We've put together 4 bespoke sim rig setups for a range of budgets. I'll break down these bespoke setups, and show you exactly why we've chosen them, how much they cost and where you can buy them.
Our goal, is to show you the ultimate sim racing buyers guide for all budgets. I’ve created four different sim racing bundles, with each one including everything you need to go sim racing with different budgets.
Each sim racing bundle will include the following;
In this detailed guide, we’ll round up the best sim racing rig and racing wheel that you can purchase for each budget. We’ve highlighted the best products within each price range, however, feel free to swap out parts if you have preferences for different brands.
The table below shows each sim rig and racing bundle that we will be covering in this guide.
Budget Rig | Advanced Rig | Pro Rig | Formula Rig |
WHEEL | WHEEL | WHEEL | WHEEL |
STEERING WHEEL Included with wheel | STEERING WHEEL | STEERING WHEEL | STEERING WHEEL Included with wheel |
PEDALS Included with wheel | PEDALS Included with wheel | PEDALS | PEDALS |
RIG | RIG | RIG | RIG |
BUDGET £400 / $400 | BUDGET £1000 / $1000 | BUDGET £2000 / $2000 | BUDGET £3700 / $3700 |
We will cover the best budget sim racing setup. This budget sim rig will get you in to sim racing with the smallest budget.
After looking at the best budget sim racing setup, we will move up through various budget ranges. We have a sim racing rig for under £600, a professional sim racing rig, and a formula style sim racing setup.
You can click on each sim wheel, pedal or rig in the table above for more information on any individual item. Or scroll down to read about each bundle in more detail.
When it comes to simulation racing games, there are a couple of things that many gamers strive for, and that is both realism and immersion. Adding immersion in to your racing games will transform the way you play, and transform your entire experience with a game. The main way you can achieve this immersion is to carefully select the type of controller you play with and incorporate one of the many rigs recommended below.
Most gamers start out playing racing games with a regular controller, be it an Xbox pad or a Playstation Dualshock controller. But it may get to a stage where you want to immerse yourself in to the game, and fully embrace your inner racing driver. There is only one way to really do this, and that is to upgrade to a racing wheel controller, and one of the many sim rigs available.
Adding a racing wheel to your gaming repertoire will add a level of realism and enjoyment that racing with a controller can’t offer. When you first sit in your own sim racing rig it will feel as though you are truly driving the car, rather than racing in a game.
However, when you’re looking to buy a sim racing rig you may be overwhelmed with options for a wide range of budgets. Below we outline 4 different sim racing rigs, covering a wide range of budgets. We have highlighted our pick of the best products and rigs which can be purchased for each budget and why you should choose these over other sim racing wheels and rigs.
You may be looking to race in Esports, or race on your sim rig every day. If you do you may want to improve your sim rig to incorporate the absolute best technology available. This build incorporates the best direct drive wheel available, for the most realistic racing experience you can buy.
First up in our line-up is the absolute best sim racing wheel you can buy today, and that has to be a direct drive wheel. Direct drive racing wheels offer the most realistic and strongest force feedback of any type of racing wheel. This is due to the motor being directly attached to the steering wheel, rather than being linked by gears or belts.
The main problem with buying a direct drive wheel, is it can be tricky to set up. Many dedicated sim racers will opt for the OpenSimWheel concept, which allows for a wide range of customisation to their direct drive setup. This process essentially puts every part of the build in your hands, down to each component, and you will then DIY the whole setup together.
This approach is great if you are confident enough to DIY a build, but can be daunting for those who aren’t too tech-savvy. This is where the Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel comes into play.
Fanatec were the first company to release a direct drive wheel which is directly compatible with a console straight out of the box. The Podium F1 delivers stunning direct drive performance and force feedback without the technical barrier of entry. You can simply unbox this and be setup ready to play with a PS5 or PC in a matter of minutes.
READ MORE – Read our full detailed review of the Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel.
Racing Wheel – Fanatec Podium F1
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC
Price – €/$1499.95
Where to buy –
Buy from Fanatec EU /
Buy from Fanatec US
As this direct drive wheel doesn’t come with pedals bundled in, we’ll have to buy the pedals separately. If you are going for pure performance and compatibility, I’d highly recommend the Heusinkveld Ultimate+ Pedals.
