VNM GT V1

Our rating : 9.2/10

The sim-racing steering wheel market is made up of several segments shared by numerous brands. These include Logitech, Thrustmaster and Fanatec, as well as Simucube, Simagic, Asetek and Moza.

Among steering wheel manufacturers, we have VNM, a young company that covers the entry/mid-range I’d say in terms of peripherals. Its catalog includes steering wheels, DD bases, accessories, pedalboards and chassis mounts. It’s very atypical to see a brand covering the whole spectrum of sim-racing products, and I think it’s a good thing.

Today, we’ll be testing VNM’s GT V1 steering wheel and seeing what it has to offer the competition.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• CNC-machined aluminum structure
• 30 cm diameter with rectangular shape
• Silicone handles open downwards
• 8 RGB buttons, 4 rotarys, 2 funky switches and 2 thumb encoders
• 2 magnetic paddles and 2 analog paddles at the rear, all with adjustable spacing
• Connection via GX12-4 socket on steering wheel side and USB to platform
• PC-compatible
• Weighs 2.5 kg on the scale
• 70 mm fastening pattern for QR

Design

The design of the VNM GT Steering Wheel V1 is very minimalist, with a light dose of RGB on the controls. It’s discreet when the LEDs are on, and frankly, I’m a fan.

As for the rest, the steering wheel is entirely black or very dark grey, depending on the viewing angle. The brand logo takes pride of place in the center of the faceplate, surrounded by the steering wheel controls.

The handles are closed, with finger openings. The bottom opening is larger than the top to accommodate more fingers. The handles also feature two red rotary encoders for the thumbs.

I should mention that there are visible screws on the faceplate, which gives the steering wheel a very racing look. I think the VNM GT is a very nice sim-racing device.

Customized assembly

The VNM GT can be mounted in two different ways: either you opt for the brand’s Quick Release, which slightly resembles Thrustmaster’s, at least the old ones, with a kind of lever to secure the whole thing. And you also have the option of using a standard QR in a 6×70 mm pattern, for example, to take advantage of the latter’s features.

If you take VNM’s QR, mounting the wheel on the brand’s base side – yes, the manufacturer does offer one – is easy: you have a notch on the QR base side that accommodates two QR wheel side rods. You insert the whole thing, lock the mechanism with a lever of sorts, and you’re done.

Manufacturing and finishing

The GT uses aluminum throughout, machined by CNC machines. It’s very handsome, well-built, and has no apparent defects. I haven’t inspected it much, I must confess, as the brand isn’t aiming for the premium segment. I think it’s aiming to compete with Logitech and Thrustmaster in the main lines, but also with entry-level products from Simagic, Moza and Fanatec.

As for the finish, well, it’s okay. Buttons click nicely when pressed, rotarys rotate without drag, and the same goes for encoders. However, the funky switches are not textured, and are therefore smooth. This isn’t a manufacturing defect, but it could be a problem in the next part.

Handling the steering wheel

The steering wheel is 30 cm in diameter, with a rectangular shape and closed handles. The grip is typically GT, with a 9H15 position and excellent grip thanks to the textured silicone.

As for the controls, they’re almost entirely distributed along the sides of the faceplate, very close to your fingers. This means quick access on the run, whatever your position on the curve.

At the rear of the VNM GT we have 4 paddles: 2 magnetic and 2 dual-clutch. All 4 are adjustable in spacing, with the lower ones (dual clutch) having much more margin than the upper ones. I don’t know why they went this route, but that’s the way it is.

Let’s end this chapter with the funky switches. As I mentioned earlier, they are not textured, but smooth, which can be a problem when racing. To operate them, you’ll need to apply some force so that your fingers don’t slip, especially if you’re wearing gloves.

Sensations during play

Once installed on your sim-racing setup, and configured for the controls at the same time, the VNM GT steering wheel offers a feel that is good in most cases, provided you have a Direct Drive base that develops at least 12 nm of torque (like VNM’s Premier base).

As I mentioned above, the GT weighs in at over 2 kilos, which is a bit heavy for a wheel aimed at GT and single-seater racing. As a result, if you opt for a base wheel with, say, 10 nm of torque, the latter’s motor will find it harder to drive the mass of the flywheel, and you’ll quickly reach saturation, with clipping as a result.

Apart from that, the VNM GT proves to be a good steering wheel that covers quite a lot of sim-racing competition. The structure is solid, thanks to the use of aluminum for the whole thing, which is machined by CNC machines. The only small fault, apart from the weight of the device, is the funky switches, which are smooth, requiring much more force to use.

As far as the grips are concerned, the silicone covering them is of good quality, which favors grip when running.

Compatibility

The VNM GT is a wheel that is compatible with the PC platform only, whatever base you use with it. Whether you have a VNM peripheral or a 6×70 mm hub with a Quick Release from Simagic, Asetek, Fanatec or Moza, it’s PC-only.

For DD bases, you have the option of those offered by VNM, or you can take a hub with QR from another base. Steering wheel mounting uses a standard multi-point pattern by 70 mm.

Value for money

The VNM GT is priced at around €480. The steering wheel uses aluminum for its entire structure, with quality controls, a good finish and a rigid shell.

As far as I’m concerned, the VNM GT’s value for money is good compared with the competition. So it’s true that there’s no RevLED on the faceplate, or even a screen like on the steering wheels offered by Fanatec. But the quality is there, with attention to detail. Even though the manufacturer is young, it’s clear that he’s in it for the long haul.

My verdict

The VNM brand seems determined to shake things up in the entry-level and mid-range sim-racing segment. The manufacturer’s catalog includes virtually every racing simulation peripheral you could possibly need to set up a setup.

The GT steering wheel is a good product for those who want to give VNM a try. The brand is a viable alternative to manufacturers who have been on the market for much longer.

VNM isn’t much younger than Moza, and the latter has shown that passion goes a long way to breaking into the highly competitive world of sim-racing. All that remains to be seen is whether this brand’s products hold up after several years of use.