Fanatec direct drive wheels

The Fanatec lineup

• 

  Entry · 5 Nm

  Fanatec CSL DD (5 Nm)

  The cheapest direct-drive base in the Fanatec catalogue. Same chassis as the CSL DD 8, smaller PSU, and most reviewers say you'll regret skipping the Boost Kit.

  $400 3.6/5 · 10 reviews
• 

  Entry · 8 Nm

  Fanatec CSL DD (8 Nm)

  The wheelbase that finally killed gear and belt drive at the entry tier. With Fanatec's 8Nm Boost Kit PSU it punches well above its price.

  $300 3.8/5 · 12 reviews
• 

  Entry · 8 Nm

  Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)

  The only direct-drive wheelbase that's officially licensed for PlayStation. Same chassis as the CSL DD, but with the PS firmware and Boost Kit 180 in the box.

  $600 3.9/5 · 14 reviews
• 

  Mid-tier · 12 Nm

  Fanatec ClubSport DD (12 Nm)

  Fanatec's mid-tier direct drive at 12 Nm - the upgrade buy from the CSL DD when you want the same platform with proper torque and a better chassis.

  $700 3.6/5 · 8 reviews
• 

  Upper mid · 15 Nm

  Fanatec ClubSport DD+ (15 Nm)

  Fifteen Newton-metres of Fanatec direct drive on the same QR2 that runs across the modern Fanatec line. The upgrade buy from the ClubSport DD 12 when you want more peak torque without changing rims.

  $900 3.6/5 · 8 reviews
• 

  high · 20 Nm

  Fanatec Podium DD1 (20 Nm)

  Fanatec's PS5-licensed flagship at 20 Nm. The base for serious console drivers and the answer for Fanatec owners who want flagship torque without the Podium DD2 hunt.

  $1000 3.9/5 · 8 reviews
• 

  Flagship · 25 Nm

  Fanatec Podium DD (25 Nm)

  Fanatec back at the top of the market. 25 Nm, the same QR2 mount, and the only PS5-licensed flagship direct drive on the planet.

  $1200 4.1/5 · 8 reviews

Which Fanatec base for me?

1. If

   You are coming off a Logitech G29/G923 or a Thrustmaster T300, you want a real DD wheel for under $400 / £320, and console support is non-negotiable.

   Then

   Fanatec CSL DD (5 Nm) →

   The 5 Nm CSL DD QR2 sells for $399.99 / £316 direct from fanatec.com, with the Boost Kit 180 sold separately to open up the full 8 Nm later. The natural step up from belt-drive. Worth knowing before you order: the older-QR 8 Nm CSL DD is currently listed cheaper at $299.99 / £237.

2. If

   You want the absolute lowest-price Xbox-licensed direct drive and you are mainly racing on console, not chasing the highest torque.

   Then

   Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm) →

   GT DD Pro is the PlayStation-licensed sibling - same hardware as the CSL DD 8 Nm with the official Sony licence that enables Gran Turismo 7 force feedback. The QR2 wheelbase alone is $599.99 / £474; the QR1 bundle with wheel and pedals is $799.99 / £632.

3. If

   You are an iRacing or ACC PC racer with a rig, you want the CSL DD's value but the full 8 Nm of torque, and you do not need PlayStation licensing.

   Then

   Fanatec CSL DD (8 Nm) →

   The CSL DD QR2 8 Nm is $479.99 / £379 with the Boost Kit 180 included, listed down from $519.98 at the time of writing - about $60 per newton metre. 8 Nm covers 90 percent of GT3 use cases. Anyone telling you you need 12 Nm to enjoy iRacing GT3 hasn't driven a tuned 8 Nm base.

4. If

   You want to skip the 'I will upgrade later' problem entirely, you have a properly mounted rig, and 12 Nm of headroom matters.

   Then

   Fanatec ClubSport DD (12 Nm) →

   ClubSport DD at 12 Nm and $699.99 / £553 is the direct rival to Moza R12 and Simagic Alpha Evo - and $300 more than the R12 V2, which is the price of the QR2 standard and the FullForce motor. Xbox-licensed, not PlayStation.

5. If

   You want 15 Nm, the better motor build, and you are happy paying for the longer-term proposition.

   Then

   Fanatec ClubSport DD+ (15 Nm) →

   ClubSport DD+ is the 15 Nm step at $899.99 / £711, with a custom-designed servo motor and PlayStation licensing on the spec sheet. Real-world headroom for formula cars and heavier GT3 setups.

6. If

   You are building a high-end rig, you want headroom you may never use, and Podium-tier build quality matters.

   Then

   Fanatec Podium DD1 (20 Nm) →

   Podium DD1 is the 20 Nm flagship that has been in the lineup since 2018, now on QR2 at $999.95 / £790 - roughly $100 over the ClubSport DD+. The outrunner-type brushless servo motor and 1,000 Hz USB refresh are what the extra money buys.

7. If

   You want the highest-torque consumer Fanatec on the market and you are willing to mount it to a stiff aluminium-extrusion or rigid steel rig.

   Then

   Fanatec Podium DD (25 Nm) →

   Podium DD-25 is the 25 Nm version of the Podium platform at $1,199.99 / £948 - about $48 per newton metre, in an aluminium housing, built in Germany, PC-only. Overkill for 95 percent of buyers, the right choice for the remaining 5.

Fanatec vs the rivals

• Fanatec vs Moza

  Moza Pit House is a slicker single-app experience than Fanatec Control Panel, and the R12 V2 at $399 / £315 undercuts the ClubSport DD at $699.99 / £553 by $300. Fanatec wins on QR2 standardisation, telemetry FFB, console licensing and thirteen more years of hardware history - Fanatec wheels from 2019 still fit a 2026 base.

• Fanatec vs Simucube

  Simucube targets the iRacing leaderboard pro tier with the 2 Ultimate at 32 Nm. Fanatec doesn't try to compete at that ceiling; the Podium DD-25 stops at 25 Nm and $1,199.99, and aims at the high-end enthusiast rather than the pro cabin. Simucube's catalogue is much smaller - no first-party pedals, no console support, fewer rim options.

• Fanatec vs Simagic

  Simagic Alpha Evo Sport 9 at $399 and Alpha Evo 12 at $519 compete directly with the CSL DD and ClubSport DD on torque per pound. Where Fanatec wins is rim catalogue, console licensing on the entry tier, and QR2 across the whole range. Simagic's app is closer to Moza's in polish than Fanatec's.

• Fanatec vs Asetek

  Asetek Forte ($949.99, 18 Nm) and Invicta ($1,349.99, 27 Nm) are credible high-end bases with excellent build quality, but the rim catalogue is thin and there's no real budget tier. Fanatec covers the whole price range; Asetek owns the high end only.