Racing simulations have advanced significantly over the past few decades. The graphics are now so realistic that they are often nearly indistinguishable from live footage, and the physics of the cars have similarly become highly accurate. In modern titles, the virtual representations of race cars closely mirror their real-world counterparts, including precise details such as steering lock.
What is steering lock in a car?
Steering lock determines how far you can rotate your steering wheel and thus the wheels of your car. If, for example, the steering lock is 900°, you can turn the wheel 450° to either side before you hit the mechanical limit and the maximum angle your wheels can turn in.
But there is no “one-single” steering lock for all cars. Since every car is built to best perform in its specific discipline, the steering lock can vary widely, even within the same racing series or class.
Whenever you need twitch reactions like at very high speeds, less degrees of rotation are usually preferred. Formula cars tend to have a steering lock around 360° for this reason. The newer generation of WRC cars uses around 540°, while GT3 can vary quite a lot from 450° up to 800°.
How can I adjust my steering lock and sensitivity?
Steering lock is usually set by the game and car you use. However, you may often notice that your real-life steering inputs do not exactly match the movements of the virtual steering wheel on screen.
If you have a direct drive wheel base, this can be changed in the Tuning Menu. Unlike older belt- or gear-driven wheel bases, direct drive bases do not have a hard physical end stop that limits the rotation of your steering wheel. Instead, the steering lock can be simulated by a “soft lock” generated by the motor itself.
For most games, the "Auto" setting in the Tuning Menu typically provides the correct steering lock and ensures the proper ratio between the virtual and real steering wheel. If the alignment is still off, you can manually adjust the setting anywhere from 90° to 2520°. This can be done either directly on your steering wheel or in the Fanatec Control Panel with the “Sensitivity” or “SEN” setting. Simply tweak the setting until the on-screen wheel and your steering wheel match.
While a properly adjusted steering lock and ratio will provide the most realistic experience in your preferred games, you are encouraged to explore various settings to determine what best suits your personal preferences.
What do I need to start racing?
The sensitivity setting is available on all Fanatec wheel bases and works on PC and consoles. If you are just getting into sim racing, consider something like the CSL DD QR2 Ready2Race Bundle for PC. If you’ve found your favourite discipline, you can always upgrade your setup with steering wheels like the Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo Rally or the Podium Steering Wheel Porsche 911 GT3 R to get even more immersed in the world or virtual racing.
