Fanatec CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC
300 mm WRC-licensed rally wheel with Alcantara and Xbox support
Description
The Fanatec CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC is officially licensed by the World Rally Championship and used in official WRC Esports competitions. It is a 300 mm round wheel with brushed aluminum spokes, a fiber-reinforced back cover and a genuine Alcantara rim with orange cross-stitching.
Paddles. Orange metal shifter paddles with Snapdome activation give a defined click. They are removable, leaving room for the optional ClubSport Static Shifter Paddles, which some prefer for rally driving.
Display and controls. A multi-color RevStripe combines a center marker and rev meter, and a three-digit LED display shows speed or gear in compatible games and gives access to the Tuning Menu. Controls include a 4-way directional pad with push button and Xbox-layout buttons that can be swapped for the included racing-style caps.
Weight. Fanatec lists 1092 g with the Simplified QRA (1280 g with the ClubSport QRA); the current version ships with a QR2 Lite Wheel-Side preinstalled.
Compatibility. Connecting the wheel switches any compatible Fanatec base into Xbox mode, making the whole system (pedals, shifter, handbrake) work on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. It also works on PC and, with a PlayStation-licensed base, on PlayStation. Compatible bases include CSL DD, ClubSport DD/DD+, ClubSport V2/V2.5, CSL Elite V1/V1.1/+ and Podium DD1/DD2, the Podium bases in Low Torque Mode only.
Features & highlights
Driving style
The CSL Elite WRC is the officially World Rally Championship-licensed wheel used in official WRC Esports competitions: a lightweight 300 mm Alcantara-wrapped rim built for the fastest, most demanding rally stages. The compact diameter and light weight keep the wheel agile for constant corrections in EA SPORTS WRC, DiRT Rally 2.0 and WRC Generations, and the Alcantara grips hold firm through long stages with gloves. Best for rally and rallycross competition; less suited for GT3, formula and road-car racing that prefers larger, calmer rims.
Build quality
This is purposeful Esports hardware: a lightweight aluminium-based rim at 300 mm wrapped in Alcantara, chosen to keep rotating mass down so force feedback detail stays sharp, as required by WRC Esports competition standards. The structure is rigid without being overbuilt, paddles and buttons are rated for heavy repeated use, and the licensed finish is clean. It sits in the mid-range: real metal and Alcantara where grip and stiffness matter, composites elsewhere.
Software
The CSL Elite WRC runs entirely through the Fanatec base it mounts to: firmware, Tuning Menu and force feedback settings are configured in the Fanatec App for Windows PC, which also updates the base and the quick release electronics. On console, compatibility follows the base: pair it with a PlayStation-licensed base for PS4 and PS5, while PC works with any Fanatec base. It is the wheel of record for official WRC Esports, so profiles for rally titles are well established. Inputs and telemetry use the Fanatec SDK in supported games, and SimHub can push custom dashboards to compatible displays.
Specifications
Pros
- Official WRC license and rally-specific design
- Light weight for fast counter-steering
- Genuine Alcantara grip
- Clicky metal Snapdome paddles
- Xbox compatibility for the whole Fanatec setup
- Removable paddles for static paddle upgrade
Cons
- Limited to 8 Nm Low Torque Mode on Podium/ClubSport DD high-torque bases
- Only a 3-digit LED display, no OLED
- No clutch paddles
- Fewer inputs than newer CSL wheels (no rotaries or FunkySwitch)
- Alcantara needs care to avoid wear
- PlayStation only with a licensed base
What's in the box
- CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC
- QR2 Lite Wheel-Side (preinstalled)
- Racing-style button caps
- Quick Guide