12 Nm—and why it's much more than just an entry-level figure

The La Prima is the entry-level model in Asetek’s direct-drive lineup, positioned below the Forte (18 Nm) and Invicta (27 Nm). On paper, its 12 Nm might seem modest. In practice, it’s quite the opposite. Once installed behind the wheel, you’ll discover a reality that many drivers know all too well: on more powerful setups, you almost always end up lowering the torque to around this value to last the distance without burning out your forearms. In other words, the La Prima delivers right out of the box what most people actually use. It’s a much more serious starting point than it appears to be.

Couples on the dance floor: energetic, never tiring

At 12 Nm, you’re in a very enjoyable power range. There’s enough power to feel a real physical engagement—to have to hold the steering wheel tight going into a turn and to sense the front end starting to slide—but without making long sessions feel like a chore. In both iRacing and Assetto Corsa, we never felt underpowered: the car feels “grounded” under your hands, weight transfer is clearly noticeable, and you maintain that sense of control that lets you recover when the rear end starts to slide. For the vast majority of setups, this level of torque is more than enough. Those who absolutely want their arms to be torn apart at the limits will look further up the range, but they’ll be in the minority.

The real strength: attention to detail and finesse

Where the La Prima is most surprising is in the definition of its force feedback. The 22-bit encoder (over 4 million steps per revolution) and, above all, the slew rate of 4 Nm/ms—a specification rarely found at this price point—result in extremely fast and clean torque transitions. In practical terms, track textures, rumble strips, and bumps are rendered with a level of precision you wouldn’t expect from a base model in this price range. On the Okayama 3D rumble strips in iRacing, each pass is distinctly felt; in Assetto Corsa, the road surface, the car’s reactions, and the unevenness of the asphalt are rendered with remarkable definition. We were never bored behind the wheel, and that’s probably the highest compliment you can pay a direct-drive base. Subtlety takes precedence over brutality here, and that’s excellent news.

Construction and Rigidity: Compact, Dense, and Uncompromising

True to Asetek’s philosophy, the La Prima features a compact, highly rigid block rather than a large, hollow housing. The anodized extruded aluminum chassis weighs 8.5 kg and has a compact footprint (293 x 132 x 133 mm). Once securely fastened, the base doesn’t waver, even when subjected to maximum torque: rigidity is clearly a strong point, and the whole unit exudes reliability. The proprietary spring-loaded quick-release system is clever: you press a lever, and the wheel pops right into your hands, with no through-bolts or cables getting tangled around the axle. It’s clean and fast. One minor drawback, however, is the exposed push pins that make contact with the steering wheel; their sturdiness is somewhat questionable, although on our test unit this was more of a minor detail than a genuine practical flaw.

RaceHub and Connectivity: PC Only—Something You Should Know

On the software side, RaceHub gets the job done without any hassle. The base setup is straightforward, the default settings are already well-calibrated, and you get a convincing driving experience in just a few minutes, with very few adjustments needed to feel right at home. Firmware updates are managed through the same interface. One important thing to note: the La Prima is a PC-based system. There’s no PlayStation or Xbox compatibility at this time; console connectivity will depend on the steering wheels and ecosystem you choose anyway. In Forza Motorsport, due to the lack of native support, you’ll need to reverse the direction of the force feedback in the game options—a simple step, but one worth knowing. If you play on a console, this simply isn’t the base station for you.

The Asetek Ecosystem: Expanding, but to Be Verified

Asetek has partnered with several steering wheel manufacturers to expand the native compatibility of its bases, and the product lineup is growing regularly. However, this ecosystem is still newer than those of some established competitors, and installing a third-party steering wheel requires specific adapters. Before making a purchase, we recommend verifying that the steering wheel you’re interested in is supported to avoid any unpleasant surprises. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s a factor to consider, especially if you already own equipment from another brand.

Who, exactly?

The La Prima is designed for drivers who want to enter the world of high-end direct-drive systems without spending an unreasonable amount of money, and who prioritize driving feel over the pursuit of newton-meters. You get a compact, rigid base that runs quietly and is impressively refined, with torque perfectly within the range actually used by most riders. You just have to accept two things: the exclusive PC frame and an ecosystem that’s still under development. If these two points fit your setup, it’s hard to find fault with this offering.