen($38.75)

I bought this because I wanted to go on a rally. I waited until Black Friday, but the price wasn’t reduced so I bought it. After that, it seems that the price dropped to the 3,000 yen($20.76) level during the Christmas sale. I like the music that plays during the game because it has a nice atmosphere. You’ll fall in love with its worldview.

Automobilista2. 2,050 yen($14.18)

I bought this because it seemed cheap during the Black Friday sale. You can drive a lot of different cars at this price. I don’t think it’s that difficult to set up, and FFB is also highly rated.

MASK@SIM Racing&PC game&JPN&飯テロ on Twitter: "クリスマスっぽいツイートばっかりだから、全くぽくないツイート投稿しておく😎#automobilista2 鈴鹿。年末年始こそ、マニュアル操作上手くなれるように練習したいです。 #simracing DD1, BMWGT2V2, QR2, SPS pic.twitter.com/hi63Br7cy3 / Twitter"

クリスマスっぽいツイートばっかりだから、全くぽくないツイート投稿しておく😎#automobilista2 鈴鹿。年末年始こそ、マニュアル操作上手くなれるように練習したいです。 #simracing DD1, BMWGT2V2, QR2, SPS pic.twitter.com/hi63Br7cy3

Gamp Pass to play ForzaMotrsport 850 yen($5.88)

A video of me trying it out.

If you play on a PC, especially with a triple screens, it might be a good idea to choose software that specializes in PC games. With EA Sport WRC and Forza Motorsport, I had a hard time setting up for triple screens. It may be improved in the future with updates, but if it’s originally a software for console games (PS or XBOX), it may be quite difficult to get the angle of view you want.

Summary: What is the total amount of SIM splurge this year?

Now let’s add it up.

FANATEC GT DD PRO: 130,495 yen($903.10)
Heusinkveld Sim Sprint Pedals and plate: 114,450 yen($792.06)
3-screen monitor stand: 30,856 yen($213.54)
2.4W failed USB speaker: 2,430 yen($16.82)
Gift price FANATEC QR2 (Type-M) and QR2 set: 32,788 yen($226.91)
FANATEC button cap and sticker: 1,146 yen($7.93)
QR2, Base Side (USB-C) : 3,296 yen($22.81)
LED tape: 2,790 yen($19.31)
Bezel-free kit: 10,836 yen($74.99)
EA SPORTS™ WRC: 5,600 yen($38.75)
Automobilista 2: 2,050 yen($14.19)
Gamp Pass for playing ForzaMotrsport : 850 yen($5.88)

Adding these up, the total splurge in 2023 was 337,587 yen($2,336.02).

I think everyone has a different idea whether this cost is expensive or cheap.

If it’s helpful for you, I’d appreciate it if you could give me a “good” buttons!

MASK@SIM Racing&PC game&JPN&飯テロ on Twitter: "おはようございます☀️2023年、僕がレーシングシミュレーターに散財した総額を集計してみました。https://t.co/SkFMctlOhL年末年始の暇つぶしにどうぞ💡やっぱり昨年同様、2桁万円に🤣安い・高いはそれぞれの感覚によると思いますが、気を抜くとそれなりに使ってしまいますね🤔#simracing pic.twitter.com/DIw1uH9uoS / Twitter"

おはようございます☀️2023年、僕がレーシングシミュレーターに散財した総額を集計してみました。https://t.co/SkFMctlOhL年末年始の暇つぶしにどうぞ💡やっぱり昨年同様、2桁万円に🤣安い・高いはそれぞれの感覚によると思いますが、気を抜くとそれなりに使ってしまいますね🤔#simracing pic.twitter.com/DIw1uH9uoS

Post critique on my racing simulator splurge (waste of my money) in 2023 | MASK | Blog | was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Some of the links on this site include advertisements to maintain and facilitate my review activity.

A person using a wheelchair because of a leg problem and cannot use the pedals saw my article below and asked me a question.

“Can I use the analog paddles of the Advanced Paddle Module for accelerator and brake? Can they be operated in the same way as R2L2, the original PlayStation gamepad?”

Podium Advanced Paddle Module

<This article will be automatically translated after you click.>

約100万円をレーシングシミュレーターに散財した僕が、FANATEC GT DD PROでグランツーリスモをやってみて感じたこと | MASK | ブログ

In this article, I proudly wrote

“With the addition of Fanatec’s Advanced Paddle Module(APM) to the steering wheel, you can operate the accelerator and brakes using the APM analog paddles without the pedals,’’

Also,

“The right analog paddle is originally assigned to the accelerator, and the left analog paddle is assigned to the brake. (The analog paddle is the golden paddle in the image below.) As expected, it is difficult to use compared to operating the pedals. However, I think this would also be fun for people with walking disabilities or those who don’t want to prepare pedals.’’

After receiving the question directly from the person having a leg problem, I felt I had to provide more information about this function. At least in Japan, there’s little information about how to enjoy SIM racing for people who can’t use pedals.

