In this episode we’re taking a look at the Fanatec Podium Porsche GT3 R Leather Wheel. In previous episodes we’ve taken a look at the Podium Hub, Advanced Paddle Module and Endurance module. These parts all combine with the Porsche racing wheel to make up the Podium Porsche GT3 wheel. So let’s dive in and see if all this kit is worth investing in. If you’ve already watched my other content you might want to skip the assembly section as for the most part is the same as others you might have seen working with the Podium Hub.

Before we look at the wheel I’d just like to give a shout out to Bad Habit RC who highlighted that you can use the Endurance Button module with spacers on the R300 to give yourself more distance between the rim and module and that little added comfort. Thanks for the tip!

Looking at the Wheel

I’ve skipped unboxing the other parts of this bundle as we’ve already looked at these several times in the past. The wheel comes in a simple but sturdy box. Not a whole lot dissimilar to that of the R300 but it does have some nice Porsche related branding. Inside you’ll find a rim and some screws. It has to be said that the Porsche badge does look pretty special on this kit.

Assembly

First up we need to mount the Clubsport QR to the Podium Hub, this is a simple process but be careful not to go bending the pins. They come protected for a reason!

Once that is on we can start to build up the Advanced Paddle Module. We have a choice of carbon paddles to put on but go for the larger ones here, the small ones are for Formula rims really. Thread the cables through and plug them in at the appropriate location on the Podium Hub.

Next up we have to mount the Endurance Module. To do this we need to align the module and wheel with our hub and screw them all together using the longer screws supplied with the button module. With all those screws tightened up we’re ready to go.

Testing

We’re back at the Nurburgring for testing (anyone would think I’m preparing for an endurance race here or something!) and I have to say I immediately felt at home with this wheel. Yes I know I’m driving a BMW with a Porsche badge and I’m sorry for that but testing had to cover practice too I’m afraid.

The button module is a much better fit on this larger rim and most of the problems I encountered with the module mounted to the R300 are gone. The APM still feels a good fit and I didn’t find myself having to reach around to find the paddles at all. The size of the Porsche rim made it quite comfortable through the laps I did and I enjoyed using it. Personally I think I’d go for the Suede wheel next time but the rim feels of a high quality and offers plenty of grip in both sets of gloves I regularly use.

Final Thoughts

I can’t find much to fault about the Podium Porsche wheel. It is a bundle rather than a wheel so expect some assembly when buying it and then there is the software issue with the ITM causing some jolts on the Podium DD range but this bundle comes out cheaper than buying the parts individually and is possibly one of the best wheels in Fanatec’s range currently available. Well maybe the BMW one is better but I’ve not had a chance to play with it. If you’re feeling budget conscious you can always look at the Clubsport variant to save yourself a few quid but that doesn’t come with the dual clutch solution of the APM.

Overall then I’d say this is a very good looking wheel that has some well made parts. If you’re in the Fanatec world and you have a budget for it then this is as close to perfect as you can get within this price range. It isn’t perfect, the button caps have been reported as a little fragile and I’ve heard of the odd endurance or paddle module failure, but that is no more common than with other Fanatec products so unless you’re unlucky you should be fine. To put failure rates in context, I’ve purchased around 30 components from Fanatec over the past 18 months and only had one item fail in that time.

00:00 - Introduction
01:42 - Unboxing
02:26 - Assembly
03:58 - Testing
05:20 - Final Thoughts

#fanatec #porschegt3wheel #simhardware

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