Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally – Review

Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally – Review

With the Podium Button Module Rally, Fanatec has introduced the second Button Module for its Podium Hub. It was developed in collaboration with the M-Sport World Rally Team and is used in real life in the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 WRC Car. This review aims to show how it performs in simracing and whether it is worth the money.

Ordering and shipping

The Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally, as well as the associated accessories and hubs, can be ordered directly from Fanatec. One of the three possible hubs and a QR matching the base are required for operation. If you need the complete package, you can choose the Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo Rally offered by Fanatec as a bundle, consisting of Podium Button Module Rally, Podium Hub, QR2 Pro Wheel-Side and the Sparco R3831 steering wheel, at a discounted package price.

  • Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally: 249.95€
  • Hub
    • Fanatec Podium Hub: 149.95€
    • Fanatec ClubSport Universal Hub V2: 299.95€
    • Fanatec ClubSport Universal Hub V2 for Xbox: 319.95€
  • QR
    • Fanatec QR2: 99.95€
    • Fanatec QR2 Pro: 199.95€
    • Fanatec QR1: 49.95€
  • Shifter:
    • Fanatec Podium Advanced Paddle Module: 179.95€
  • Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo Rally: 699.95€

The product tested here was provided by the manufacturer. No influence was exerted on this review at any time.

Scope of delivery

The Podium Button Module Rally comes in a small but very stylish package and contains a spacer, additional button inserts with stickers, tools and screws in addition to the module itself.

  • Podium Button Module Rally
  • Adapter ring
  • Sticker set
  • Extra button inserts
  • 4x Torx bolts
  • Torx key (T20)
  • Tweezers
  • 1x Quick Guide

Compatibility

As with Fanatec’s entire product portfolio, the manufacturer is focussing on seamless integration into its own ecosystem. The module is compatible with all current Fanatec wheel bases and can therefore be used on a PC or a console (Xbox or PS4/5), depending on the base.

In addition to a compatible steering wheel (conventional round wheels with a diameter of 300 millimetres or more and a bolt circle of 70 millimetres can usually be used without any problems), a Podium or Universal hub from Fanatec and a QR that matches the base are required for operation. The Podium Advanced Paddle Module can then be used as an option, although the gears on a rally car are of course usually different.

If you want to use the set on a non-Fanatec base, various manufacturers such as Sim Racing Machines offer emulation solutions.

  • Wheel Bases:
    • Podium Wheel Base DD1
    • Podium Wheel Base DD2
    • Podium Wheel Base DD1 PS4™
    • ClubSport DD Wheel Base
    • ClubSport DD+ Wheel Base
    • CSL DD Wheel Base
    • Gran Turismo DD Pro Wheel Base
    • Support for ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5, CSL Elite Wheel Base V1.1, and CSL Elite Wheel Base+ coming soon.
  • Hubs (required for operation):
    • Podium Hub
    • ClubSport Universal Hub V2
    • ClubSport Universal Hub V2 for Xbox
  • Wheel Rims:
    • Podium Wheel Rim Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Suede)
    • Podium Wheel Rim Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Leather)
    • Podium Wheel Rim R300
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim R330
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim 320
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim 320 Alcantara®
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim GT
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim GT Alcantara®
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim GT Forza Motorsport
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim SPARCO® GT
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim SPARCO® Rally
    • ClubSport Wheel Rim SPARCO® Formula
    • SPARCO® R383

Assembly (Podium Hub and Wheels)

The Podium Button Module Rally is intended for mounting directly in front of the steering wheel and is therefore mounted with the supplied spacer between the steering wheel and button module. For this purpose, countersunk screws (not included in the scope of delivery) are used, with which the adapter is first fixed to the steering wheel on one of the hubs. The button module can then be inserted into the four recesses provided and secured with the Torx screws supplied.

Optionally, the Podium Advanced Paddle Module can then be fitted, which provides six paddles within easy reach, at least for smaller steering wheels.

Features

The Podium Button Module Rally offers a large number of functions on a very compact surface area of approx. 17.5 x 12 centimetres.

Buttons

The most important part of the features are of course the function keys, which are divided into the following components:

  • 9 x RGB buttons, four of which have a raised edge. The buttons have adjustable illumination and a required trigger force of 600 grams. For the price range of the button module, they have an excellent trigger feel and can be operated very crisply and clearly defined.
  • 3 x Rotary Switches with 12 positions each. These can be configured either as normal encoders (+/-) or as switches with 12 different positions. The plastic caps sit comfortably in the hand, the actuation force is in the medium range, whereby the individual positions are clearly perceptible.
  • 2 x D-pads (left, right, up, down, push) are located in the direct thumb area and replace the funky switches that are otherwise often used. They are fitted with a semi-circular, strongly rasterised cap so that the direction pads can also be operated comfortably while driving without having to take your hand off the steering wheel.
  • 1 x tuning button to open the tuning menu, which is shown on the module’s OLED display and operated using one of the direction pads.

Button-Sounds

Folgt

LEDs

Fanatec uses transparent, interchangeable button inserts for the LEDs. The exact configuration of the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 WRC vehicle is pre-assembled as standard, with additional inserts with and without printing included in the scope of delivery. This solution is significantly better than normal stickers and also provides very good illumination of the buttons.

The three rotaries are also illuminated, whereby the respective position is visible through a transparent disc. However, if you are sitting in an elevated position in the rig, readability is slightly restricted by the angle.

Display

As usual with most Fanatec wheels, the Button Module Rally has a 1-inch OLED display, which can be used for information such as the current gear or speed. The tuning menu is also displayed here, which can be used to change the settings on the fly.

Materials

Fanatec uses a combination of plastic for the housing and the front button cover as well as carbon fibre for the front panel. This results in an incredibly low weight of only approx. 250 grams without the bracket, although this is cancelled out by the additional Fanatec hub required. The workmanship is very good throughout and the buttons are particularly pleasing with their well-integrated inlays.

Software

To operate the Button Module, it is basically sufficient to install the normal Fanatec software in the form of the Control Panel. Here you can check the function of the individual components and change the mode of the rotaries. You can also update the firmware here (see picture).

However, if you want to go into more detail, you need a current version of Fanalab. Here you can, for example, configure the content of the OLED display or the colours and brightness of the buttons. The settings are easy to get an overview of, but do not go into as much detail as would be possible with Simhub, for example.

Note: The OLED display does not currently work as intended on one of the new CS DD wheel bases. According to Fanatec, this will be fixed with a later update.

Driving impression

In combination with a round steering wheel, the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is currently an unbeatable overall package in the rally sector. However, if you want to use the module as an alternative to a GT wheel, it can be combined with an R305 Sim Racing Wheel from Turn Racing, for example. In this case, however, the user must accept that the buttons are not within direct reach except for the two direction pads.

Conclusion

The Podium Button Module Rally from Fanatec is clearly aimed at rally fans and, as an officially licensed product, is a 1:1 replica of the original rally wheel. It combines a whole range of functions with the usual compatibility (with the exception of the CS DD) within the Fanatec ecosystem.

With a price of just €250, the Button Module is very fairly priced and should be of particular interest to existing Fanatec users with existing hardware. However, if you have to buy the complete package of steering wheel, Podium Hub with QR and Button Module, you will be in a position where you have to be a real rally fan to buy it.

Pros

  • Price Button Module
  • Illuminated buttons and button inserts
  • D-Pads
  • Compatibility within the Fanatec ecosystem
  • Low weight

Cons

  • Price complete package
  • Display not fully compatible with CS DD / CS DD+
  • Operation on third-party base only via emulator

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