Simagic GT Neo

Our rating: 9.6/10

Simagic, like Moza Racing, is a sim-racing brand that came out of nowhere, and in the space of a few years, the manufacturer has established itself on the world market as a must-have for racers looking for excellent products.

Simagic holds its own against the competition, despite the fact that its catalog of sim-racing peripherals pales in comparison with Fanatec, for example. The German firm offers more than forty steering wheels in all categories, whereas Simagic’s is more like less than 10. As with Moza Racing, the two brands collaborate on a wide range of equipment, including a QR derived from the D1-Spec.

Among the steering wheels offered by Simagic, we have the GT Neo, a typical GT and Formula wheel, with the emphasis on the former motorsport category. This wheel is based on an ABS structure reinforced with forged carbon, and is on our setup for a full test.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• GT/Formula-style steering wheel with rectangular shape and 30 cm diameter
• Rubber grips for a good level of grip
• 4 metal rear paddles, 2 magnetic and 2 progressive
• RevLED on upper front panel in 3 colors
• 14 controls in all on the front of the steering wheel, including 4 rotary encoders in the center, 2 thumb switches, 5 rubber buttons on each side and 2 funky switches à la Fanatec
• QR derived from the D1-Spec on the rear, but in a revised version this time, facilitating insertion and removal
• 2 adjustable-spacing pallets
• Compatible with all Simagic bases on PC, as well as SimPro Manager for button mapping

Design

Let’s start with the design of this Simagic steering wheel. The GT Neo is a beautiful wheel, let’s face it. Between its shape, the forged carbon on the faceplate and the positioning of the controls, this wheel is a pleasure to look at, especially if you have a setup that’s into minimalism.

Contrary to popular belief, the GT Neo does not use forged carbon fiber for its structure. Unfortunately, it’s ABS, or plastic if you prefer, with forged carbon shavings added during the molding process. Honestly, it’s beautiful, and it fools the eye quite easily because it’s so well done.

The grips are rubber, not leather or alcantara. But hey, at the price this steering wheel is sold for, concessions had to be made, and I’m not complaining, because it’s premium.

Customized assembly

Assembly of this steering wheel is based on the brand’s recently revised QR. This Quick Release is still based on the D1-Spec, like Moza Racing’s, and the assembly operation is just as easy as before.

You pull on the red/bordeaux ring and insert the QR on its Base Side counterpart. You don’t need to worry about connection pins, as communication is wireless between the base and the steering wheel. You only have contact points to power the steering wheel, and they’re recessed on this QR. Basically, there’s no chance of damaging the mechanism, as is the case with some QRs. I love Simagic and Moza’s approach, as it eliminates unnecessary risks that can cost you a steering wheel, or even a base.

Manufacturing and finishing

As I mentioned earlier, this steering wheel is based on a forged carbon-reinforced ABS structure. Although at first glance it may appear to be forged carbon fiber, the GT Neo is a predominantly plastic steering wheel. That’s not a problem in itself, at least not if you have the experience and intention to build a quality product.

The buttons are made of soft rubber, as are the grips. They have a good feel, without being unpleasant to the touch. Which brings us to build quality. The GT Neo is a superbly well-made wheel, in every respect. Admittedly, the materials are not as premium as those used on the brand’s other flywheels, but this wheel is quality nonetheless.

The entire structure has no sharp edges or protruding parts, no bending or other defects. The only metal found visually on the GT Neo is on the QR and pallets.

Handling the steering wheel

The GT Neo is 30 cm in diameter, with a nicely rectangular shape, making it perfect for racers passionate about GT racing, and incidentally Formula. Well, it’ll be an occasional F1 racer, since the controls aren’t as numerous, and it lacks a screen to display the vehicle’s telemetry data.

Nevertheless, the GT Neo is no less comfortable to hold. The buttons are very close to your hands, while being backlit in RGB with adjustments via Simagic’s software. All controls fall perfectly under your thumbs, and the same goes for the rear paddles. The two on top are magnetic, and those on the bottom are progressive, and you can set them via the software to clutch, throttle, brake and so on.

Sensations during play

It’s time for a sim-racing session with this Simagic GT Neo. First of all, the driving position of the steering wheel is 9:15, which won’t please everyone, especially those who prefer 10:10. However, the big plus with the GT Neo is comfort and ergonomics.

The large rubber grips are simply excellent for racing with or without gloves, no matter how long the session. Even the edges of the grips are designed to give you superb comfort when running, virtually eliminating fatigue or any feeling of discomfort.

As for the buttons, their layout is just right, making them accessible on the fly in the middle of a race. It only takes a few minutes to find your bearings, and this feeling is accentuated by the backlighting of the buttons and all the controls on the faceplate.

Even though the GT Neo is made from forged carbon-reinforced plastic, I didn’t feel any flex at all in its structure. It’s solid in any situation, even with powerful Simagic DD chainstays like the Alpha and its 15 nm of torque.

Which brings us lastly to the paddles. The gearshift paddles are adjustable in spacing, allowing them to be adapted to your driving preferences. What’s more, the magnetic system of these paddles is very good, quite smooth and not too noisy, as is the case with the competition. As for the other two paddles, the progressive ones, these can be mapped via Simagic’s software to be used as clutch, gas pedal, brake, etc. Their feel is just as good, as with the progressive ones. Their feel is just as good as that of the magnetic paddles.

Compatibility

Simagic’s GT Neo is compatible with all the manufacturer’s bases, from the old Alpha to the new Alpha Evo. As for the platform, the GT Neo is compatible only with PCs, and that’s not too surprising, I must say.

Value for money

In France, and through Simagic distributors, you’ll find the GT Neo for around €370, which isn’t bad considering its build quality, ergonomics and, above all, sturdiness. Admittedly, the structure is made of plastic reinforced with forged carbon fiber, but as soon as you take it in hand and do your first laps around the track with it, you’ll quickly realize that the GT Neo is a steering wheel that would normally cost more than €400.

My verdict

I don’t have much to say about this steering wheel, other than that it’s simply excellent, except perhaps for the omission of a screen which limits its adoption by F1 fans. If you’re looking for one of the best GT steering wheels currently available on the market, and for very little money, the Simagic GT Neo is just what you need. The brand has once again demonstrated to the world that passion can develop and deliver excellent products to consumers.