The price may seem like an awful lot for a driving sim wheel and, well, it is. Especially when I go on to explain that that’s literally just for the wheel, as the wheelbase it attaches to comes separately at an additional price of somewhere in the hundreds, depending on which model you pick (I recommend the T818).
But, what a wheel! Compatible with Thrustmaster Force Feedback racing wheelbases now and to come (futureproofed), and PS5 and PS4, Xbox Series and Xbox One, and PC, the EVO Racing 32R Leather features a natty brushed aluminium centre plate, while the wheel’s leather-clad rim comes with something Thrustmaster are calling ‘yellow kryptonite stitching’, meaning it’s useless for Clark Kent but the very peak of going-fast fashion for everyone else.
But, looks are not everything, as a proper racing wheel has to make you a better driver. Fortunately, the Thrustmaster features no fewer than 25 action buttons, including 4x rotary encoders and an ergonomic D-pad that lets you switch between modes to adapt engine speed dependent on the vehicle you’re driving, while 7x LEDs provide real-time racing information and your revolutions per minute.
Prominent, curved paddle shifters equipped with magnetic sensors make for precise gear changes, and if you’re unsure as to whether it was precise enough, the LEDs change colour to reassure you that all is well and you can concentrate on the road ahead.
Feedback level comes dependent on what wheelbase you went with, but the perfectly padded design of the 32R Leather’s rim will keep it comfortable and informative regardless of which base is driving you on, making you feel like the Sebastien Loeb of your own lounge as you grind your way through most gruelling of EA Sports WRC’s courses.
Yes, an exceptional wheel for rally driving and an equal all-rounder for other race formats, the Thrustmaster EVO Racing 32R Leather is a sim steerer for the ultra-serious.