Asetek Forte Wheelbase 18 Nm: my opinion after intensive use

In the segment of Direct Drive bases around 15-20 Nm, the Asetek Forte Wheelbase 18 Nm is clearly a "serious" solution for ambitious sim racers. It's a step up from entry-level bases, but without going overboard with extreme power. On paper, it promises precise, powerful, clean force feedback, in a compact, well-finished chassis, with an ecosystem thought out from A to Z.

What makes it interesting is this intermediate positioning: enough torque to exploit a rigid cockpit and "virtual" tires at the limit of grip, while remaining usable at home, without the need for a cockpit welded to the ground. For my part, I judged it mainly on three aspects: the finesse of the feedback, consistency over long sessions and the ease of getting a good feeling without spending hours on settings.

To sum up the angle of analysis: does this base really give you a better feel for the car, a cleaner, smoother ride, without burning out? And above all, is it worth the money compared with other Direct Drives in this category?

Design and manufacture: a compact block that exudes seriousness

Visually, the Asetek Forte 18 Nm makes an immediate impression of density. The machined metal chassis, the clean edges, the sober black finish with a few touches of the brand's own design, all give the impression of a product designed to last. In hand, when you handle it to mount it on the cockpit, you feel a compact, heavy block, with no hollows or "cheap" feel.

Perceived rigidity is excellent. Once properly attached to a solid cockpit, there's virtually no parasitic play. Even when driving hard into the corrections, the base doesn't flinch, the frame doesn't vibrate, and that inspires confidence. You really get that "monolithic" feeling you'd expect from a Direct Drive in this range.

Overall, the finishes are on a par with a premium base: well-crafted edges, clean fits, well-integrated connectivity. A pleasant surprise is the impression of professional equipment, without visual overkill. No gimmicky effects everywhere, just sober, effective choices.

A few points may slightly disappoint. The base isn't the most compact on the market, and depending on the mounting angle or screen position, you may have to adjust your installation a little to make it fit perfectly. The design is also optimized for the Asetek ecosystem; if you're going to use mostly third-party steering wheels, the overall aesthetic is a little less harmonious.

Compared to other Direct Drive references of similar power, the Asetek Forte is clearly at the top of the range in terms of solid feel and serious workmanship. We're not talking "rough industrial" here, but rather "assertive high-end sim racing equipment". You put the base on your rig and immediately realize that this is no toy.

Settings, customization and compatibility: powerful but tightly focused

When it comes to settings, Asetek relies on a fairly modern in-house software package, with a clear interface and well-organized parameters. You'll find the classics: maximum force, smoothing filter, friction, inertia, damper, but presented in an easy-to-read way, without unnecessary jargon. The presets provided for the main game types are a good starting point: you can drive quickly without getting lost in 50 obscure parameters.

What's interesting is that each adjustment has an effect that can be felt quite clearly. When you touch the friction or damper, you feel it immediately in the steering wheel. The learning curve remains reasonable: it takes a minimum of time to adjust the feel to your style, but you don't have to be an FFB engineer to get something clean. You can quickly go from a very free, very "race car" steering wheel, to something more filtered, rounder, for more casual use.

Compatibility is clearly targeted at the PC. For consoles, you'll have to check for support via specific compatible wheels or solutions provided by the brand, but the main ecosystem remains oriented towards serious PC sim racing. As for peripherals, the base integrates perfectly with Asetek pedalboards, in-house steering wheels and other elements of the range. The experience is more consistent if you stay with the same brand.

With wheels and accessories from other manufacturers, compatibility will depend on the adapters and technology used. The base is not the most open on the market, but it's not totally closed either. Let's just say that there's a clear incentive to stay within the Asetek ecosystem to benefit from maximum integration.

In terms of upgradeability, the Forte 18 Nm is clearly a durable base. There's more than enough power to support a higher level of riding and a cockpit upgrade. It's not a "small" Direct Drive that you're going to want to replace too quickly. For my part, I see it more as a long-term landing pad than a simple intermediate step.

Sensations in play: where the base really shows what it can do

On the virtual track, the character of the Asetek Forte 18 Nm is quickly revealed. The first thing that stands out is the cleanliness of the force feedback. The FFB is clean, legible and free of interference, even when the game is sending out a lot of information. You can quickly feel the right balance between raw power and fine detail.

When cornering, the steering loads up progressively and consistently. When you come in too hard, the steering hardens, but without incoherent brutality. Load transfer is easy to read in the hands, especially on GT or single-seater cars. It's easy to tell whether you're overloading the front end, understeering or leaning on a well-planted front end.

