Fanatec Podium DD Review: A Long-Awaited Return

Fanatec is back with a product many people have been waiting for: the Podium DD. This wheelbase has been hinted at for years, and after a long period of delays across Fanatec’s lineup, it finally arrives as the brand’s new high-end direct drive option.

Fanatec sent this unit in for review. Affiliate links are available, but all opinions here are my own.

At a glance, the Podium DD is a PC wheelbase with Xbox compatibility when paired with the correct steering wheel. It delivers 25 Nm of sustained torque, with peaks up to 33 Nm. Pricing sits at around $1,100–$1,200, placing it right in the middle of the high-end direct drive market. It’s cheaper than the old Podium DD2 and broadly in line with competitors like VNM, while still undercutting Simucube and Ascher offerings at similar torque levels.

Fanatec’s recent history hasn’t been smooth. Several products—including the Podium line and Podium pedals—were delayed by nearly two years after being shown at Sim Racing Expo 2025. As of now, the Podium DD wheelbase is available, while the Podium pedals are expected later this year.

Physically, the Podium DD is a complete departure from the older DD1 and DD2. While the mounting points, ports, and general layout will feel familiar to anyone who has used the ClubSport DD Plus, the construction has been significantly refined. The housing is based on an extruded aluminum design, with aluminum front and rear plates now acting as passive heat sinks. Internally, the PCB and steering shaft are directly connected to these cooling elements, and in practice the unit remains cool and completely silent, even under sustained load.

Installation is straightforward. Side and bottom mounting rails make it easy to attach to most rigs, and the revised power button feels more solid than on previous models. Fanatec has also improved the quick release mechanism—it’s smoother and no longer exhibits the sticking issues seen on earlier units.

As expected, there is no USB pass-through or slip ring. Using third-party wheels requires Fanatec’s quick release, an emulator, or an external solution. This remains one of the platform’s limitations, especially at this price point.

Fanatec’s software has now been consolidated into a single application, combining force feedback tuning, profiles, and LED control. Functionally, it works well and mirrors the experience of the ClubSport DD Plus. That said, the application is unnecessarily large, reflecting an industry-wide trend rather than a Fanatec-only issue.

In terms of force feedback, the Podium DD performs exactly as you would expect from a high-end base. Compared to the ClubSport DD Plus, it is faster, stronger, and slightly more detailed—but the difference is incremental. Once you move beyond roughly 15 Nm of torque, gains tend to fall into diminishing returns, and this wheelbase sits firmly in that territory.

The real improvement is when comparing it to the older Podium DD1. Low-speed detail is clearer, mid-corner stability is improved, and weight transfer is communicated more cleanly. The force feedback remains natural and unfiltered, with minimal reliance on artificial effects.

Across simulations—Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa EVO, iRacing, and Le Mans Ultimate—the Podium DD is consistent and predictable. Steering weight builds smoothly, grip loss is easy to read, and the base never feels artificially heavy. In iRacing, Full Force support adds texture but should be used conservatively to avoid overwhelming the signal.

Within Fanatec’s own lineup, the Podium DD also highlights some pricing issues. The ClubSport DD sits awkwardly at its current price, while the ClubSport DD Plus remains expensive but partially justified by console compatibility. In contrast, the Podium DD itself is reasonably priced for its torque and overall refinement.

There are still compromises: a closed ecosystem, no USB pass-through, and added cost for third-party wheel compatibility. Some parts of Fanatec’s ecosystem also feel overdue for updates.

That said, the fundamentals are strong. The Podium DD is quiet, thermally stable, easy to live with, and consistently good across sims. It doesn’t reinvent direct drive technology, but it is a clear step forward from Fanatec’s previous Podium bases and a solid high-end option in today’s market.