At first, this button-laden and tech-heavy Bentley GT3 Steering Wheel developed by sim racing hardware producer Fanatec looks like another real-world racing wheel. Which it is. But it also doubles as a proper video game controller thanks to its racing-grade quick disconnect mechanism and lightweight carbon fiber and magnesium construction.
Identical to the wheel found in Rhys Millen’s Bentley Continental GT3, which hits the famous Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb course on June 27, 2021, this 310 mm diameter civilian-ready version sports all the same features, including a high-end 3.4-inch RBC vertical stripe LCD screen smack in the middle displaying telemetry and other data via the Fanatec Tuning Menu.
Nestled in a forged carbon bezel mated to four CNC-machined aluminum rotary encoders, the 800 x 800-pixel display will also replay preloaded race telemetry from famous laps, showing pedal and steering inputs, gear changes, G-meter, and a track map.
Other details include thick grips in Alcantara, a five mm-thick carbon front plate in green, and that FIA-approved quick-release functionality allowing it to connect to a real car when it’s time to leave the basement and hit the open roads (like outside).
The racing experience is rounded out by four magnetic paddle shifters — one pair for shifting and the other two for extra programable functions — plus eight main buttons up top with a distinct backlit surround, 9 RBC RevLEDs sitting vertically along the top, and an optional lower handle (Pikes Peak Grip) attaching to the wheel’s bottom rim to handle those narly hairpins and tight corners.
The entire setup is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 microprocessor rated at 800Mhz, weighs around 1,900 grams, and comes with a slick travel case included.
Taking a break from the track? Mount the USB-powered Fanatec Bentley GT3 Steering Wheel on the office wall or place it on the living room mantle — set it to clock mode for that extra touch.
Pricing details haven’t been released, but Fanatec’s other sim wheels go for just under $2,000 — we’re guessing this Bentley GT3 Steering Wheel will be priced upwards of that. The price to channel Rhys Millen piloting the over 750-hp Bentley coupe climbing Pike’s Peak? Priceless.
If you’re an iRacing member or just a hardcore sim racing fan looking to level-up, here’s a glance at the Fanatec Bentley GT3 Steering Wheel’s key features:
- Magnesium alloy core for maximum stiffness and weight-saving
- 3.4” 800 x 800 px RGB vertical stripe LCD
- 310mm diameter wheel with Alcantara grips
- Two analog clutch paddles using contactless Hall sensors
- Optional Pikes Peak lower grip to suit different driving styles (included)
- Five mm-thick carbon fiber plate with custom green weave
- Exchangeable quick release (QR2) for use in compatible Fanatec wheel bases and the real Continental GT3
- Eight snap-dome buttons with 900 g activation force
- Backlit button surrounds
- Two 7-way FunkySwitch directional sticks with encoder functionality
- Six RGB FlagLEDs
- Paddle design based on the Bentley Continental GT shift paddles
- Four magnetic paddles, two for gear shifting, two for additional functions
- Aluminum, USB-powered desk/wall mount
- Dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 microprocessor at 800Mhz
- Integrated USB-C port for firmware updates (comes with cable)
- A sticker set with 50 labels included
- Interchangeable button caps
