Fanatec has just unveiled two highly anticipated flagship products at SimRacing Expo 2025: a new Podium DD wheel base and the long-awaited Podium Pedals.
Both are set to launch in Q1 2026, and you can learn more by visiting the Fanatec website via our affiliate link, or keep reading for the main highlights.
Table of Contents
Podium DD Wheel Base
The Podium DD represents Fanatec’s next-generation direct drive technology, set to replace the Podium Wheel Base DD2 as the company’s top-tier offering. Built on the foundation of the acclaimed ClubSport DD and ClubSport DD+, the Podium DD takes performance to another level with 25 Nm of consistent holding torque and 33 Nm peak overshoot.
What sets the Podium DD apart is its all-aluminum construction throughout, from the internal bearing seats and motor shaft, to the external casing with diamond-cut accents. This full-metal design maximizes structural rigidity while simultaneously improving thermal management.
Fanatec has also reinforced the electronics with heavy-duty components and additional heatsinks to ensure the base maintains torque output without thermal throttling.
The Podium DD features Fanatec’s somewhat controversial “FullForce” technology, which delivers low-latency detail effects through fine motor frequency control. FullForce reportedly performs better on the stronger Podium DD thanks to its enhanced internal strength and wider dynamic range, but the list of supported games remains practically nonexistent since the feature was first announced in early 2024.
The custom-designed servo motor, developed in Germany specifically for this base, incorporates an optimized skew angle on the rotor magnets to reduce cogging torque, along with Fanatec’s patented “FluxBarrier” technology for improved efficiency and smoothness.
Impressively, despite its massive power increase, the Podium DD maintains the same compact footprint as the ClubSport DD. An included, optional 10 cm shaft extension allows for additional mounting flexibility. The base is compatible with all Fanatec wheels equipped with a QR2 connection.
Console compatibility has not been mentioned in the press kit and the Podium DD is expected to be a PC-only device, following Fanatec’s existing product structure.
Podium Pedals
The Podium Pedals represent an all-new design developed from the ground up at Fanatec’s German headquarters.
For GTPlanet readers, there’s a particularly interesting connection: the pedals were developed with collaborative feedback from Igor Fraga, whose dual expertise as both a professional racing driver and professional sim racer provided no doubt invaluable insights during development.
The standout feature is the forged aluminum brake pedal — an industry first, according to Fanatec. This forging process ensures strength, critical for consistent inputs during high-pressure racing situations. The brake is calibrated for 150 kg of force at the pedal plate, backed by a custom load cell sensor rated for over 200 kg.
Fanatec has also introduced a patented elastomer compression control system for the brake. This design ensures the elastomers are never overstressed and never touch the inner rod or outer cups during compression, maintaining a consistent feel throughout the full travel range regardless of how hard you press.
An adjustment dial stack makes it easy to change the physical brake characteristics, while adjustable pedal curves can be configured via the Fanatec app and saved to internal memory. As a result, custom curves will work on consoles, too.
Every adjustment affecting travel and resistance is tool-free across all three pedals. The throttle and clutch use custom Hall-effect sensors precision-calibrated at the factory, while the clutch includes a patented bite point slider to adjust where the engagement occurs within the pedal travel, or remove the resistance peak entirely.
For a more racing-focused setup, Fanatec will also offer the “Podium Pedals Formula” variant. This is a two-pedal set featuring carbon fiber pedal faces and heel cups, with optional grip tape included for enhanced friction.
You’ll be able to find more details on the official Fanatec website, and stay tuned for more impressions of the new hardware from SimRacing Expo 2025 this weekend.
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