Fanatec ClubSport DD+ Review

A powerful, precise direct-drive wheelbase with FullForce technology, an extensive ecosystem and a rather hefty price tag. But does it offer enough over the competition to justify the investment?

I’ve tested quite a few direct-drive wheelbases over the years, and I’ve reached a rather unexpected conclusion. Once you get beyond a certain level of performance, they all start to feel remarkably similar.

That raises an interesting question about the Fanatec ClubSport DD+. With up to 18 Nm of torque, a premium build and its proprietary FullForce technology, it’s certainly an impressive piece of hardware. But when competing wheelbases already offer such a convincing driving experience, how much extra are you really getting for your money?

In this review, I’ll look at the performance, build quality, configuration software, ecosystem and, perhaps most importantly, whether the ClubSport DD+ justifies its premium price.

Price and What’s Included

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the price.

The ClubSport DD+ is a premium wheelbase, and Fanatec certainly charges accordingly. At the time of my review, the PlayStation-compatible DD Extreme package cost approximately €1,150 with the Formula steering wheel and €1,100 with the GT steering wheel.

That’s a considerable investment, even by direct-drive standards.

You can purchase the wheelbase through Fanatec’s own website, as well as through selected retailers. There can be minor differences in pricing between them, but I wouldn’t expect substantial savings.

For that amount of money, you’re getting the wheelbase and the selected steering wheel. It’s a premium package, but it’s also entering a price bracket where expectations are naturally very high.

The question is whether the driving experience is sufficiently different from that of considerably cheaper alternatives to justify the additional expense.

Design and Build Quality

The first thing you’ll notice when lifting the ClubSport DD+ out of its box is its weight.

At approximately 12.5 kg, it’s one of the heaviest wheelbases I’ve tested. It measures roughly 25 cm in length, including the quick-release mechanism, and approximately 16 × 16 cm in width and height.

The casing is made from die-cast aluminium, with the design optimised for heat dissipation. It’s a substantial piece of hardware, and the construction certainly gives the impression of a premium product.

Visually, however, Fanatec has opted for a relatively understated design. There are no…