These high-end pedals offer a huge range of customisation, along with extremely high built quality and performance. They feature an extremely strong load-cell brake pedal for ultimate precision and consistent braking.
The Heusinkveld Ultimate+ pedals look like they may have been ripped right out of a real world race car. And they’re among the best sim racing pedals you can buy in 2023. They certainly offer extra realism to your sim racing compared to other pedals.
Pedals – Heusinkveld Ultimate+
Compatibility – PC
Price – From €/$900
Where to buy –
Buy from Digital Motorsports
This step up to a full formula-styled rig signifies a sim racing setup towards the very top of the sim racing ladder. A formula-style sim rig allows for an immense amount of immersion, positioning you in a reclined seating position just like real F1 drivers.
If you would rather a more upright seating position, you can use any of the rigs from the previous categories, and they will work perfectly fine. However, with this bundle, we are aiming for maximum immersion.
This is where the Playseat F1 comes in. This full simulator racing cockpit has been designed to closely replicate a real Formula 1 driving position. This seat also has pedigree, as it is widely used in Esports competitions across the world, including the official F1 Esports series.
Priced at almost the £1,000, this sim cockpit boasts excellent build quality and has the most realistic seating position of any racing rig we have covered so far. The driving position is one of the main selling points of this officially licensed Formula 1 cockpit. It is fully adjustable so you can get the perfect distance from seat to pedals.
The only major downside of this cockpit is its size. Because the seat puts you into a reclined driving position, this rig is quite long. If you are short on space, you may not be able to fit this sim cockpit in your gaming space.
Sim Rig – Playseat F1
Compatibility – Xbox, PS5, PC
Price – From €/$999.95
Where to buy – Buy from Digital Motorsports
At around £2,000 you are at a fairly sizeable investment, and should be utilising your current sim racing rig every week. This sim rig setup is really designed for those who sim race regularly, compete in leagues or competitions and really want a high-end sim rig.
You can pick up this full sim rig build for around £2,000 depending on where you buy from, and the build includes some of the best equipment you can buy.
At this price point, you’ll be picking up a sim racing setup that performs incredibly well and offers good immersion and flexibility. While many sim racers will be racing on PC, there are a lot of console sim racers. So we have ensured that this recommendation includes console compatibility.
The equipment we have suggested below is compatible with every platform, allowing you to really get the most out of it, no matter what console you race on.
Wheel Recommendation – Fanatec GT DD Pro + Formula V2.5X
Pedal Recommendation – Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3
Rig Recommendation – GT Omega Titan
Fanatec’s racing wheels give a sense of realism which surpasses most of their competitors. The GT DD Pro wheel base is the perfect example of this.
The Fanatec GT DD Pro wheel is one of the best sim racing products you can buy in 2023 without breaking the bank.
The force feedback it offers is extremely detailed and much smoother than more budget-friendly belt-driven wheels. And you can attach a wide range of steering wheel rims to the GT DD Pro giving you plenty of customisation.
Racing Wheel – Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – From €/$599.95
Where to buy –
Buy from Fanatec EU /
Buy from Fanatec US
You can purchase a variety of wheel bases from licensed Porsche GT wheels, through to console specific wheels, and Formula 1 licensed wheel rims.
Our pick of the wheel rims is the gorgeous Formula V2.5X wheel rim.
It mimics a Formula 1 style wheel rim very well and is constructed from Carbon Fibre. You have over 25 buttons which you can program to whatever function you require, and the ergonomics of the rim itself are fanatastic.
If you race Formula style games, or LMP style cars, this wheel fits the style perfectly, and makes a great addition to the ClubSport wheel base.
Steering Wheel – Fanatec Formula V2.5X
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – €/$349.95
Where to buy –
Buy from Fanatec EU /
Buy from Fanatec US
When it comes to pedals, there aren’t many better than Fanatec’s own ClubSport V3 pedal set. They’re built with a custom load cell, which is extremely durable and precise. the best part is the load cell is completely adjustable so you can set your own preference with ease.
