Did you know that it’s borderline impossible to operate a real car using a thumbstick and a small selection of action and bumper buttons?
In fact, during a made-up experiment conducted back in 1958, the American Automotive Association ruled that an “undetermined percentage of serious fat-thumb-related road incidents could occur as a result of mis-dexterity”, which is why, in 1960, the use of steering wheels and pedals in cars became law in the US.
And so it is with gaming too. For those of us old enough to have been raised in the arcade arena of classic racy racing games like Out Run, Pole Position, and Chase H.Q., in either their upright or sit-in machine variables, only the full motoring kit of pedals in accelerator, brake and, preferably, clutch flavours, gear stick and suitably sized steering wheel will suffice today, the latter with force feedback, natch.
Now, for many years during what I now forcibly have to refer to as “my youth” racing sim set-ups were, well, a bit naff. Pedals offered no realistic resistance and steering wheels weren’t particularly accurate. Fortunately, the tech involved in keeping you from veering off virtual roads has been constantly honed and enhanced since the carefree salad days of my younger years and today’s racing rigs are often on a par with the real thing.
Some are comparatively basic and relatively inexpensive, whilst others can be more complicated than the cockpit of a Eurofighter jet and just as mind-bogglingly costly. Here, I’ve looked at cross-section that guns the go-faster gamut from easily accessible to approaching excessive, but whatever your wheeled weapon of choice is, be it Mario Kart 8, Hotwheels Unleashed, Forza Horizon 5, Gran Turismo 7, or EA Sports WRC, one of these wheeled wonders will marry the right combination of price and performance to push you into pole position.
Drivers, start your engines…
Best racing wheels at a glance:
Logitech G29 Driving Force Racing Wheel and Floor Pedals
Best for: PlayStation and PC perfection
Making your sim driving and drifting smoother and slicker than a well-oiled otter, the G29 Driving Force Wheel and pedal board combo from Logitech come compatible with all the major force feedback titles and offers truly immersive action, thanks to a 900-degree lock-to-lock rotation wheel that emulates the real feel of an F1 car and pressure-sensitive nonlinear brake pedals that can be customised to provide even more precision to your rate reduction.
Constructed with all the build-quality and durability of an actual car steering wheel, and finished in stitched leather to boot, understeer, oversteer and drifting are all possible, while the helical transmission gears of the stainless-steel flappy paddles reduce noise and vibration when you change up and down gears.
And if all that is still not enough for your Senna-esque sensibilities, the whole steering set-up can be fine-tuned using the wheel’s 24-point selection dial. So, there’s really no more excuses for cocking-up on corners or spinning off unceremoniously into an inconvenient ditch.
Finally, with powerful mounting clips to attach your wheel securely to your desk or seating rig (see further down), you can attack the track as hard as you like without fear of the whole thing coming loose and flying across the room as you careen violently around the next chicane.
With a compatible six-speed Driving Force gear shift also available for around £55, simulator sublimity could soon be yours.
Buy now £260.00, Amazon
STEALTH Racing Wheel
Best for: Switching things up
Cheap as chips and an absolute essential for those who love Mario Kart on the go, the STEALTH Racing Wheel for Nintendo Switch is small enough to tote around and whip out when the mood takes you on, say, a park bench or some form of public transport, to instantly upgrade your play.
Simply slip your Joy-Con controller into the centre of the wheel and instantly enjoy a better grip on any and all Switch racing games while, if you are indeed playing on a park bench or public transport, looking a bit mad.
Made from lightweight (240g) plastic, the STEALTH features two shoulder buttons to help add to the action, features LED lights to bring a bit of glam to your gaming and, as such, requires 2x AA batteries to keep you lit.
The most affordable and, ultimately, sense-making accessory for the Switch, don’t allow yourself to be driven to gaming distraction without one.
Buy now £9.00, Amazon
Thrustmaster EVO Racing 32R Leather
Best for: Rallying round
The price may seem like an awful lot for a driving sim wheel and, well, it is. Especially when I go on to explain that that’s literally just for the wheel, as the wheelbase it attaches to comes separately at an additional price of somewhere in the hundreds, depending on which model you pick (I recommend the T818).
But, what a wheel! Compatible with Thrustmaster Force Feedback racing wheelbases now and to come (futureproofed), and PS5 and PS4, Xbox Series and Xbox One, and PC, the EVO Racing 32R Leather features a natty brushed aluminium centre plate, while the wheel’s leather-clad rim comes with something Thrustmaster are calling ‘yellow kryptonite stitching’, meaning it’s useless for Clark Kent but the very peak of going-fast fashion for everyone else.
