GSI Hyper P1

Our rating : 9.2/10

There are many brands active in the premium sim-racing market. European brands include Simucube, Fanatec and Asetek. These players are well established in the premium sim-racing market, and have been for several years.

Of course, there are other brands that may not be well known in France. Simagic is a good example of a manufacturer that offers quality products, made by enthusiasts, but suffers in terms of presence in France. We also have GSI, a brand from the USA that can fly under the radar.

GSI has been making premium sim-racing equipment for some time, and their specialty is large wheels. Their wheels are designed and built to meet the size needs of the American people. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the people of the USA have something of a passion for size: the bigger, the better.

Among GSI’s steering wheels, we have the Hyper P1, a Formula-style wheel that sits at the top of the brand’s range. This manufacturer also offers other steering wheels, and bundles with Simucube bases, which should delight many racers. Installed on our sim-racing setup, the Hyper P1 is here to show what it’s made of.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• 30 cm diameter with specific Formula shape
• Weighs almost 1.7 kg, but can weigh over 1.8 kg in 6-pallet version
• Aluminum frame with carbon fiber faceplate
• Available in 4 and 6 pallet versions, 2 analog and the rest magnetic
• 12 backlit buttons, 4 thumb encoders, 3 funky switches, 5 rotary and a 4.3-inch touch screen
• RevLED at the top of the screen, plus more on the sides
• Highly customizable steering wheel to suit your needs
• PC compatible only, and 6×70 mm QR pattern
• Connection to PC via USB cable and steering wheel-mounted aviation socket
• SimHub compatible

Design

As usual, let’s start with the design of this GSI steering wheel. The first thing you’ll notice is the size. At 30 cm in diameter, this steering wheel is just imposing to hold. GT/Formula wheels are usually around 28 cm in diameter, but I imagine the brand is thinking more about its local market than the international one.

The front panel is made of carbon fiber, surrounded by a one-piece aluminum plate. The buttons are transparent, and the other controls are customizable in color. However, RGB is everywhere on this steering wheel, so its design is both sober and eye-catching.

On the sides are the downward-opening handles, and in the center of the faceplate is a touchscreen. I think the Hyper P1 is a very attractive steering wheel, perfectly suited to its intended discipline.

Customized assembly

On the rear is the standard 6×70 mm Quick Release pattern. This means you can mount more or less any QR available on the market with this pattern. You’ve got Simucube, and indeed GSI offers bundles with this brand’s bases, Asetek, Fanatec, Simagic and so on. The list is long, as I’m sure you know.

For communication with the platform, you have a USB cable that plugs into the PC and an aviation plug that secures behind the steering wheel. The cable is long, which shouldn’t be a problem for cable management.

Manufacturing and finishing

The entire structure of the Hyper P1 is aluminum, with a carbon fiber faceplate. At this price, I’d have preferred to see a full forged carbon fiber steering wheel to save weight and show off the wheel’s premium appearance, but then, aluminum is a quality material all the same.

The steering wheel feels very solid in your hands, and you won’t get any flex on it. On the one hand, the structure is in one piece, and on the other, the wheel is 30 cm in diameter, giving it a high level of rigidity.

As far as the finish is concerned, it’s top-notch in every respect. Every part of this steering wheel is visually stunning, and above all, ultra-well finished. Whether it’s the buttons, controls or paddles, everything is perfect.

Handling the steering wheel

At 30 cm in diameter and rectangular in shape, you’ll need big hands with this steering wheel. The design is clearly aimed at people in North America, and the Hyper P1 is a normal-sized steering wheel there. In Europe, it’s a different story.

So yes, proportionally speaking, the buttons and controls are well arranged on the faceplate, as are the screen and paddles. However, you’ll have to do some hand gymnastics to reach all the controls, as the steering wheel is so large. Again, this will depend on the size of your hands.

Sensations during play

Once installed on my setup, setting up the Hyper P1 is done entirely via SimHub. In fact, this steering wheel is directly supported by the software, allowing you to set absolutely everything on it. Dashboard, LEDs, buttons, paddles, rotary and everything else goes through the software we know so well.

Let’s move on to sensations. I’m not going to lie, the steering wheel is big, which could impact ergonomics depending on the size of your hands. Nonetheless, the grips on the handles are superb. On this point, I loved the steering wheel, but some controls are naturally far from your fingers with 30 cm of diameter on a quasi-rectangular steering wheel.

As for the screen, it’s touch-sensitive. A screen on a steering wheel, you either like it or you don’t. Personally, I find it useful, but without the touchscreen. Personally, I think it’s useful, but without the touchscreen, which could lead to mishandling.

Otherwise, the paddles fall beautifully under your fingers. You’ll need around 1 kg of force for the magnetic ones, and almost 2 kg for the analog ones. What’s more, the latter are progressive, hardening as they travel. As far as I know, no other brand does this on its steering wheels, and I think the sensation is just wonderful.

Compatibility

Well, for compatibility, it’s PC only. This type of steering wheel requires SimHub, or proprietary software, to get the most out of their functionality, and only the PC platform allows this.

GSI offers bundles with Simucube bases directly on the brand’s website, and I think this is a good thing, even if I’m not really a fan of the latter’s QR.

Value for money

So, the value for money of this steering wheel. GSI is a very premium brand, and this is reflected in the price of their product. For the Hyper P1, it’s a steering wheel that can be customized at will. You can choose the color of the controls, the material of the paddles and their number too, as well as the QR that can be delivered with the steering wheel.

Ah well, so the price starts at around €1,530 and goes up to around €2,000, all exclusive of tax. This is a very premium steering wheel, and its price reflects that.

My verdict

The Hyper P1 is a top-of-the-range steering wheel aimed at an elitist audience of sim-racing enthusiasts who can afford to indulge in such products. In terms of innovation, the company doesn’t take any risks, which is both a good and a bad thing.

If, of course, you have the money to afford the Hyper P1, and also hands that are big, I’d say it’s well worth it. But for those looking for a more compact steering wheel better suited to most setups, the Fanatec BMW M4 GT3 is an excellent alternative.