We’ve seen a few examples of unobtanium in sim racing circles in recent years.
Companies like Prodrive, Aston Martin and Brabham have produced bespoke simulators north of £20k, while Fanatec and Ascher Racing have given virtual drivers the chance to use real racecar steering wheel technology at home, through their respective BMW M4 GT3 and McLaren Artura GT4 steering wheels.
Sure, there’s a market for this kind of crossover technology, but it’s relatively small.
Well, now Porsche has waded into the fray with its new ‘Gaming Steering Wheel 911 GT3 Cup‘, and in typical Porsche fashion the boffins at Weissach have created a thing of simplistic beauty, exuding engineering excellence.
The only caveat is it costs £7,950.
Real racing credentials
Apologies if you’ve just spat tea out all over your Logitech G27; let’s explain what you’ll get for your money. Well, Porsche states it’s made from an ‘original 911 GT3 Cup steering wheel’, meaning 64% of its construction is either carbon fibre or aluminium alloy, and it’s been tested to the limit in motorsport series like the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the Formula 1-supporting Porsche Supercup series. So it shouldn’t fall apart. Nice.
It has 12 face buttons with two rotary switches, plus the obligatory gear shifter paddles at the rear, with two buttons in close proximity to the lucky owner’s index fingers.
The buttons are backlit with the unit featuring plug-and-play functionality via the included USB cable, making it compatible with most major wheelbases thanks to its six-hole layout – including a 70mm spacer. A list of compatible devices is absent at this stage, however.
Potential buyers will be joining an exclusive club too, as only 150 units are being made, with deliveries expected from December this year. Porsche naturally expects the wheel to end up as a display piece on wealthy sim racers’ shelves as it supplies every example with a Studio F. A. Porsche-designed display stand.
How do you feel about the Porsche Gaming Steering Wheel 911 GT3 Cup? Let us know in the comments below.
