Racinggameshaverarelybeenthispopular,and it’s worth getting a wheel to get
themostoutofyouron-tracktime.MikeJennings tests four diverse options
Racing ahead
LABS TEST
Howwe test
R
acing games are popular right now, and the current lockdowns
in place around the world mean that more and more people
are turning to online racing – including professional drivers. It’s
tempting to get involved when you see your favourites hitting the track,
and it’s worth thinking about getting a wheel if you want to properly enjoy
your driving.
Upgrading to a wheel has numerous advantages. It’s more immersive
thanks to realistic force feedback and more precise steering, and you’ll be
able to improve your lap times and be competitive in higher-level events.
There are several key areas to examine when looking for racing
wheels. On the inside, you’ll want to pay attention to the kinds of motors
and force feedback systems that are used. Belt-driven and direct-
drive wheels offer smoother, more realistic driving and powerful force
feedback than gear-driven, for instance, but they’re more expensive.
On the outside, it pays to pay attention to a wheel’s rotation level,
gear-shift options and wheel diameter – as well as the options that are
available for attaching the product to a table or cockpit.
Beyond that, it’s important to consider the number and design of the
pedals, the wheel’s size, the buttons it includes and whether it has handy
extra features, like rev counters. And, if you’re serious, think about the
wheel’s ecosystem of accessories and peripherals, and the material
used to coat the wheel itself.
We’ve reviewed a broad range of racing wheels in this month’s Labs
test, going all the way from an entry-level £44 option to models that cost
more than £600.
They’ve all been tested in the same manner. We’ve used an ADX
ARSFBA0117 gaming chair to ensure a good driving position during
testing, and we’ve loaded up iRacing, Dirt Rally 2, Assetto Corsa
Competizione and Forza Horizon 4 to find out how they all handle track,
rally, sim and casual racing games.
In addition to in-game testing, we’ve also taken a close look at the
build quality of each wheel, examined how easy these devices are to put
together, and taken a look at their software applications. We can then
present an all-round picture of which wheels are worth your cash.Contents
Fanatec CSL Elite PS4 Starter Kit / p49
Logitech G29 Driving Force / p50
Speedlink Drift O.Z. / p51
Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer Sparco P310 / p52LABS TEST / RACING WHEELS