Officially licensed and surprisingly affordable, it might be time to invest as Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 Wheel Pre-Orders begin.
Deliveries will start from October 26th, 2023, for the 1:1 replica of the wheel used in the Ferrari 488 GT3. And for £249.99, you get a central faceplate with carbon fibre cladding, adjustable paddle shifters with magnetic sensors, and four indicator LEDs which can be switched between GT and single-seater modes.
The 31cm diameter (12.2 inches) wheel also features 11 buttons, along with a D-pad, two rotary encoders and two thumb encoders. Which should provide enough adjustability for most sim racers. Especially when it’s the same set-up used by the most successful car to have been produced by the Italian manufacturer, having taken over 500 victories since debuting in 2016.
It comes with two quick release systems included, and will be natively compatible with all Thrustmaster wheel bases. And it’s compatible with PC, PS5 and Xbox consoles, depending on the set-up you’re using.
One minor issue is that the Ferrari 296 GT3 started competing in races during 2023, but the single make Ferrari Challenge will still use the existing car for another year. And obviously many private teams and gentleman drivers will still be using the 488 in various settings for a while.
The closest existing comparison is with the Fanatec CSL Elite McLaren GT3 V2 wheel, which is a little cheaper at €199.95 but features seven buttons, along with a FunkySwitch, two toggle switches, and two 12-position switches. And both clutch and analogue paddles. But most sim racers will have already committed to either the Thrustmaster or Fanatec ecosystems at some point.
There are also some cheaper options within the Thrustmaster range, like the TM Open Wheel at £139.99, or the £179.99 Ferrari 150th Italia Racing Wheel Replica, which recreates the wheel used by Ferrari for the 2011 F1 season. But the new Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 wheel looks like a pretty good choice for anyone who races sports cars regularly, or prefers that style of wheel more than round rims.
You can pre-order the Thrustmaser Ferrari 488 GT3 wheel now for £249.99 via the official website.
Keep up with the latest news, offers and more from Thrustmaster, here. Or check out all of our articles on sim racing wheels and pedals. And if you’re just starting out, take a look at our guide to the best sim racing wheels for beginners, here.
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