Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2
Fanatec really needs no introduction. It is one of the bigger brands and many sim racers are now well acquainted with the Fanatec ecosystem. We now have extensive experience with it through the many Fanatec products that we have been able to review in recent years. In terms of Fanatec wheelbases, we got to try just about everything on our testing simrig. However, one is still missing at the moment, but that is about to change. Fanatec has been kind enough to send us the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 for review, of course we are happy to get started with this.
The Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 is a wheelbase that is only suitable for use on PC and Xbox (with compatible Xbox steering wheel). At the time of writing you pay € 1499.95 excluding shipping costs for the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 in the Fanatec webshop. The wheelbase will then be delivered including the Fanatec Killswitch.
Packaging & Contents
We receive our shipment via UPS and it was delivered within 2 working days. We keep repeating ourselves a bit regarding the Fanatec packaging; this one is very well taken care of as always. In a brown outer box we find a beautiful black product box with golden details. The contours of the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 are depicted on the product box itself. When we open the box we immediately see this beautiful wheelbase together with the Killswitch. Underneath the wheelbase are the power supply, the necessary connection cables, the high-torque key and the manual.
Engineering & Quality
The Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 has a Direct Drive motor which ensures a smooth racing experience. This engine is fully developed by Fanatec in Germany and optimized for sim racing. The motor is an outrunner type* which has a maximum torque of 25Nm, the rotation is electronically limited to a maximum of 2520 degrees. The housing is made of cast aluminum which is finished with replaceable carbon plates on the large surfaces. Together with the gold-colored details, it gives it a very sleek but also high-end look.
The wheelbase features a 2.7 inch OLED screen with a resolution of 256 x 64 pixels that allows you to read wheelbase settings and telemetry data from your racing game. You can adjust these settings via the steering wheel, via the Fanatec Drivers and via the Fanalab software. Displaying telemetry data can be done via the Intelligent Telemetry Mode (ITM) menu via the Fanalab software, which we will discuss in more detail later in this review. On the back we find connections for the CAN, Data, Emergency Stop, Handbrake, Pedals, Shifter 1, Shifter 2 and for the high-torque key. You will also find a small round button on the back for switching the wheelbase on and off and a connection for the power supply. The supplied Fanatec Killswitch makes it possible to immediately switch off the DD2 in case of emergency, but it can also switch the wheelbase on and off so that you no longer have to wriggle behind the wheelbase to find that little round button.
The Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 features wireless QR technology with Fanatec steering wheels and Podium Hub. This wireless transfer of data and power between the motor and the QR means no external cables between your wheelbase and steering wheel are required. Fanatec indicates specifically for the Podium Wheelbase DD2 that the data and power is wireless and that no external cables are required for using a steering wheel, but in our experience that is not the case with any Fanatec wheelbase or steering wheel. Why this is a selling point for the DD2 is a bit of a mystery.
By default, the wheelbase is in a so-called low-torque mode, which means that the wheelbase rotates at less than a third of its force. With the high-torque key you can activate the high-torque mode to unlock the full performance of the DD2. This wheelbase also comes with a 5-year warranty as standard, so you can continue to drive your favorite racing game carefree.
*The difference between outrunner and inrunner (brushless DC) motors is that the rotor of an outrunner is outside the stator, while the rotor of an inrunner is inside the stator. In theory, outrunner motors generally create more torque and spin slower than inrunner motors, which usually have less torque and spin significantly faster. In practice, we do not find this difference perceptible on the wheelbases we have tested, and in our opinion there is no right or wrong choice of manufacturers. Source: Wikipedia Inrunner & Outrunner
Mounting
The wheelbase supports both the Fanatec three-hole (bottom mount) and side mount mounting pattern. We mount the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 in combination with the DD side-mount on our TREQ Ace (review will follow soon) simrig. This not only looks better, but also offers sufficient support for the power that this wheelbase has. We mount the side-mount to the wheelbase and then place it between the upright profiles of the TREQ Ace. Due to its weight, assembly is more convenient to do with 2 people, which also makes this job a lot easier. Make sure that you do the assembly carefully, damage to the wheelbase is easily made and that would of course be a shame! We connect the necessary cables and we are almost ready to race.
Firmware & Fanalab
To be able to use the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 you must have installed at least the Fanatec Drivers. If you want to use, for example, ITM, Fanatec LED, Dynamic FFB or the possibility to link settings profiles to racing games, you will also have to install the Fanalab software. Both programs work well together, so it’s best to do all the settings from Fanalab. Make sure you install the latest versions of both so that you use a compatible version of Fanalab that accompanies the Fanatec Drivers. There is also a Fanatec App for Android and iOS available, but since it is still in the testing phase at the time of writing, we will not discuss it in this review. It is advisable to perform a firmware update from this software after installing the Fanatec Drivers. This can be done very easily from the menu of the Fanatec Drivers software and is not available in the Fanalab software.