Grip reading is one of the great strengths of this base. You can feel very early on when the tires start to slip. It's not just a sudden loss of force, but a sort of gradual "release" of torque, coupled with small vibrations, that lets you know that the limit is approaching. There's more room for correction. You immediately understand what the car is doing.

On vibrators, the base manages to maintain this detailed feel without becoming unpleasant. The high edges are well marked, and you can really feel the difference between a flat and an aggressive vibrator. With a rather rough tuning profile, you can obtain a very lively steering wheel, which intensely reflects each relief. A little filtering keeps the character without unnecessary fatigue.

Over long sessions, consistency is the order of the day. No drift in behavior over time, no perceptible overheating in the feel. Strength remains stable, with identical effects after several relays. Fatigue in the arms will depend very much on the torque level set, but up to a "reasonable" level of force, it's possible to go from one lap to the next without physically exploding.

In rapid corrections, the base is responsive enough to handle violent countersteering and small micro-corrections at high speed. The steering wheel follows immediately, with no perceptible latency. On corner exits, with a slightly playful drivetrain, you can catch the start of a slide without feeling the base lag. This is where the base really changes the experience: you start correcting by instinct, not by "guessing" what's going on.

Compared to a less powerful base, the gain is mainly in exploitable torque reserve and the margin of detail within this range. We can ride at a lower overall force, while retaining superior clarity of information. Small grip variations and track textures are better felt. Compared with even more powerful bases, the Forte 18 Nm is in a fairly comfortable zone: enough power to be very immersive, but without falling into the torque excess that few riders really exploit to the full.

Overall immersion is very good. You get the impression that the steering wheel is one with the car, especially if the rest of the setup follows suit (precise pedals, rigid cockpit, triple screen or VR). Confidence grows rapidly: you dare to brake later, maintain more speed in corners, play a little more on the limit. This is exactly what we expect from a Direct Drive baseplate of this level: to transform precision into performance and pleasure.

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

The Asetek Forte Wheelbase 18 Nm is aimed primarily at sim racers already well into the discipline: PC players, intermediate to advanced level, who have a sufficiently rigid cockpit and a minimum of time to devote to setting up their equipment. For a highly motivated beginner, it can also be an ambitious initial investment, but you need to be aware that this base delivers its full potential with a serious installation.

Among the positive points, the first is the quality of the force feedback: precise, clean and rich in useful information. You get a very good feel for the behavior of the virtual chassis, which immediately gives you confidence. The second appreciable aspect is the feeling of robustness and serious craftsmanship. You really get the impression you're buying a driving tool rather than a simple gaming device. Thirdly, the coherence of the Asetek ecosystem: steering wheel, pedalboard, base, everything talks to each other, installation is clean and the software experience remains homogeneous.

As far as limits are concerned, the base remains clearly positioned in an investment price zone, not in the "easy little upgrade". For the occasional racing gamer, this is probably too much. Another point to consider is the strong orientation towards the in-house ecosystem. If you already have a lot of hardware from other brands, you'll have to check every compatibility, which can be a hindrance. Finally, the power available, while an advantage, requires a solid cockpit to match: on a lightweight chassis or desktop, you lose some of the benefit, or even end up with parasitic vibrations.

In terms of perceived value, this is clearly a product with a long-term focus. The question to ask is not just "Is it expensive?", but "Will I really use it?". For an enthusiast who rides several times a week and wants equipment that matches his level of involvement, the investment starts to make sense.

Verdict: a base that fits in well with the upper mid-range

In a sim racing setup, the Asetek Forte 18 Nm is clearly the backbone. It transforms an already decent rig into a serious cockpit, especially if the rest of the equipment follows suit. The result is greater readability, control and consistency, rather than a "violent punch in the arms". The feel is controlled, powerful but clean, and usable on a daily basis.

On the market, I'd place it in the upper mid-range Direct Drive / premium entry level. It's not an extreme power monster, but it's clearly a cut above the "discovery" DD solutions. This is a demanding sim racer's base, who wants something reliable, solid and consistent with medium and long-term progression.

I'd recommend it to those who ride mainly on PC, with a rigid cockpit, already a bit of experience, and the desire to take a serious step forward in terms of sensations and consistency. For the occasional gamer, with a limited setup or console-oriented, it won't be the best or most rational choice.

If you're looking for a powerful, clean, durable Direct Drive base that lets you really understand what the car is doing, this product can clearly make the difference in your setup.