In the fourth quarter of 2023, Fanatec, hitherto working in the shadows, has introduced two new Direct Drive bases to fill a rather large gap in its range. As you probably know, there are four Fanatec bases: 2 for the entry-level, and 2 for the high-end, with 5, 8, 20 and 25 nm of torque respectively. Except that many competitors have taken advantage of this situation by offering intermediate bases, developing between 10 and 16 nm of torque.

Fanatec took its time before reacting to this. It has to be said that the last few years have seen the birth of numerous challengers who have come to strut their stuff under Fanatec’s nose, offering better Quick Release with virtually no flex, and above all more powerful DD bases than those present in its mid-range catalog. The German company therefore suffered a loss of market share as it had no products to offer customers, and also the hardest thing was certainly the constant stock-outs on its peripherals.

But that’s likely to change now, and we sense that the German giant has returned to proclaim its place among the market leaders. Today, almost out of nowhere, Fanatec presents us with 2 new bases: the ClubSport DD and ClubSport DD+, just a few weeks after the launch of its new Quick Release QR2. Let’s take a closer look.

A less than convincing assessment

You’ll be aware that since the launch of the CSL DD and DD Pro, Fanatec has made a big impact by offering a high-performance, reliable and, above all, affordable Direct Drive base for the general public. By doing so, the German brand had put itself in the spotlight, and competitors were combing its product range. And guess what they found? a hole in the mid-range. As I’ve said often enough, Fanatec doesn’t have any DD bases developing between 10 and 16 nm in its range, which can be problematic for some runners. Of course, the sweet spot is between 8 and 10 nm for most riders, but some prefer more juice. As a result, many sim-racing players have taken advantage of this by offering bases that are more powerful than CSL DD, and less powerful than Podium DD.

Thrustmaster has capitalized on the situation by developing its first 10 nm DD base, as has Logitech and its 11 nm torque. Moza Racing has followed suit with 2 bases of 12 and 16 nm torque. And in the process, Fanatec took a slap in the face by losing market share.

Working in the shadows

For some time now, Fanatec has been working in the shadow of the spotlight, determined to regain its place and, above all, its customers who are hungry for performance and excitement. The ball got rolling a few weeks ago with the release of a brand-new Quick Release described in 3 variants: QR2 Lite, QR2 and QR2 Pro, with a new Base Side attachment system too. We knew Fanatec was up to something, or rather up to some new products, and we’re not at all disappointed.

Without any leaks, Fanatec has been working on 2 new Direct Drive bases that will fill a rather large gap in its range. The ClubSport DD and DD+ have just been unveiled, and the future looks bright for the German manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals.

ClubSport DD

The new ClubSport DD base features the same design as the CSL DD, but bigger and twice as heavy. It’s boxy, sober, simple and, frankly, I love it. This base comes as standard with Fanatec’s new QR2, and features a motor developing 12 nm of constant torque. This power is increasingly sought-after in the mid-range DD base segment, and Fanatec is a little behind the times.

ClubSport DD is compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem for PC and Xbox. For PS5 players, you’ll have to turn to DD+, which is compatible with Sony consoles. Priced at €699.95, the ClubSport DD is currently available for pre-order on the Fanatec website, with availability on November 7, 2023.

The ClubSport DD+

Same design as the DD, except that the rear ring and ON button are blue. We’re on a heavy power level: 15 nm of constant torque, too, perfect for avoiding base clipping. The ClubSport DD+ will soon be available for pre-order, but we don’t yet know its release date. For the price, expect to pay €999.95 for this little gem, which will most likely be released with a new steering wheel for Gran Turismo.

My opinion on these new ClubSport bases

Honestly, I’ve been waiting a long time to see, and especially to try, a Fanatec mid-range base. The German manufacturer’s special sauce is unique, and few competitors can match it. Well, in reality, there are brands that can do the same, or even better, but at a higher price.

The ClubSport DD and DD+ are sure to please many runners who are looking for excellent products that perform and are reliable. I’m really looking forward to testing the ClubSport DD, and I think it’s going to be very popular with the community. As for the DD+, I’m not sure; €300 for just 3 nm of torque and Playstation compatibility doesn’t sound like much, unless Fanatec releases a ClubSport DD+ Gran Turismo bundle before the base model goes on sale. In any case, I’m going to try them both, you can be sure of that!