Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2: my post-test opinion

The Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 is clearly the "all-purpose round wheel" in the Fanatec range. Not an ultra-exotic model, not a replica, but a wheel designed to do everything well: GT, touring, rally, endurance, a bit of road... It's the kind of wheel you'd leave mounted 80 % of the time on its base.

On paper, it promises an interesting combo: realistic diameter, full buttoning, serious construction, broad compatibility in the Fanatec ecosystem and a clean feel on the brand's Direct Drive bases. It's aimed at the simracer who wants to move upmarket without going overboard with a steering wheel collection.

For my part, I approached it from a simple angle: does this Round 1 V2 really "feel" the car while remaining comfortable and versatile? Does it justify its ClubSport positioning in the face of more basic steering wheels on the one hand, and specialized premium wheels on the other?

What interested me most was the build quality, the ergonomics in racing, the precision in critical phases (limit braking, gliding, aggressive vibrators) and the ease with which you can switch from one discipline to another. Today, a round steering wheel has to be good everywhere. That's exactly what I set out to find out with this ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2.

Design & manufacturing: serious, sober, efficient

Visually, the ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 plays the sober card. Round steering wheel, realistic diameter, a few touches of color on the buttons, no tuning effect. On a serious cockpit, it looks very clean. You can tell right away that Fanatec is targeting the simracer who prefers efficiency to bling.

In hand, the first sensation is density. The rim gives a very reassuring impression of rigidity. There's no suspicious flex when you're pushing hard or when you're counter-steering violently. The materials breathe solidity, both on the structure and on the paddle levers. This is a clear-cut top-of-the-range mid-range.

The grip of the coating is well balanced. We're not talking about ultra-thick leather like a road car steering wheel, but rather a finish designed for long sessions at the sim. In practice, hands settle naturally, the rim section is comfortable and you don't need to grip like crazy to feel confident. For GT or virtual endurance, that's appreciable.

The paddles have that crisp click we've come to expect from this range. Well-marked return, short stroke, present but not aggressive noise. In intensive use, they remain pleasant, even over several hours. You get the feeling they were made to be abused. You can chain violent downshifts without qualms.

What may be slightly disappointing is the absence of a visual "wow" effect if you come from more exotic steering wheels or those with integrated screens. Here, everything is functional, almost discreet. Compared to some very competition-oriented wheels, we lose the "collector's item" aspect, but gain in neutrality and versatility.

Compared with entry-level steering wheels from the same ecosystem, it's easy to feel the gap: stiffer, better finished, more solid buttons, cleaner paddles. Compared to truly high-end, highly specialized steering wheels, we're a notch below in terms of refinement and detail, but for everyday use, it ticks all the important boxes.

Settings, customization & compatibility

The great strength of this ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 is that it integrates perfectly into the Fanatec ecosystem. As soon as you mount it on a Fanatec base, you automatically benefit from the usual interface: menus on the base, force, filter and damping settings, profiles for each set. For someone already working with Fanatec, integration is seamless.

When it comes to personalization, this steering wheel offers everything you need to really tailor your experience. The layout of the buttons is easy on the fingers. For critical controls (DRS, headlights, pit, engine mix, etc.), it's easy to find a logical configuration without having to think in the middle of a race. You can drive in GT, rally or even a more "road" simulator without ever feeling limited.

The Fanatec menus remain in continuity: once you've understood the logic, you can adjust the FFB, rotation, filters and overall response to suit your style. The flywheel itself doesn't complicate things: no overdose of toggles or rotaries that are useless for most people. The essentials are kept to a minimum, making it affordable even for a simracer coming off a more basic steering wheel.

The learning curve is fairly gentle. The hardest part is finding your base + steering wheel + game combo. Once the FFB profile has been set in the Fanatec software and in each simu, the steering wheel becomes a "neutral tool" that is forgotten, in a good way. You spend more time driving than configuring.

Compatibility-wise, we remain within the usual framework of Fanatec bases: PC with no worries, consoles depending on the base used. The Round 1 V2 doesn't stand out for any particular platform specificity, but fits perfectly into an existing Fanatec setup: branded crankset, shifter, handbrake, rigid cockpit. For anyone building or upgrading a Fanatec ecosystem, this wheel is a natural fit.

In terms of upgradeability, I clearly see it as a durable wheel rather than a simple entry point. You could very well start with it and keep it for a long time, even as you move up the basic range (for example, from a less powerful base to a more serious Direct Drive). It can then be complemented by more specialized wheels, but this Round 1 V2 will remain an excellent "everyday" wheel.

Sensations in play: versatile, precise, reassuring

This is where the ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 really comes into its own. Its round shape, diameter and construction have a direct impact on feel on the track. For my part, what struck me was its ability to adapt to almost anything without ever seeming out of place.

