Bentley-Fanatec, The Great Game

If all our readers perfectly situate Bentley in the historic automobile landscape, Fanatec's notoriety is certainly less there. However, it is the leader in equipment for video games, with steering wheels, pedals, even entire cockpits with active force feedback to closely simulate the sensations behind the wheel in front of your Playstation, Xbox or PC. Fanatec is also the official supplier of certain Esport championships such as F1 Esports Pro Series, eSports WRC Championship or SRO Esports GT Series. The German brand has specialized in this field for around twenty years, a baby compared to the more than century-old English brand. But despite the age difference, these two specialists in their respective fields agreed to create an original steering wheel that connects their two worlds.

Thus, the steering wheel of the GT3 racing car at Pikes Peak and its 750 hp powered by synthetic fuel is also available as is as an accessory for gamers. Enough to put yourself in real racing conditions with this accessory made of a 5 mm carbon fiber plate and an ultra-light magnesium core (1900 g), with Alcantara grips (lower part optional), and integrating the quick function allowing the steering wheel to be separated from the steering column according to the QR2 standard.

From virtual to real

With a diameter of 310 mm, the steering wheel includes in its center a 3,4'' digital display presenting telemetry information detailing the performance achieved. During gameplay, you can adjust the different force feedback parameters. Specific knurling is applied to the aluminum rotary buttons, while multifunction buttons, rotary dials and 4 magnetic paddles provide access to the different functionalities. The two paddles dedicated to the clutch use specific non-contact Hall effect sensors, for better precision and greater durability. The series of LEDs allow the speed and flags to be displayed. It is a Dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 chip at 800 mHz which is responsible for driving the whole thing. “Our collaboration with Fanatec has given a new destination to driving our Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, a virtual use. “There’s no more realistic way for simulator enthusiasts to take the controls of one of our fastest cars ever from home,” says Paul. Williams, director of sports activities at Bentley Motors, himself a simracing enthusiast.

This steering wheel is also a very beautiful object which can be presented as a painting and transported in complete safety: it comes with an exhibition support and a rigid travel box. When exposed, the steering wheel can act as a watch using the graphics of the on-board clock of the Bentley Continental GT. It can also display telemetric data from racing phases with symbolized pedal and steering wheel actions, gear changes, Gs taken and the circuit map. Enough to perpetuate the atmosphere of the race after the race.