Usage
In addition to the driver software, we also use the Fanalab software, in which we will configure our settings. The Fanatec Forum contains recommended settings that are shared through the community, these are suitable for your favorite racing game(s) and platform(s). The recommended settings are also a standard option in Fanalab, which can be set in the ‘Game Profile’ menu per racing game with one click on the blue ‘Recommended FFB Settings’ button. Most of the settings are personal, but the recommended settings are a very good starting point for further fine-tuning. We test the DD2 in Assetto Corsa Competizione using these Fanatec recommended settings and the specific rotation settings (SEN) provided by veteran Assetto Corsa Competizione rider, James Baldwin. This YouTube video explains this very well. You can also link these settings per car via the most recent Fanalab software. We also take a trip to Assetto Corsa with these Fanatec recommended settings and the mod from Race Sim Studio for the 2022 Formula 1 cars. For steering wheels we alternately use the Rexing GT Timun, the Innato GT (review will follow soon) and the Fanatec ClubSport F1 2021 LE.
We can say in advance that the use of the high-torque key on this wheelbase is simply a must. We were already familiar with this experience with its “smaller” brother the DD1. With the use of the high-torque key, the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 shows its true nature and you can use its full torque. We did try it in low-torque mode. This gives you a maximum of 8Nm at your disposal, which feels like the wheelbase performs the same as the CSL DD with 5Nm of torque. For us, that is the same feeling as driving a Ferrari with an engine mounted from a Fiat Panda. You don’t want that and you don’t do that.
Our first impression of the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 is quite impressive. The Fanatec recommended settings are fine for us, but we have set the Force Feedback (FFB) a few percent higher so that we get a little more power to process. As mentioned earlier, we already have the necessary experience with the DD1, but we feel that the DD2 goes just that step further. As far as we are concerned, that step is mainly in the finesse and details where the DD2 effortlessly exerts sufficient power and has room to go even deeper when necessary. During our various short and long sessions in Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione, we feel the constant forces well through our steering wheels across the board, making the driving experience pleasant but not feeling “too comfortable”. In the strenuous operations we have to do our best to get the car around and the wheelbase does its work on our arm muscles, while at the same time we feel the small details very well too. We have a very good feeling of what the car is doing on track and that pushing the limit is quite easy. You can anticipate well, or feel oversteer and understeer well. This makes catching the car a lot easier and immediately provides more immersion. The DD2 has active cooling, but we haven’t heard the fan come on during our sessions.
The OLED screen is illuminated when the wheelbase is on. The screen is pleasant to look at and not a disturbing factor during racing. Since firmware version 4xx, the Intelligent Telemetry Mode (ITM) on the screen also works as it should. This has been a fairly unstable factor for a long time, but Fanatec now seems to have it sorted it out in that regard. ITM is a functionality that allows you to, through Fanalab, display telemetry data on the screen of your wheelbase. A very useful functionality, but at the same time we also find it a bit outdated if you have a steering wheel with a display or have a Sim Dash mounted on your wheelbase. We therefore only use the screen for the telemetry data of the wheelbase itself, but to be very honest we don’t look at it often.
The supplied Killswitch is a very good addition, and in our opinion also a must with a wheelbase with this much power. Being able to turn the wheelbase on and off with just a button on the Killswitch is a huge plus. So you no longer have to wriggle on the back looking for that little round button. However, the Killswitch is very difficult to mount on your simrig, so we ordered the Fanatec DD Kill-Switch Mount from Simmakerz.
Conclusion
The Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 is an impressive high-level wheelbase with a premium look. It is certainly one of the top wheelbases on the market. The build quality is very solid due to its cast aluminum housing finished with carbon plates. The wheelbase has a powerful and very precise force feedback and gives you a lot of detailed feedback about the behavior of the car on the track. Once the high-torque key is plugged in, the wheelbase shows its true nature, and with the maximum 25Nm of torque at your disposal, the wheelbase has plenty of breath to handle any peak. It is therefore extremely suitable for the sim racer who wants more than just being able to steer and feel force feedback.
The OLED screen is pleasant and not disturbing at all while driving. Since firmware version 4xx, the Intelligent Telemetry Mode (ITM) on the screen also works properly. In combination with the Fanalab software, the OLED screen can provide you with the necessary telemetry data, which is a very handy addition. Several predefined telemetry profiles are available and are easy to read while driving.
As far as we are concerned, the Killswitch is a must for a wheelbase of this caliber and it is very nice that it is included. It is a bit difficult to assemble, but fortunately there are enough solutions on the market to simplify this job. A plus is being able to turn the wheelbase on and off using a button on the Killswitch.
All in all, we are very satisfied and think the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 is definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a high-end wheelbase. Do you want to purchase the Fanatec Podium Wheelbase DD2 after reading our review? It is available for € 1499.95 excluding shipping costs via the Fanatec webshop.
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