Today, Fanatec and M-Sport, one of World Rally Championship’s most successful teams, have joined together to release a new accessory for sim racing wheels. This device is used in all M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 WRC cars, and will be perfect for the recently released EA SPORTS WRC. The Podium Button Module Rally originally launched with the new Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo Rally bundle that combined the two components used in the real car back on October 31. These are designed by Fanatec in collaboration with M-Sport, and the Sparco R383 wheel rim used in the real car, plus the Fanatec ‘Podium Hub’ and ‘QR2 Pro Wheel-Side’.
This device is another example of Fanatec bringing actual racing equipment to the sim racing world to better help improve realism and immersion in the simulation world. This steering wheel bundle pays tribute to two legends of rally in Sebastien Loeb and Ott Tanak. Their victories in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Chile helped define the driver as both won using the same product that Fanatec and M-Sport now make available to the sim racing community. Now, the community on all levels will have the opportunity to use this same equipment that helped propel these legends to the top.
The Podium Button Module Rally and Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo Rally are available for pre-order now on the Fanatec site. The wheel requires a Fanatec housing and will retail at $699.95. This seems to be saving $185 initially before launch as the full MSRP looks to be $885.80. The Podium Button Module Rally will retail for $249.95, as both will be avaialble on November 20. The site breaks down everything that is part of the combo, with some items already available.
Founder and CEO of Fanatec, Thomas Jackermeier, said of the partnership:
“Fanatec has been working with M-Sport since 2021 to develop this groundbreaking device. To have Sébastien Loeb win using it on its debut in Monte Carlo is a truly incredible story. It has since been used in every WRC event in the 2022 and 2023 season, and gone on to other victories. I’m very happy to again deliver a product to the sim racing community that is being used in real-world racing.”
M-Sport WRC Team Principal, Richard Millener, said:
“Partnering with a world leader in Sim Racing Hardware was a very exciting prospect for us, it would allow us to connect with our fans in a way never possible before whilst having an exciting and innovative solution for the real-life rally car. The partnership has also delivered the ultimate success story - wins in the World Rally Championship! The Podium Module really is a game changer for the virtual Rallying motorsport world.”