In this article, I did a time attack in manual gear mode, using the APM left analog paddle for the brake, the right analog paddle for the gas pedal, the right paddle for upshifting, and the left paddle for downshifting.

I also uploaded a video of how I used the paddles below. Please use the English caption if you are interested in the information.

What is the FANATEC Advanced Paddle Module?

This product is a paddle for FANATEC’s steering controller with 6 paddles. I like this because there are six paddles instead of the usual two or four, and the magnetic paddles have a good operation feel. The bottom two gold paddles are analog paddles, and the output signal to the PC becomes stronger depending on how we pull the paddle.

In Gran Turismo 7, these can be applied to the accelerator and brakes.

My paddle Review is below.

The FANATEC Podium Advanced Paddle Module review and process I attached to Formula V2 wheel

Conclusion on using FANATEC Advanced Paddle Module as a replacement for pedals

In Gran Turismo 7, when using Formula V2, V2.5(X) steering, we need to set the center dial to “C” and the left analog paddle will become the brake, and the right analog paddle will become the gas pedal.

The spring of the analog paddle is quite strong, so I recommend operating it with your ring finger rather than your little finger. (Please see the video below.) You can put your thumb on the steering wheel and press the steering wheel from behind with your index finger. Furthermore, support the steering wheel by holding the steering wheel between both palms.

Since my ring finger rests on the analog paddle, I can’t grip the steering wheel with much force. With the 8Nm model, I felt that FFB was sufficient at around 60% (= about 5Nm). When I applied 8Nm of the Maximum torque, it was difficult to control the violent steering, and I couldn’t control precisely in curves. So, please set the ideal torque for you to control well.

I joined a time trial using NSX in Sector 1 of Suzuka. I started using the paddles, which I was not used to, and halfway through I dropped the FFB to 60% (using GT DD PRO 8Nm). I changed the steering angle sensitivity (SEN) from AUTO to 540 and adjusted it so that it would turn at a slight angle, and I was able to achieve the gold medal time (That means fast) in about 30 minutes, including those minor adjustments.

Since the stroke of the paddle is quite large, I wanted to know if it was possible to shorten the stroke. However, in Gran Turismo, there is no option to control the amount of paddle stroke. I also tried to see if I could move the paddle closer to me, but there was no way to adjust it. If I could find a lighter spring for the paddle, it might be more comfortable.

If you have a PC Racing SIM, you can adjust the amount of paddle operation, so you might be able to offset the initial position of the paddle to bring it closer to you and make it easier to operate.

How to use FANATEC Advanced Paddle Module as brake/accelerator in Gran Turismo 7

After connecting GT DD PRO to PlayStation 5, turn GT DD PRO’s power to PC mode. Then press the PS button (the round button just below the red square in the photo below) and set the center dial to “C” (Red square). If you set it to anything else, the button layout will be different.

As explained below, even in models where there are no dials other than this Formula V2 (V2.5X) steering wheel, you should be able to control the analog paddle mode from the steering wheel. I will verify it later.

ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X

Also, CSL Elite Steering Wheel Macleren GT3 V2 also has analog paddles and my follower says he can use the paddles as the brake and gas pedal. This is more reasonable than the Formula V2.5X.

CSL Elite Steering Wheel McLaren GT3 V2

The analog paddle spring of the FANATEC Advanced Paddle Module is strong.

The spring of the analog paddle is not squishy. The spring is strong. Please see the video to guess.

Gran Turismo® DD Pro Wheel Base (8 Nm)

Therefore, it is recommended that you use your ring finger instead of your little finger. You can put your thumb on the steering wheel and hold it down with your index finger. Support the steering wheel by holding it with both palms.

With that kind of feeling, I could not grip the steering wheel with a strong force, so I felt that FFB was sufficient at about 60% (= about 5Nm). When I applied 8Nm of the Maximum torque, it was difficult to control the violent steering, and I couldn’t control precisely in curves.

It is possible to achieve a golden class time in Gran Turismo 7’s time trial without pedals.

Compatible with analog paddle operations, the gas pedal and brake pedal indicators on the game screen move finely and linearly, allowing for delicate operations.

I tried a time trial using NSX at Sector 1 in Suzuka.

Along the way, I lowered the FFB to 60% (using GT DD PRO 8Nm), changed the steering angle (SEN) from AUTO to 540, and made adjustments to make the turn at a slight angle, etc., and it took about 30 minutes while making such minor adjustments. I was able to achieve a golden-medal-class time.

It has some quirks, but I think you can use it once you get used to it. I thought that an endurance race that lasted several hours would be really hard on my ring finger. However, I was able to play for 30 minutes straight during the time trial with trial and error.

FANATEC GT DD PRO Review | MASK | Blog

Regarding the compatibility of the FANATEC steering controller with PlayStation and Xbox

To make it compatible with PlayStation, you must purchase GT DD PRO. After that, if you only use it on PlayStation or PC, please use the steering page on the official website. Please select the model that has “PC” and “PS Ready” displayed in the upper right corner of each product.