The pedals themselves are extremely durable and offer a level of adjustability not often found with other sim products. As well as the adjustable load cell, you can also adjust the tilt and position of each pedal to suit your driving style.
These Clubsport pedals, teamed with the ClubSport racing wheel setup will give you one of the best setups money can buy.
Pedals – Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – €/$399.95
Where to buy –
Buy from Fanatec EU /
Buy from Fanatec US
At this stage in your sim racing journey, you may already have a sim rig which you are currently using. If this is the GT Omega ART rig from our advanced category, you may not need to upgrade this part of your rig. The GT Omega ART cockpit is a fantastic sim rig, and can more than easily withstand the upgraded direct drive wheel and pedal setup from above.
However, if you are still bolting your wheel to a desk or rocking a Playseat Challenge, now is the perfect time to try and find a static rig.
GT Omega make some of the best sim rigs going. We have even suggested the cheaper GT Omega ART cockpit in our advanced rig build. However, this GT Omega Titan sim rig improves on the classic formula in almost every way.
The Titan features a 2” diameter steel tube framework which offers superb stability, for all racing wheels. These steel tubes are thicker than any other GT Omega cockpit and are perfect paired with the Fanatec ClubSport wheels.
The Titan also offers an amazing level of customisation and adaptability. You can adjust almost every part of the Titan cockpit, from the angle of your wheel, to the distance and angle of your pedals. However you like your sim rig setup, the GT Omega Titan will be able to accommodate.
When you approach building a sim racing rig with an increased budget you will find your money can buy a lot more in terms of performance. At this stage, with around £1000 to spend you won’t be looking at the best wheels from companies such as Fanatec, however, you will get a much better wheel than the one in our budget build.
Wheel Recommendation – MOZA R5 + ES Steering Wheel
Pedal Recommendation – Fanatec CSL Pedals LC
Rig Recommendation – GT Omega ART
Trying to keep our whole setup under £1000 is tricky. But we will look at MOZA to help us out. MOZA Racing are a newer sim racing brand, but they already have a large product lineup. And I’d recommend the cheapest ever direct drive wheel base, the MOZA R5 for this setup.
The MOZA R5 is a direct competitor for other small direct drive wheel bases that have become available across the past few years. It features an incredibly small footprint, making it one of the smallest wheel bases on the market in 2023.
Inside its small case is a direct drive motor that is capable of producing up to 5.5nm of torque. The force feedback created by this wheel base is incredibly impressive given its small form factor.
Much like wheels from Fanatec, you can utilise a few different steering wheels with the R5, as long as they are MOZA wheels. To help keep costs down I would look at the ES steering wheel.
The ES wheel is a small, budget-friendly steering wheel attachment from MOZA. It was actually launched alongside the R5 in a complete bundle. And now it is available to purchase individually.
It features a range of inputs on the front to allow you to adjust your in-game settings while driving. There is a nice RGB light strip which is fully customisable and usable as a rev indicator. And it is all brought together by its metal and leather design.
Racing Wheel – MOZA R5
Compatibility – PC
Price – £569/$599
Where to buy –
Buy from MOZA
Once you’ve progressed up to an advanced sim rig, you really need to start looking at purchasing a dedicated rig. You can still bolt your MOZA R5 to your desk, however, you are probably at the stage where you want further immersion.
You have a couple of options when it comes to purchasing a mid level racing rig. The option we would look at is the sturdy GT Omega ART Racing Simulator Cockpit.
The GT Omega sim rig offers all of the bells and whistles you could require from a decent sim rig. You have mounts for all of your peripherals including optional monitor mounts. This is essentially a full chassis to encompass your entire sim racing setup.
The R6 seat in particular was a stand out, as it is extremely comfy. Compared to the seat on the Playseat Evolution, this R6 seat by GT Omega wins every time. The rig itself is also much sturdier and provides more support when compared to the Playseat.
In a similar fashion to the Playseat, the GT Omega rig does have one glaring disappointment. And once again that is the pedal plate. It is particularly cheap feeling when compared to the rest of the otherwise brilliant rig. And it does also have a tendency to flex under pressure.
