Thrustmaster unveils limited-run Ferrari Le Mans Hypercar sim racing wheel

Ferrari 499P Hypercar sim racing wheel replica launched by ThrustmasterBased on the centenary race-winning 2023 car’s wheelOnly 499 will ever be made, each numberedIncludes backlit buttons, hand-moulded carbon fibre, six paddlesSales begin when this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans startsThe three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Ferrari 499P Hypercar has received a sim racing version of its steering wheel.Specifically based on the 2023 model, the ‘Thrustmaster Ferrari 499P Centenary Winners Edition’ wheel is licensed by both Ferrari and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. It’s the American-French peripheral manufacturer’s most exclusive wheel yet, limited to just 499 units.Compatible with the T818 and T598 wheel bases across PC, PlayStation and Xbox, much like its production run, the price has a connection to the car. It will be €851, as car number 51 claimed Le Mans victory at the 100-year celebration event.  Building on its premium positioning, each will be individually numbered, both on a plaque on the top of the wheel (images here are of pre-production, non-numbered, prototypes) and on the digital dashboard upon turning on the wheel.A metal display stand with Le Mans branding and USB cable (used for power when displayed) are included within a lavish box, alongside a blueprint of the design and an official Automobilist poster of the Ferrari winning the 2023 race. A code for Le Mans Ultimate and all current DLC is also part of the package.The Ferrari of sim racing wheelsOutside of the presentation, the wheel itself is very close to the real-world race car’s, with some small concessions to sim racing. The colour screen is slightly smaller (from 5” to 4.3”), and two rotaries are omitted (due to console input limits). The digital dash can be cycled through layouts from the real-world car, with information from Ferrari, but again, subtly tweaked to make more sense for sim racing information.There are 11 push buttons (plus one D-pad-style input) on the 280mm, 1.4kg device, which have backlit surrounds. During our brief hands-on during this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans gathering, there doesn’t appear to be any light leak.These are joined alongside three rows of LEDs, four metal rotary dials, and four toggle switches. Three represent the colour of the Italian flag, which is what the ‘23-spec car ran with, and the fourth is the Prancing Horse emblem.The rear is made from hand-moulded carbon and features six paddles, two of which are also carbon fibre and four are made…