If you want it to be compatible with XBOX, you need to select the steering wheel with the “XBOX” notation on the upper right. If you don’t need PlayStation compatibility, you can use CSL DD instead of GT DD PRO, and DD1/DD2, CSW, and CSL will also work.

Examples of steering wheels that can be equipped with the Advanced Paddle Module if there is a possibility of using it on XBOX in the future are as follows. (For Universal Hub V2, it is necessary to select the appropriate diameter steering wheel)

Note: Based on the Advanced Paddle Module instruction manual, models with a display on the steering wheel should be able to change the mode of the analog paddles on the steering wheel. (I will try it with a BMW steering wheel soon, so please comment if you are interested.)

To switch between Podium Advanced Paddle Module modes, you must start the Tuning Menu. This menu can be accessed from the FanaLab software or from the button/display module. Use center multi-position switch A, B, C, or D if available on your steering wheel. (Example: ClubSport Formula V2)

Podium Advanced Paddle Module Manual — US (PDF)

• ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X
• ClubSport Universal Hub V2 for Xbox
• Podium Steering Wheel Porsche 911 GT3 R Suede
• CSL Elite Steering Wheel McLaren GT3 V2

By the way, the above will also support quick-release QR2 except for the McLaren GT3 V2. (MacLaren can be applied to QR2 Lite)

About adjusting the paddle position and changing settings

It doesn’t seem like the position of the paddle can be physically changed easily. Since the stroke amount is large, the distance between the ring finger and the grip is far apart for me, making it difficult to grip. However, in Gran Turismo, there is no option to control the amount of paddle stroke.

If it’s a PC race SIM (Not Grand Turismo), I think you can set the proper stroke position. First, you put physically something to the analog paddle to fix the initial position. Second, assign and calibrate the paddle as a gas pedal and brake with the Racing Simulator software. (I’ll try near future)

Can it be used in Gran Turismo even without pedals?

I think you can use it once you get used to it. In fact, I was able to set a golden-medal-level time. The FANATEC steering wheel and advanced paddle module are not cheap, so if you’re really considering it, I’ve made a video of the process, I hope it’s helpful.

During the time attack, I supported the steering wheel with both hands, operated the accelerator and brake with my ring finger, and operated the gear paddles with my middle finger. The springs of the analog paddles are a little stiff, but since you support the steering wheel with both hands, you can drive relatively stably.

I don’t know, but there might be other products that are more suitable, and this method might not be the best because it is not specifically designed for people with leg problems. I’m not going to fully rave about it, but I was able to use it enough to enjoy it. I would like to record the fact that there is an option that can be used as a commercially available product without any modification.

If anyone found it helpful, I would be very happy.
Also, if you have any products or combinations that are more suitable when operating only with your hands, please leave a comment and I think it will be helpful for everyone.

How to enjoy Gran Turismo 7 without pedals by using Steering Wheel Controller| MASK | Blog | was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I recently upgraded from FANATEC’s QR1 to QR2 as shown in the article below.

FANATEC QR2 Base-Side (Type-M) and QR2 Wheel-Side Review | MASK | Blog |

Then, someone asked me on Twitter (X), “Will the steering wheel position remain the same if I change from QR1 to QR2?”

That person built and used a maniac but beautiful sim rig made by welding for the DD1 & Formula V2.5 steering, so if he changes to the QR2 and the steering position is too far back or towards him, he will have to remove the weld and rebuild it.

I’ve tried various measurements, but my conclusion is that the steering position doesn’t change at all.

FANATEC QR1 & DD1 dimensions

When I measured the length of the part from the shaft of FANATEC Podium DD1, it was exactly 100mm = 10cm. ( I’m not sure your country uses units, I’ll use the meter.)

QR1 Wheel-Side

I could use a cooler metal caliper, but I don’t live a lifestyle that requires an accuracy of less than 1mm, so I use a very cheap plastic-made one.

FANATEC QR2 & DD1 dimensions

First, I measured the distance from the black collar to the QR2 wheel side as below.

QR2 Base-Side (Type-M)

Reference: As for the instruction manual, this black collar should be located to the front as far as the shaft tip on the DD1 side.

To answer his question, I took the trouble to remove the already installed QR2 (lol) and took measurements.

It’s about 76mm.

QR2 Wheel-Side

So, the tip of Podium DD1 was 24mm, and the length of QR2 wheel-side was 76mm, so if you add it up, it should be about 100mm.

Then, It’s obvious that the position is the same as when we used the original QR1.

Reference information: From October 5th, Podium DD1 includes QR1 and QR2, and the price has been significantly reduced as below.

Podium Wheel Base DD1

The steering position does not change even if you change from FANATEC QR1 to QR2 | MASK | Blog | was originally published in My Race SIM review from Simracer.tokyo on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.