Check out the video manuals of the new Clubsport wheels.  I want one!

The Formula rim for the CSR Elite is similar to that offered for the ClubSport wheel, coming with a few limitations in terms of the button layout that is caused by the wheel’s Xbox 360 compatibility.

The rim comes with artificial leather hand grips and the same sturdy metal construction & shifter paddles found on the Formula rim for the ClubSport wheel base.

Since the wheel does not feature a quick release mechanism, replacing the rim requires a bit more fiddling as shown off in the video below. Furthermore, a firmware update for the wheel will be required.

The CSR Elite Formula rim will be available starting in Q3, selling for 179.95 Euros (including VAT)/ 179.95 Dollars (excluding VAT). This will be the only rim offered for the CSR Elite as Fanatec is concentrating on further add-on rims for the ClubSport wheel.

Sebastian Keijmel has put together a full review of the latest wheel from Fanatec.  So what do you think?  The Clubsport wheel hit or miss?

Fanatech are getting ready with their testers reactions starting on the 29th of June.  Testers were recruited from various forums to give their impressions after the beta testing and release period.  Fanatec had asked their testers not to announce their findings until the 29th so the event can be properly managed.  Thomas J must be hanging out with Apple guys, the masters of the product launch.  I do admit I am eagerly looking forward to news and better still a unit to review. 

I have just left my email address at the mysterious webpage having read Rob's post on Virtualr.  Lets see what we get back.   Bingo the following turned up promptly.

"Thank you for signing up for Automaniax!

We will shortly release the closed BETA-Version of automaniax.com (about end of April) , which provides a new race experience online. 

With real cars, real tracks,and real motorsports. And that for free. We would be happy, if you take part in this community and race experience.

We will release more details to you shortly before the release, so that you are one of the first who can check out this experience.

Hopefully we see soon on automaniax.com

Thank you very much, The Automaniax Team "

A new driving simulation is always welcome.  Porsche being part of the production of the new driving sim (by Automaniax) is exciting.  Porsche has not licensed there car designs to any Sim to date except via Ruf.  If Porsche have a hand in the engineering it will be superb.  (Ed: Ok I have owned 3 Porsches amongst other Marquees.)   Porsche has a huge following with there iconic 911 style, not to mention a beautiful beast like the Carrera GT.  (I can tell from personal experience that car is mind blowing! )   The Porsche driver will appreciate and get involved in the virtually real driving world I am sure.  My current Visionracer VR3 is Fanatec GT3 and Clubsport pedal based as I've been driving Forza. 

Fanatec is getting closer to release their ClubSport Wheel range that will come with interchangeable wheel rims among plenty of other features.

Following the pricing announcement of the base and the first two rims (the BMW GT2 & Formula rims), Fanatec is now asking the community for ideas regarding future wheel rims.

So far, the following rims are being planned:

• BMW GT2
• FORMULA
• NASCAR
• Classic (wood)
• Classic F1
• F1 licensed
• F1 generic
• LMP1
• Drift
• Rallye
• Porsche GT
• Simrace special (not realistic but optimized for performance)

Fanatec has confirmed the retail prices for their much-anticipated ClubSport Wheel Series that will give sim racers access to professional-grade sim racing hardware.

The series consists of the ClubSport Wheel base that is already used on the critically-acclaimed CSR Elite wheel, the base can be combined with various wheel rims, the first of which are the Formula rim and the BMW-licensed GT2 rim.

Fanatec has released a first photo of their ClubSport Shifter unit, letting people know that the development on the shifter is still very much alive and kicking.

Following the highly advanced ClubSport wheels, the shifter will be giving sim racers access to a shifting unit that looks to be made of extremely sturdy materials.

Like with their latest CSR & ClubSport wheels, Fanatec seems to continuing their push away from plastic, there aren’t anymore details about the features of the new shifter yet.

Sonac has tackled the review of the next Fanatec product.

This time, he’ll takes a look at the new and more sturdy Fanatec CSR Shifter set that has been introduced with the CSR wheel. The set consists of a sequential shifter and a 6+1 shifter.

Fanatec has released a new beta version of their driver package for all their PC wheels, including the Porsche line and the recently-released CSR & CSR Elite.

The new driver addresses various issues as listed below, it’s available both as 32bit & 64bit version.