However, for the money, this GT Omega sim rig will serve you very well for years, and it’s a great platform to expand your sim racing rig onto.
If you are entering the world of sim racing and looking to do so on a budget, there are still plenty of options. You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed or feel like you can’t afford to buy a sim racing rig.
There are plenty of cheap racing wheels available to buy on a budget, with some of them being very good. The below budget sim racing rig is the ultimate starter pack. It contains everything you need to get started with sim racing.
Wheel Recommendation – Logitech G923
Rig Recommendation – Playseat Challenge
The main element of a budget sim racing rig that you will need to purchase when getting started is your wheel. This alone can be a tricky place to start, as there are a selection of decent budget wheels. These all circulate around the £200 mark or cheaper, and come in a variety of formats.
Some wheels will give you no force feedback at all, and these are the most budget wheel you can buy. We would highly recommend staying away from these wheels as you won’t be able to learn how the car is behaving on track.
Above the non-force feedback wheels sit a selection of racing wheels from heavy hitters such as Logitech and Thrustmaster. Logitech offers possibly the best budget racing wheel with their G923 racing wheel.
The Logitech G923 wheel would be our go-to entry-level wheel when it comes to creating your sim racing starter package. Although there are cheaper sim racing wheels, the G923 wheel is where racing wheels start to get serious. You get full 1080 degree rotation, simulating a real car’s wheel and you get good quality force feedback.
There are two versions of the G923, although both look identical. There is both a PS5 version of the G923, and an Xbox version. And you have to choose which to go for based on which console you race on. Both wheels offer PC compatibility.
One of the great things about the Logitech G923, is that it also includes a full three-pedal set as well as a racing wheel. The pedals are rather good given the price of the whole bundle.
Both the clutch and throttle offer relatively linear resistance, while the brake has a slightly more progressive feel to it. The brake pedal is much stiffer on the G923 than it was on older Logitech wheels. It may take a little getting used to but allows for pretty consistent braking over time.
Racing Wheel – Logitech G923
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – £379/$399
Where to buy –
Buy from Logitech UK/EU /
Buy from Logitech US
When you first start sim racing you can opt for the classic combination of mounting your wheel to your desk. There isn’t anything overly wrong with this approach and is a great way to test out a new racing wheel.
If you do go down this route, ensure you have a strong clamp for your wheel, and push the pedals up against something sturdy to stop them from slipping whilst driving. There isn’t anything worse than pressing the brake and your pedal set runs away from you!
Once you progress to the level of mounting your wheel and pedals to a full rig with a racing seat, you truly get a sense of immersion, that a wheel mounted to a desk just can’t give you.
If you have the room available and want to immerse yourself even further, there are a couple of cheaper rigs you can buy. Our pick of the bunch is the Playseat Challenge. The Challenge is an excellent choice, especially if you don’t have the room to place a full rig. One of the perks of the Playseat Challenge is that it will fold down, so you can pack it away when not in use to save space!
It may not scream comfort when you first look at it, but once you are sitting in it, ready to go with your wheel and pedals mounted, you will soon be surprised at how good of a driving position the Challenge gives you.
This budget sim racing rig comes with three main elements, the seat, the wheel stand and the pedal mount. All of which attach together to form a complete stand-alone rig. Whilst driving, we have never found the wheel stand to wobble, and the pedals stay firmly in place as well. The thick metal poles ensure everything stays exactly where it should through the entirety of your play session.
For a budget sim rig you can’t beat this entry-level Playseat.
All in all, this budget sim racing rig can be purchased for under £400. It includes a great starter wheel, and can all be packed away for storage should you need to.
The best sim racing starter package consists of a base level wheel such as the Logitech G923 and a rig such as the Playseat Challenge. You can purchase all of this for under £400.
The best mid level racing wheel is either the MOZA R5 or the Fanatec GT DD Pro. These wheels offer the best performance without breaking the bank and being too expensive.
A Fanatec racing wheel is the natural progression past a Thrustmaster or Logitech racing wheel. The CSL DD and GT DD Pro offers the best performance in class without a too expensive price tag. If you have the money spare, then a Fanatec is a worthwhile upgrade.
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