Ascher Racing B24-SC: the "little" GT steering wheel that plays in the big leagues

The Ascher Racing B24-SC is clearly in the category of premium steering wheels for Direct Drive PC. It's a GT / proto steering wheel, designed for high-fidelity bases, with a clear focus on eSport and on-track seriousness rather than flashy effects. In short: no gimmicks, just functionality.

What it promises is simple: an ultra-direct interface between your hands and your base, with rigid construction, ergonomics designed for fast, long-distance riding, and almost "indus" reliability. It's a niche product, but one that attracts many advanced simracers for a reason: it's designed first and foremost as a performance tool.

For my part, I focused on three areas in particular: the overall rigidity of the steering wheel, the quality of the ergonomics (button placement, feel of the paddles) and the consistency of play over long sessions. Does the B24-SC really add precision and confidence, or is it just another nice CNC toy on the market?

Design & manufacture: a block of metal cut for the track

In hand, the Ascher B24-SC gives an immediate impression of density and seriousness. The steering wheel body is machined from aluminum, with clean cut-outs and a finish that exudes quality control. Nothing sounds hollow, nothing moves, even with a little force: rigidity is at the level expected in this premium segment.

The grips are covered with a rubber-like grip (or high-density foam depending on version) that offers good grip without being abrasive. You can feel that they've been designed for long riding without making your hands tense up. The cross-section of the grips is well balanced: neither too thin, nor too massive. You don't struggle against the wheel, you hold it naturally.

What's most surprising at first is the feeling of a "monolithic block". As soon as you start acting on it, the steering wheel doesn't twist or warp. On a Direct Drive base, this is exactly what you want: no loss between the motor and your hands. You immediately understand what the car is doing.

The magnetic paddles are crisp and clean. The click is dry and precise, but not brutal. There's none of the noisy "metallic slap" that some aggressive steering wheels can give. Stroke and position settings can be adjusted as needed, but already by default, it's very usable.

The slightest possible disappointment comes more from the "minimalist" aspect. No RGB lighting, no screens, no infinite rotators everywhere: for some cockpit show-oriented setups, this may seem a little austere. Faced with more visually charged steering wheels, the B24-SC looks almost clinical.

In terms of perceived quality, we're clearly on a par with the best serious sim racing references on the market. Compared with more mainstream steering wheels, the difference in rigidity and cleanliness of assembly is immediately apparent.

Settings, customization & compatibility: serious, but PC-oriented

On the settings side, the interface is very PC simracer. The B24-SC is primarily designed for PC use, with direct connection to the base (SC version, i.e. Simucube) or via USB depending on configuration. It's clearly a product that shows its full potential in a PC ecosystem, with sims such as ACC, iRacing, rF2, etc.

When it comes to customization, there are two main areas that really count: configuring buttons/encoders in games, and adjusting paddles. There are enough buttons and controls to manage everything from engine maps to TC, ABS, pit, radio and more. Nothing overkill, but nothing lacking for serious GT or proto use.

Menus and presets are managed on the base and game sides, not by the steering wheel itself. The B24-SC doesn't add a heavy software layer: it behaves like a clear peripheral, with well-recognized inputs. The learning curve is therefore mainly related to the configuration of in-game blinds. In concrete terms, you spend a little time mapping everything properly at first, and then you hardly ever come back to it.

The physical customization of the paddles is a real plus. Being able to adjust distance, travel and sometimes hardness allows you to adapt the steering wheel to your grip style and hand size. On a powerful base, adjusting the paddles correctly prevents miss-shifts in the middle of an attack, which makes a real difference.

In terms of compatibility, let's be clear: this is a product designed for high-end PC ecosystems. On consoles, this kind of wheel remains limited to certain very specific setups and won't be plug & play like a more mainstream set. With a rigid cockpit, a serious pedalboard and a modern Direct Drive, the B24-SC integrates perfectly and plays its role as the "brain" of the setup.

So this is more of a durable product than an entry point. This steering wheel is purchased to accompany several Direct Drive bases over time, not to be replaced with the next quick upgrade.

Feel for the game: grip reading and total control

It's really on the track that the Ascher B24-SC shows why it has such a good reputation. The first thing that strikes you is the cleanliness of the power transmission. The flywheel doesn't bend or filter. Everything that comes out of the base arrives in your hands, with no parasitic artifacts linked to the steering wheel chassis.

