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Fanatec Podium DD vs ClubSport DD+: Which Wheel Base Should you Buy
Fanatec has released the new Podium DD wheel base, offering the best performance from a Fanatec wheel ever. But should you buy a Podium DD or stick with the ClubSport DD+. I compare both to find out.
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It has been a while since we received new Podium products from Fanatec. The DD1 and DD2 wheel bases were released way back in 2018, over 7 years ago. Since then, we’ve had new budget direct drive wheel bases with the CSL DD, and a new mid-range wheel, the ClubSport DD.
Now, at SimRacing Expo 2025, Fanatec has revealed the Podium DD wheel base. This is a true successor to the DD2 wheel from 2018, and offers a big performance jump from the ClubSport DD+.
In this buyer’s guide, I’m going to compare the Podium DD directly with the ClubSport DD+. I want to see if the new direct drive wheel base from Fanatec is a better buy than the CS DD+. And also, if you should upgrade if you already own a ClubSport DD or DD+.
Fanatec Podium DD vs ClubSport DD+ compared head-to-head
Looking at the specifications for the new Podium DD wheel alongside the ClubSport DD+, there are some noticeable differences and similarities.
Both wheel bases look almost identical other than a few design flourishes on the new wheel. They share the same form factor, mounting and connectivity at the rear, as well as the QR2 quick release. Although, it is what is under the hood that has really changed.
Below is a quick head-to-head comparison of the Podium DD and ClubSport DD+ wheel bases.
 |  |
|---|---|
| Podium DD | ClubSport DD+ |
| 25Nm of torque | 15Nm of torque |
| Price TBC | EU: €999.95 or US: $1,179.99 |
| Q1 2026 Release date | Released February 2024 |
| Front, side & bottom mounting | Front, side & bottom mounting |
| QR2 quick release Shaft extension included as standard | QR2 quick release |
| 3 year warranty | 3 year warranty |
| Buy now EU Buy now US | Buy now EU Buy now US |
Force feedback and performance comparison
With the Podium DD carrying the premium Podium branding, it is only right that Fanatec has improved the internals and force feedback to ensure this new wheel is the most powerful Fanatec offer. The Podium DD does exactly that, boasting 25Nm of sustained torque from its internal direct drive motor.
Fanatec has upgraded a lot of the internal parts of this wheel, while maintaining the exterior size and shape from the ClubSport DD+. All of the internals, including the front and rear bearing seats and shafts are now constructed from aluminium. This allows for better strength and precision from the motor.
With those improvements, we now have 25Nm of holding torque. This means we can sustain 25Nm of torque without degradation. And the Podium DD has 33Nm of peak overshoot available.
In comparison, the ClubSport DD+ has just 15Nm of peak torque. The 10Nm difference will really be felt in racing sims such as iRacing and LMU, allowing for more realism and immersion from your force feedback.
The motor powering the Podium DD is all new, and has been developed in Germany, specifically for the new Podium DD wheel. The skew angle has been optimised to reduce cogging, allowing the Podium DD to compete with other cog-free wheels such as the new Simucube 3 and MOZA R25 Ultra.
This is something that the Clubsport DD+ can suffer with, especially at low torque levels. Sometimes you can feel a little cogging when rotating the wheel in precise motions. The Podium DD progresses towards eliminating this sensation.
--- Article continues below --- Shop Sim Racing DiscountsAnother improvement is Fanatec’s patented FluxBarrier technology which is designed to improve motor efficiency and allow for improved smoothness compared to the CS DD+.
FullForce
FullForce technology returns to the Podium DD after being debuted in the ClubSport DD+ when it released a few years ago. This technology allows for rumbles from the in-game audio and telemetry to be present in the force feedback.
If you already own a ClubSport DD+, this isn’t new, but has been improved to the super low-latency for more fine details to shine through.
Price differences
At the time of writing, the official price of the Podium DD wheel base hasn’t been announced. The ClubSport DD+ does cost €999.95 or $1,179.99, so we’d expect the Podium DD to at least reach the €/$1500 mark. This is just an estimate though, and has not been confirmed.
We can expect a decent price increase over the ClubSport DD+.
Similarities: Design
When looking at both the ClubSport DD+ and Podium DD side by side, there aren’t a huge number of initial differences. The overall design, form factor and size is almost identical. The Podium DD does have some new flourishes, including a metal Fanatec logo at the front, along with a silver ring and slightly tweaked haunches.
What remains, is a wheel base that very much looks like a Fanatec wheel through and through. It still features the aggressive exterior styling with slot gaps on all sides. You can still use these side and bottom slot gaps to mount the wheel base, as well as having the option of front mounting.
At the front of the wheel, the Podium DD includes the QR2 quick release, just like the ClubSport DD+. One bonus though is that the Podium DD wheel includes a 10cm shaft extension as standard. This allows for some better mounting options with a more realistic field of view.
Similarities: Connectivity
The connectivity at the rear of both wheels are very similar. In fact, the rear portion of the two wheel bases look almost identical.
You get data ports for a variety of Fanatec accessories, letting you connect pedals and shifters directly to the wheel base. There is the usual USB C data connection, and the power input port. These all remain practically unchanged and the same across both wheels.
Final thoughts: Should I buy a Podium DD or ClubSport DD+?
Ultimately, whether you should buy a Fanatec Podium DD or a ClubSport DD+ will differ for each sim racer. If you are in the market for a new premium direct drive wheel, you have a huge selection in 2026. Brands such as Simucube, Sim-Lab, SIMAGIC and MOZA Racing have all released new wheel bases into the high-end and premium space.
The Fanatec Podium DD competes directly with these wheels, making for a lot of choice. If you do want to stay within the Fantatec ecosystem, the Podium DD offers what sim racing fans have been after for a long time. A true modern high-performance direct drive wheel base.
The price increase over the ClubSport DD+ may be worth it for some. However, the CS DD+ wheel remains a very good option for most sim racers, with the 15Nm of peak torque being more than strong enough for many.
I already own a ClubSport DD+, should I upgrade to the Podium DD?
If you are already an owner of the ClubSport DD+ wheel base, I probably wouldn’t recommend upgrading to the Podium DD right away. There is a performance improvement, but a lot of the ClubSport DD+’s feature remain very similar. The cost of selling your current wheel and then paying more for the new Podium DD probably isn’t worth it right away.
Pre-order the Podium DD wheel base today
You can be one of the first to own a Fanatec Podium DD wheel when they launch in 2026. You can pre-order them from the Fanatec website using the links below.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a Fanatec Podium DD or ClubSport DD+?
Both of Fanatec’s more premium wheel bases offer fantastic performance. The Podium DD does allow for much strong force feedback, and a smoother overall experience, meaning it is worth the additional cost for some sim racers who have the budget for a true premium wheel.
Is it worth upgrading from the ClubSport DD to Podium DD?
The Podium DD does offer a better sim racing experience as a whole compared to the ClubSport DD and DD+. However, the increased price may not justify the hassle and cost of selling your current Fanatec wheel base to upgrade.
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Article written by Rich
Rich is the founder, F1 car setup creator and content writer for SimRacingSetups. With over a decade of experience as a graphic designer, marketing director, competitive sim racer and avid motorsport fan, Rich founded SimRacingSetup.com to share his passion and knowledge of sim racing and Formula 1 with other sim racers. Regularly writes for sim racing website SimRaceReviews.com
View all articles written by Rich
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