Sim-Lab DDX26 and DDX39 Direct-Drive Wheelbases – Prices, Details and First Impressions

Sim-Lab DDX26 and DDX39 Direct-Drive Wheelbases – Prices, Details and First Impressions

The release of Sim-Lab’s first wheelbases is fast approaching. At this year’s Sim Racing Expo, the manufacturer presented its prototypes on the big stage and announced details about technical specifications, prices and availability.

Sim-Lab DDX26 and DDX39 Direct-Drive Wheelbases

The stars of Sim-Lab’s booth at this year’s expo were, of course, the newly introduced bases from the DDX series: the Sim-Lab DDX26 TorqueSync™ and the Sim-Lab DDX39 TorqueSync™. In the following, we present the bases themselves as well as the QR system and show pictures from the expo in Dortmund.

Features and first impressions

The new wheelbases are packed with features and promise absolute top performance on paper with up to 39 (!) Newton metres of torque. Early prototypes of the bases were available for test drives at last year’s SimRacing Expo and at Sim Formula Europe in early 2025; at this year’s Expo, the manufacturer was now significantly further along in the development process. The force feedback was now much more finely tuned, and the instruction to take your hands off the wheel when spinning was no longer given in this form. During the first test laps on Friday in iRacing, there was still some room for improvement in the centre position area; especially in the first few millimetres, there was still a feeling that some details were missing. On the other hand, the force feedback in long corners and the feeling of a car skidding were already excellent. Overall, it seemed as if there was still some room for improvement on the software side in order to really take full advantage of the extremely powerful hardware. Over the course of the weekend, first adjustments were made and the wheelbases already felt different on Sunday afternoon. However, one must always consider the trade fair environment, which does not allow the hardware to be exploited to its full potential and, above all, configured according to one’s own preferences.

In addition to the Quick Release, the hardware has a number of unusual features: a power supply unit integrated into the base housing, a 24-bit encoder, an internal operating voltage of 350 volts and a USB 3.0 connection.

• TorqueSync™ patented technology: Translates game force commands into motor torque with extremely low latency and high precision. Preserves micro-detail in FFB effects, improves stability during transient events, and enhances on-edge car control.
• Optimised servo motor design: Our servo motors are industrial-grade, hand-built units with harmonised magnet pairs and distributed-wounded stator cores. This architecture virtually eliminates torque ripple and delivers the natural, smooth feel of our DDX TorqueSync bases
• Internal 350V operating voltage: Running the servo on its native 350 V bus increases voltage headroom and current slew rate. The motor responds faster to inputs, force feedback feels more alive and intense, and control at and over the limit improves.
• Advanced slew rate: Compared with typical 48 V architectures, the 350 V bus delivers a higher current slew rate at the motor phases. That faster rise and fall of current reduces lag in torque production, preserves detail in sharp transients, and keeps forces stable under heavy, fast-changing loads. In practice, you feel crisper turn-in, more precise micro-detail over surface changes, and cleaner recoveries when the rear steps out.
• Integrated high-efficiency power supply: With a 1,500 W maximum output on board, the power stage is sized for real-world racing loads. Full 26 Nm and 39 Nm operation can draw over 1,000 W in peak events, so the extra capacity provides electrical and thermal headroom to prevent voltage sag, support high slew rates, and maintain consistent torque delivery session after session. A major benefit of the integrated design is the absence of an external power brick. With the 1,500 W supply inside the base, you get simpler cable management, fewer failure points, and a cleaner rig that is easier to mount, move, and maintain.
• 24-bit Encoder: The wheelbase uses a 24-bit integrated encoder with 16.7 million counts per revolution. This resolution gives the control loop extremely accurate position feedback, improving current modulation, minimizing cogging perception, and maintaining smooth, precise torque delivery across the full range.
• USB 3.0 Connectivity: DDX uses USB 3.0 to keep your cockpit fast, stable, and ready for whatever comes next. With dramatically higher bandwidth than older standards, it ensures reliable communication between base, wheel, and PC – even when your rim is packed with screens, encoders, LEDs, and advanced inputs. This extra headroom means firmware updates are quick and seamless, telemetry data flows without bottlenecks, and your hardware remains ready for the next generation of racing sims and peripherals. It’s a connection built to last.

Quick Release and USB Data-Passtrough

One area that has become increasingly important in recent times is quick release. It is now almost mandatory to provide a solution for wireless power and data transfer and to route this through the quick release system. Simucube in particular has come under criticism recently following the launch of the SC3 Base, as the company uses its own proprietary protocol instead of a standard USB connection.

Sim-Lab combines both worlds in QR and offers pins for USB as well as pins for a 5 V / 2 A power supply. In addition, there are four pins that are suitable for solutions such as CAN bus or EtherCAN. Complex wheels with high power requirements in particular benefit from the separate power supply. The additional pins also offer plenty of scope for possible future expansions. Sim-Lab seems to be doing everything right here and listening to the wishes of the community.

• USB data-passthrough: Our data-passthrough solution is extensive and future proof, as well as backwards compatible with all USB steering wheels. The wheelhub features a USB connector which is directly outputted through the USB 3.0 connector on the back of the device. In addition to USB passthrough, there are five separate lines inside the quick release. One provides a dedicated 5 V at 2 A power rail for higher-draw wheels and hubs. The remaining four are user-assignable I/O lines that can be used for integrations such as CAN bus or EtherCAN passthrough.
• New Xero-play Quick-Release: Our new quick-release is engineered around real motorsport principles and has smart total cost of ownership. The precision, high-value main mechanism is attached on the base, so you buy it once. The wheel-side adapters are simpler and more affordable, which makes expanding your wheel collection more economical. You get a rock solid, repeatable lock with a lower cost per additional wheel, which decreases total cost of ownership.

Prices and availability

The new wheelbases from Sim-Lab will soon be available for pre-order. Interested parties can already subscribe to the newsletter here to be informed promptly. Sim-Lab promises a pre-order discount of 100 euros on the 26 Newton metre model compared to the later price of 1399 euros. The more powerful version with up to 39 Newton metres will cost 1999 euros. According to Sim-Lab, a Special Launch Edition is also planned, although no further details have yet been released.

The first bases are to be delivered to end customers from mid-March 2026.

• DDX TorqueSync™26: 1399€ in pre-order period. 1499€ after pre-order period.
• DDX TorqueSync™39: 1999€

Specs

Below you will find the specifications provided by Sim-Lab for the two new wheelbases.

Sim-Lab Steering Wheels – New partnership with Cosworth

At the Simracing Expo, visitors were once again able to take a look at Sim-Lab’s range of steering wheels. On display were the already familiar steering wheels from Mercedes and Porsche as well as the Cosworth Carbon Wheel Mk3, which was presented as part of a recently published collaboration with Cosworth.

• Porsche 911 RSR Sim Racing Steering Wheel:
• Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering Wheel (2024)
• Cosworth Carbon Wheel Mk3 Steering Wheel

5% Sim-Lab Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc5