In the world of sim racing, there are direct-drive sim rigs and then there’s the stuff normal people can afford. But Fanatec is trying to change that with a new, more affordable direct-drive steering wheel base for sim racing.
With a starting price of $/€350, the CSL DD isn’t exactly cheap, but it does bring substantially closer to mass market racing wheels than direct drive wheels have come before. The base does not come with a wheel, pedal, or table clamp, all of which will cost extra.
It’s still an impressive feat, though. The cheapest direct drive wheel base that Fanatec offered before the CSL DD was the Podium Wheel Base DD1. It starts at $1,199 while the DD2 starts at $1,499. Prices for direct drive sim racing rigs, though, can get pretty lofty.
Read More: A Guide On How to Get Into Sim Racing At Any Budget
That’s because, unlike in cheaper belt or gear-driven setups, direct-drive wheels require a bigger electric motor. The advantage of that is they hook the motor right up to the wheel, giving you a more direct and precise steering feel.
Fanatec says it can achieve this thanks to a new bespoke electric motor designed specifically for sim racing that is small and affordable, even though it has a carbon-fiber motor shaft for low rotational mass.
The catch for the CSL DD, though, is torque. Whereas the Podium Wheel Base DD1 can provide up to 20 Nm of torque (15 lb-ft), the CSL tops out at 8 Nm (6 lb-ft) of torque but comes standard with just 5 Nm (3.6 lb-ft) of torque. That is on par with Fanatec’s Clubsport, belt-driven wheel base, and more than you get from, say, a Logitech G29 wheel.
Unfortunately, there’s no official launch date yet, but Fanatec promises it’s coming soon. If you’re interested in learning a little more about the world of direct-drive wheels, watch the video below.