The ClubSport DD wheel base from Fanatec represents a new era for the pioneering sim racing brand. Closing the gap between their high-end Podium series and the more affordable CSL line, the new DD strikes a balance of performance, features and price unmatched among consumer direct drive bases.

After extensive testing, the ClubSport DD proves itself a force to be reckoned with. Let’s dig into everything this ground-breaking new wheel base has to offer.

Overview

Intro

Direct drive simulation has gone mainstream. The precision, detail and immersion of DD bases were once reserved for only the most dedicated (and well-funded) virtual racers. But as technology advances, costs come down, and popularity explodes, DD bases now sit at the heart of rigs for everyday enthusiasts.

Fanatec established themselves early as a leading force in sim racing hardware. Today, their ecosystem remains the most comprehensive and deeply integrated in the industry. From humble beginnings making upgraded replacement wheels, they now offer a complete lineup of servos, pedals, wheels, shifters and more.

The new ClubSport DD slots perfectly into the existing Fanatec universe. It represents a reimagining of what DD performance means for the dedicated consumer simulator.

Key Specs

• 12Nm consistent holding torque
• Designed for peak DD efficiency and smoothness
• Fully passive cooling system
• Designed exclusively for Fanatec’s QR2 quick release system
• Supports FullForce high-definition force feedback effects
• Extensive tuning parameters via desktop and wheel-mounted controls
• Fully compatible with Fanatec’s industry-leading ecosystem
• Works on PC natively; Xbox compatible with Xbox wheels

Unboxing

What’s in the box

Unboxing any new sim racing gear brings a childlike excitement. And Fanatec packages the ClubSport DD with their signature style. Inside the box you’ll find:

• ClubSport DD wheel base
• QR2 quick release pre-installed
• Power supply with regional plug
• 4x T-nuts for rig mounting
• USB Type-C to Type-A cable (3m)
• Quick guide

First Impressions

The ClubSport DD makes a strong first impression with its clean industrial design. The mostly exposed metal housing looks all business, finished in a satin dark gray with contrasting black accents.

Weighing in at a sturdy 13kg, the DD conveys solidity the moment you lift it from the box. The workmanship lives up to Fanatec’s reputation for premium quality and attention to detail.

Gone are the days of exposed bolt heads and rough edges. The DD looks and feels like a professional piece of racing equipment, not merely a hobbyist plaything.

But the real excitement comes from what you can’t see. Peer inside, and the DD reveals its secret weapon: a masterpiece of a direct drive motor, powerfully efficient yet eerily smooth. This silent beast just begs to be unleashed.

Setup

Getting the ClubSport DD operational takes just a few minutes. The quick release comes pre-installed, and connections for power, USB and peripherals are conveniently located in one place.

Compatibility

The DD slots seamlessly into Fanatec’s established ecosystem. Nearly any Fanatec wheel just clicks into place and springs to life.

On PC, all major racing titles work out of the box. For Xbox use, just grab one of Fanatec’s officially Xbox-licensed wheels.

The DD also plays nice with rigs and accessories from other brands, though wheel support remains limited without Fanatec components. The industry-standard mounting points provided make the DD easy to slot into just about any cockpit.

Mounting Options

Fanatec designed the DD for versatility. It ships ready for hard mounting to a rig, and adds a sturdy desk clamp for those without a dedicated cockpit.

Rig Mounting

The DD’s underside features slots for Fanatec’s usual patterns. Just slide in the included T-nuts to match your rig. Three slots along the bottom provide a lot of placement flexibility.

Desk Mounting

Fanatec’s optional ClubSport table clamp (sold separately) secures the DD to just about any desk. An arced shape and sturdy metal construction keep the clamp and base perfectly mated. The side-mounting bolts let you adjust angle and height. This works remarkably well for casual racing.

Connectivity

On the back side, the DD serves up a full suite of ports to hook up Fanatec gear or other compatible hardware:

• Power supply
• USB-C to PC
• 2x Shifters
• Pedals
• Handbrake
• CAN bus for future accessories

The convenient USB-C port connects to PCs with the included 3m cable. For longer runs, any high-quality USB-C extension will work flawlessly.

Performance

Of course, we all care most about that force feedback. Get ready for a whole new level of detail, precision and realism.

Force Feedback Quality

Fanatec nails the fundamentals. The DD produces feedback smoother, tighter and more detailed than anything in its price range.

Smoothness

Brushless servo motors inherently generate some cogging torque – a slight notchiness as the wheel rotates unpowered. Fanatec minimizes this through clever tricks like offset segmented rotors. The result is silky smooth motion that traditional gear-driven wheels simply can’t match.

Fidelity

The DD’s responsive electronics and high-efficiency electromagnets let it communicate force feedback effects with incredible nuance. You feel the minute textures of track surfaces, weight shifts of the car, and subtle loss of grip at the very edge of adhesion.

Responsiveness

Fanatec rates the DD’s slew rate – its ability to instantly generate requested torque – as class-leading. Our testing confirms the DD reacts noticeably quicker to force signals than other wheels, translating to sharper, more lifelike steering reflexes.

Torque

The ClubSport DD provides a muscular 12Nm of maximum holding torque. Fanatec employs unique flux barrier technology to deliver every ounce of that rated power, hour after hour, with no throttling or derating.

Consistency

Precision demands consistency. The DD’s outstanding thermal design maintains rock solid performance. Top-tier telemetry effects like tire scrub depend on feedback output staying precise lap after lap.

Features

Tune and adjust the DD to your heart’s content with Fanatec’s unmatched configurability.

Tuning Menu

The Tuning Menu lets you tweak force feedback and other parameters. Select from beginner-friendly presets or dive deep into custom settings like dampening strength, dynamic range and far more.

Advanced Settings

Fanatec’s free desktop application unlocks even more setup options. Create multiple named profiles optimized per car, track or game. Autoswitch settings on the fly using button combos.

Update Firmware

As Fanatec refines servo behavior over time, firmware updates bring improvements right to your DD. Updates take just minutes via USB.

FullForce

Fanatec breaks new ground with their upcoming FullForce effects system. Enabled through firmware, FullForce takes advantage of the DD’s unique speed and precision.

Explanation

Unlike legacy force feedback protocols, FullForce operates independently from standard force effects. Generated from live physics and telemetry data, FullForce adds a second feedback layer for super-high-definition road feel, engine vibrations and other tactile effects too subtle for traditional FFB.

Implementation Status

FullForce remains a work in progress. The hardware supports it, but no games currently integrate FullForce effects. Fanatec is releasing tools to let developers build support. For now, drivers can sample FullForce’s capabilities using special test scripts.

Potential

Once enabled in future titles, FullForce promises to unlock a new level of realism from the ClubSport DD. Small details that border on subconscious in real cars will become tactile sensations through FullForce. While traditional FFB excels at objectively simulating steering forces, FullForce aims squarely at building subconscious connection between driver and vehicle.

Cooling

Maintaining rock solid torque demands effective thermal management. The DD employs passive cooling without compromise.

Fanatec leverages a highly efficient brushless servo paired with an aluminum housing to avoid the need for noisy, failure-prone fans. Fins machined into the DD’s case distribute heat rapidly. Even during prolonged peak-torque operation, exterior temperatures never rise more than a few degrees above room level.

The payoff? No maintenance, no variability, just consistent torque output you can always rely on.