In terms of force feedback precision, it does the job very well. The steering wheel doesn't over-filter what the base sends out. Every little load transfer, the beginnings of loss of grip, variations in grip in a long, fast bend, all arrive in the hands with good legibility. You really get the impression of "reading" the road through the rim. You quickly understand what the car is doing.

In slow and medium bends, the rigidity of the rim helps control the car at the chord point. You can fine-tune your trajectory to the millimetre, correcting slightly and shifting the front end without feeling that the wheel is twisting or dampening micro-corrections. For someone who likes to play with the limit on corner entry, this is very pleasant.

On the vibrators, the feedback is raw enough for you to immediately understand whether you're "on the right side" or asking a little too much of the chassis. The large, aggressive vibrators come out well, without being so much as to explode the wrists over a long session. You can clearly feel the difference between a flat vibrator, a kerf, and a big chicane curb.

Grip reading is one of the strong points of this wheel. Whether in dry, wet or mixed conditions, the rim faithfully reproduces what the base sends out. On a less powerful base, the main gains are in comfort and control, as the round shape enables wide, progressive corrections. On a faster base, with a lot of torque, we take advantage of the rigidity and diameter to absorb reactions without losing control.

In fast corrections, the steering wheel proves really sound. Counter-steering, oversteer correction, grip recovery in the wet: the round shape of the steering wheel makes it feel like a real car. You don't fight with the rim, you go with the flow. This ability to react instinctively makes a big difference when the car starts to move a lot.

No particular discomfort during long sessions. The cross-section of the rim, neither too thin nor too thick, limits hand fatigue. The feel remains constant throughout an endurance race or long practice session. It's not the most spectacular wheel in terms of "wow" sensations, but it's very appreciably consistent.

Compared with a lighter, less rigid wheel, we gain real stability in support and better consistency in returns. Everything feels a little more "solid", a little clearer. Compared to a very high-end, ultra-typical steering wheel (e.g. a square, modern GT3-oriented model), you may lose a little extra fine detail or some ultra-honed ergonomic adjustments, but you gain enormous versatility. For multi-discipline sim racing, it's a very effective compromise.

In terms of immersion, this ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 feels like the steering wheel of a well-made sports road car, with the seriousness of a competition tool. You quickly feel at ease, and above all confident to push hard without fear of material weakness. This is where the base really changes the experience: with a good Direct Drive behind it, this steering wheel reveals its full potential.

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

This steering wheel is aimed above all at intermediate to advanced simracers, already equipped or ready to take the Fanatec ecosystem seriously. For a motivated beginner who knows he's going to invest, it can be a very good "real" first durable wheel, provided he accepts that it's a substantial investment. For a very occasional console gamer, it's clearly more than necessary.

What I appreciate most is its real versatility. You can go from a GT3 to a touring car, to rallying, without ever feeling that the steering wheel format is restricting either pleasure or efficiency. Secondly, the rigidity and build quality immediately inspire confidence. There's no fear of forcing, hard countersteering or long drives. Finally, integration into the Fanatec ecosystem, with its natural compatibility with Direct Drive bases and other peripherals, makes it a logical choice for anyone wanting a coherent, upgradeable setup.

But it also has its limits. The first is its price positioning, which clearly places it in a thoughtful investment zone. It's not an affordable wheel for trying out sim racing, but a conscious choice for someone who's already looking to the long term. The second is the lack of "specialization". If you drive almost exclusively single-seaters or modern GT3s, a more typical wheel may seem more natural or visually immersive. The third is the absence of truly advanced functions, such as an integrated screen or ultra-rich management directly on the rim, which enthusiasts of telemetry or extreme customization may miss.

In terms of perceived value, this ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 remains attractive. You're paying for durability, for consistency with a quality base, and for a tool that you'll be able to keep as the backbone of your setup even as you upgrade the rest of your equipment. For a simracer who wants to buy once and ride for a long time, the investment/track experience ratio holds up well.

Verdict: a solid daily driver for serious Fanatec setup

In a performance-oriented sim racing setup, this Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 clearly plays the role of main steering wheel, the one you keep mounted most of the time. It's not a pure revolution, but it does change the overall quality of feel: more rigidity, more confidence, more comfort over time. We've gone from a "decent" steering wheel to a real steering tool.

On the market, I'd place it at the top end of the mid-range, just below the ultra-specialized and very high-end steering wheels. It doesn't have the debauchery of functions of certain premium models, nor the exoticism of racing replicas, but it does offer a real maturity for those who want a single steering wheel capable of doing everything properly, without major compromises.

I clearly recommend it to Fanatec users on PC or console who ride regularly, who touch several disciplines, and who want a serious, durable round wheel. For someone looking only for a "fun" or highly typed steering wheel, there are more specialized options. For the occasional gamer just discovering sim racing, the budget may be hard to justify.

If you're looking for a versatile, stiff, comfortable round steering wheel that's well integrated with a Fanatec Direct Drive base and capable of keeping up with your progress over the long term, this ClubSport Steering Wheel Round 1 V2 can clearly make the difference in your setup.