Sim-racing is intended to be a less expensive alternative to motor sports, which includes several disciplines contested all over the world. We have disciplines that are specific to a single country, such as NASCAR or Indy Car in the USA, and others that involve several.
Drifting, for example, was born in Japan in the 80s. It’s a discipline that has come a long way, I think, from its illegal beginnings to international competition in the Formula D championship. It’s all a question of finesse, precision and, above all, flexibility.
But then again, before renting a BMW M3 and going for road traverses, it would be wiser to train on a simulator, I find, and then go and sign up for drifting lessons, all in a safe and controlled setting. And that’s just as well, because today we’re going to look at the best steering wheels in a bundle for sim-racing drifting.
The Best Steering Wheels in Drift Bundle
#1 The Fanatec CSL DD Ready2Race BMW (8 nm)
Fanatec is a major player in the sim-racing industry, and has been for over 20 years. Its catalog features dozens of entries, including bundles that are ready to use with a Direct Drive base and a steering wheel, and also a pedalboard in some cases.
For drifting, the CSL DD Ready2Race BMW features the famous CSL DD base boosted to 8 nm and a steering wheel designed in collaboration with BMW, as well as CSL Pedals as cranksets. This bundle is simply perfect for fans of cross-country racing, as the steering wheel is large at 30 cm in diameter, and the base offers more than enough space to launch the car into a controlled slide.
What’s more, you get the CSL Pedals as a bonus, but in a standard version. This isn’t really a problem, though, as much of Fanatec’s catalog is upgradable, and you can add a Load Cell
This bundle is currently trading at €550, with a €220 discount. If you’re looking for a bargain for drifting, or even for sim-racing in general, jump at the chance before the promotion ends.
#2 The Fanatec GT DD Pro
For console racers, more specifically Playstation racers, Fanatec has collaborated with Sony to develop the GT DD Pro bundle. GT is for Gran Turismo, and this bundle is superb for those with a PS4 or PS5.
The bundle is based on the same configuration as the one we’ve just seen, namely the BMW CSL DD, with an 8 nm CSL DD and CSL Pedals. The only change is the steering wheel, which is unique to the Gran Turismo saga, and which you can’t get on your own.
The wheel is slightly smaller than the BMW, with a diameter of 28 cm and a flat bottom. What’s more, the steering wheel is large, which should help with grip. Speaking of ergonomics, you’ll find numerous controls spread across the front of the wheel, accessible without too much effort on your part.
This bundle is ideal for drift fans, but also for racers in general. Price-wise, it currently costs €800. And if you’re looking for a revised version of the bundle, you have the GT DD Extreme with a base developing 15 nm of constant torque and a higher-quality, fully-rounded wheel, which is perfect for drifting. However, the price is high: expect to pay €1,300 for this bundle, and that’s without the crankset. So you’ll have to buy this peripheral separately, but it’s still an investment in my opinion, especially if you intend to improve your racing skills, whether on PC or Playstation.
#3 Le Moza R5
Moza Racing is a rather young player in the industry, with a career that began just before 2020. Since then, the manufacturer has proven its expertise in electric motors, notably with its Direct Drive bases. But that’s not all, as the brand is present in both the sim-racing and flight sim markets, with a range of peripherals that is truly accomplished for aircraft fans.
The R5 bundle has long been the entry-level bundle, but has recently been replaced by the PC and Xbox-compatible R3 bundle. It has to be said that Moza made a very good impression on Microsoft to make its bundle compatible with Xboxes.
The R5 features a Direct Drive base developing 5.5 nm of peak torque, a flat-bottomed flywheel with a 28 cm diameter and an upgradable crankset. Moza wants to compete with Fanatec on its own ground, and that’s a good thing for us, as it gives us more choice in terms of peripherals, and forces manufacturers to keep innovating.
Moza’s R5 is a great drifting bundle, with a quality steering wheel and a base that’s not bad at all. Admittedly, it’s not up to the same level as a Fanatec CSL DD in 5nm, especially when it comes to light details, but it’ll do the job if you’re just starting out in sim-racing.
The R5 bundle currently costs €479. If you’re an Xbox pilot, I’d advise you to go for the R3 bundle, which is compatible with Microsoft’s console. Well, the quality is slightly inferior to the R5, and the base develops 4 nm of torque. Still, I think it’s a decent choice for a good workout.
Which steering wheel to choose for your setup?
So this question is a little tricky, because we’re mainly talking about subjectivity here, not objectivity. If you want to progress in sim-racing over time and then move on to other disciplines, such as endurance, GT, Formula or rallying, I’d advise you to start with a sim-racing setup using Fanatec equipment. The brand has the best sim-racing ecosystem on the market, with peripherals for virtually all motorsport disciplines. What’s more, Fanatec’s range of steering wheels exceeds 40 entries, which should go a long way to helping you find what you’re looking for.
If your budget is limited, Fanatec also offers less powerful bases than those shown, developing 5 nm of torque. Bundles cost around €450, which makes them all the more attractive when compared with the competition from Moza, for example. Nevertheless, Moza Racing remains a competitive brand in sim-racing, which is quite feasible.
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