When cornering, this stiffness makes a big difference to grip feedback. You can feel exactly when the front end starts to slip, then hangs up. Micro-variations in load are extremely legible, which helps to position the car perfectly, especially when entering corners with long downforce. You can feel exactly what the tires are doing.

On vibrators, the response is clean, dry but controlled. Where some "lighter" flywheels feel a little soft or damped, the B24-SC returns a very clean signal. With a well-tuned Direct Drive base, you can easily distinguish between a flat and an aggressive vibrator, or a change of surface. The steering wheel remains clean and legible, even when under attack.

In fast corrections, the compactness of the diameter also plays in favor of control. You don't need to make big movements to recover a slide: wrist flicks are enough, and the steering wheel follows without excessive inertia. When you come from a wider or softer steering wheel, you immediately feel that the car responds more "directly" to what you're doing.

Long sessions are a good test for this kind of product. With the B24-SC, fatigue comes more from the intensity of the FFB than from the shape of the wheel itself. The grip remains comfortable, the materials don't become aggressive, and the absence of mechanical play avoids the parasitic micro-movements that hurt wrists over time.

Compared with a more entry- to mid-range-oriented steering wheel, the difference is felt mainly on three points: the clarity of feedback, consistency over time, and the confidence you have in the support. You'll find yourself braking later, keeping more speed in corners, simply because what you get in your hands is stable, reproducible and logical.

In the face of even more extreme and complex solutions, with integrated screens, dozens of rotaries and ultra-specific ergonomics, the B24-SC remains simpler but also more universal. You don't feel like you're "managing the steering wheel", you're actually driving the car.

The overall sensations are those of a very coherent setup: strong immersion, high control and, above all, a great deal of confidence. This is where the base really makes the difference, and the B24-SC lets it express itself without distorting it.

Who's it for? What we like / What we don't like

The Ascher B24-SC is clearly aimed at an already committed simracing public: Direct Drive users, mostly on PCs, who race regularly and are looking for a compact, reliable, high-performance GT wheel. A highly motivated beginner may find it a long-term investment, but it's a long way from the first steering wheel to discover sim racing. On consoles, it will only be of interest in very specific setups, so it's not its main target.

What I appreciate most is this trio: impeccable rigidity, efficient ergonomics and very well calibrated magnetic paddles. The feeling of seriousness is constant: everything you do on the wheel is clean and controlled, without compromise. The compact format also makes it highly versatile for all GT3, LMP and GT4 disciplines, and even some modern single-seaters. It feels like a tool designed for performance above all else. The precision / comfort / versatility ratio is clearly its strong point.

In terms of limitations, the first point is aesthetic and "fun": no screen, no integrated telemetry, no visual effects. For some users who like a very "lively" cockpit, this will be lacking. Secondly, the PC / high-end Direct Drive ecosystem orientation may be a hindrance for those who would like a more universal steering wheel, easily usable everywhere. Finally, the level of finish and rigidity comes at a cost: this steering wheel should be seen as an investment, not an impulse purchase.

In terms of perceived value, it's still coherent: you're paying for a precise, durable piece of hardware that won't become obsolete with the next generation of bases. For a simracer who rides a lot, the investment is better justified than for an occasional gamer.

Verdict: a confident GT steering wheel for demanding Direct Drive setup

The Ascher Racing B24-SC doesn't revolutionize the shape of a GT steering wheel, and that's precisely its strength. It doesn't try to shine with gimmicks, but with what counts most in a serious Direct Drive setup: rigidity, ergonomics and consistency. In an already solid cockpit, with a good base and a pedalboard of equivalent level, it locks the chain and eliminates the weak link on the steering wheel side.

On the market, I clearly place it in the pure performance-oriented premium category. It's neither a show-off wheel, nor an all-inclusive product for beginners. It's a tool for the intermediate to advanced simracer, who knows his needs and wants a compact GT wheel that's reliable over time. For those who don't play much, or who drive mainly on consoles with a closed ecosystem, there are simpler, more suitable options.

Where the B24-SC really changes the experience is in terms of confidence on the attack. You know what the car is doing, you know what the base is doing, and the steering wheel doesn't add blur or noise. You get used to it quickly, and you can keep it for a long time.

If you're looking for a compact, highly rigid GT steering wheel designed to get the best out of a Direct Drive base on a PC, this product can clearly make the difference in your setup.