But, looks are not everything, as a proper racing wheel has to make you a better driver. Fortunately, the Thrustmaster features no fewer than 25 action buttons, including 4x rotary encoders and an ergonomic D-pad that lets you switch between modes to adapt engine speed dependent on the vehicle you’re driving, while 7x LEDs provide real-time racing information and your revolutions per minute.
Prominent, curved paddle shifters equipped with magnetic sensors make for precise gear changes, and if you’re unsure as to whether it was precise enough, the LEDs change colour to reassure you that all is well and you can concentrate on the road ahead.
Feedback level comes dependent on what wheelbase you went with, but the perfectly padded design of the 32R Leather’s rim will keep it comfortable and informative regardless of which base is driving you on, making you feel like the Sebastien Loeb of your own lounge as you grind your way through most gruelling of EA Sports WRC’s courses.
Yes, an exceptional wheel for rally driving and an equal all-rounder for other race formats, the Thrustmaster EVO Racing 32R Leather is a sim steerer for the ultra-serious.
Buy now £223.99, Amazon
Maxx Tech Pro Racing Wheel Kit
.jpeg)
Best for: Cheap and cheerful cornering for all comers
Got a PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox or Switch? Then the Pro Racing Wheel Kit from Maxx Tech could well be the budget driving bonanza you’re looking for, combining a wheel with paddle shifters and two pedal sets for a penny under £50.
Okay, relatively basic by comparison with the other options I’ve already spoiled you with here, the wheel unit adheres to your desk via suction cups and offers 180-degree rotation and sensitivity adjustment depending on the specific game you’re indulging in, while some might say awkwardly positioned gear shifter lever behind the wheel lets you change between forward and reverse in a more traditional manner. But if it’s mere fun thrills you seek rather than ever-lasting podium glory, then the Maxx Tech delivers on all fronts.
Buy now £50.00, Maxx
Logitech G923
Best for: Feeling the Force
Upping the ante on the G29 we came in with, Logitech’s G923 not only has an extra number in its name, but it also dabbles in witchcraft by directly hooking up with the in-game physics to deliver driving realism second to none. No, I don’t mean you’ll wind up stuck in countless traffic jams or steering slowly around perpetual potholes, but rather you’ll feel the feedback of every corner, every chicane, every hairpin bend like never before, as you race through any game on the PS, Xbox or PC.
A wheel and three-pedal kit with a distinctly premium feel thanks to the aluminium paddle shifters, pressure-sensitive brakes and the fatigue-forgetting hand-stitched leather wheel wrap, the G923 puts fully adjustable traction, torque and brake force at your fingertips, alongside a simply brilliant dual-clutch launch assist that will get you off the line and ahead of the pack in the blink of an eye.
Add in an LED RPM indicator central to your line of sight and Logitech seems to have thought of everything, then packaged it all together in a tour de force of truly epic feedback and precision control. Behold the G923: better than the real thing.
Buy now £380.00, Logitech
Hori Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe NSW-228U
Best for: Plumbing the heights of play
Not particularly interested in oh-so-serious driving sims but very partial to the myriad marvels of Mario Kart? Then step up your Switch/PC pleasure with the addition of the Hori Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe etc, a wheel and pedals combo that, for a shade under £100, puts you physically and metaphorically firmly behind the wheel.
With adjustable button functions and sensitivity, your kart racing will henceforth be less of a clumsy knockabout and more of a precision play of racing lines, clean cornering and far better battling, giving you the obvious advantage over all others taking to the track.
Officially licenced by Nintendo and technically capable of working on games other than the all-conquering Kart, if motoring with Mario is your main passion in life (and why wouldn’t it be?), then this is your ideal accessory.
Buy now £98.00, Amazon
Playseat Formula Instinct F1 Edition-
Best for: The ultimate racing rig
Flasher than Harry Flashman flashing his cash and pulling the whole racing sim shebang together, the Playseat Formula Instinct F1 is not actually a wheel and pedals combo set at all, but rather a stunningly ergonomic seat on which you can situate your racing rig kit for the ultimate home F1 experience, thanks to its accurate and yet adjustable sitting position and structural layout.
Compatible with all wheels and pedals for console or PC, the flex-free pedal plate makes for perfect braking control, while the highly comfortable, high-quality build means indoor-based endurance racers can go for hours without suffering what the doctors call ‘numb bum’ or total temporary paralysis of the legs when you suddenly realise you need an urgent porcelain-based pit stop and find you can’t stand.
Is it pricey? Does it take up a lot of space? Yes and yes. At 168cm long, you’re going to need to dedicate a fair bit of room, and at £549 a fair bit of cash. But if racing sims are your raison d'etre, then both sacrifices will be well worth it to strap in and take to the virtual tarmac like a pro.
Buy now £549.00, F1 Authentics
