With the release of the Fanatec QR2, the Landshut-based hardware manufacturer aimed to improve issues the old quick release system had. We have tried the system for our Fanatec QR2 review.
It almost felt like a myth at one point. Having been in the works for a while, the Fanatec QR2 was prominently shown at SimRacing Expo 2022, but it still took about a year from then until it was available. Sim racers using the Fanatec ecosystem were looking forward to the QR2 quite a bit, considering the shortcomings of the QR1 system.
The "old" system was a bit clunky to operate. After mounting a wheel, sim racers still had to tighten a screw mechanism that would expand a rubber ring to push against the wheel side quick release, locking it in place. But even that left some wheels with different levels of flex or play when operating - unless you installed the infamous retaining screw. Depending on the manufacturing tolerances of a particular QR, flex could be non-existant or rather noticeable.
While the system worked, it made changing wheels on the fly more of a hassle than it should have been. The QR2 is designed to improve on all of this, so we (finally) tried it on a Podium DD2 wheel base - better late than never, right?
The wheel side and base side units were kindly provided by Fanatec.
Both are full-metal constructions. The difference between them is that the Pro model is built to FIA standards and could be used in real racing as well, while the standard version cannot. They function the same, however, and we could not find any other notable differences - except visually: The Pro model features a gold collar, the standard one has an all-black exterior.
According to Fanatec, the QR2 pro is "CNC-machined from aviation-grade billet aluminium", whereas the QR2 is made from "diecast aluminium with CNC-machined and black anodised finish".
A third model called QR2 Lite is also available, which is cheaper than the other two. It does not feature a metal construction, instead relying on a "carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide construction", according to the official product description. The QR2 Lite cannot be run in high torque mode, much like the lite version of the QR1.
The QR2 Pro, QR2 and QR2 Lite wheel side adapters (from left to right) mounted to Fanatec steering wheels. Image: Fanatec
Some wheels, including the ClubSport Formula V2.5X and the Podium Porsche 911 GT3 R require a plastic washer to be installed around the contact pins, which is not complicated either. The purpose of the washer is to minimze the risk of the pins being bent or snapping entirely.
The plastic washer with the correct bolts in place (well, all but one).
Be sure to check the bolts before mounting the washer, however. Fanatec advises to use the bolts that come with the QR2 instead of those that are already in place - the ones supplied with the wheel side adapter have a narrower head, with the broader ones potentially causing trouble further down the line should you retain them.
The Type M connector is needed to upgrade a Podium DD1 or DD2 base, while the Type C connector is compatible with the Gran Turismo DD Pro and CSL DD bases. Differentiating the two is easy: The Type M connects to the base via wires, the Type C uses a USB C-type connection.
Therefore, installation of the two differs slightly. For both, you want to start with loosening the bolts of the black clamp on the shaft of the wheel base, allowing you to slowly pull out the old QR. For the Type C QR2, it is as easy as replacing it while lining up the connector with the corresponding slot in the wheel base. Re-tighten the collar and you are done.
For the Type M, a few extra steps are necessary. Pulling out the old QR, you need to rotate the adaptor anti-clockwise until the wirese are not wound up anymore. Disconnect the plastic wire connectors, connect the QR2 wires the same way, rotate the QR2 clockwise until the wirese are almost pulled back into the base, then slowly push in the QR2. Re-tighten the collar - and that is your DD1 or DD2 base ready to go.
In total, upgrading our DD2 and two wheels took approximately 30 minutes - a rather simple process indeed.
However, the QR2 does feel just that little bit more pronounced when it comes to smaller effects, such as small bumps in the road. With more pronounced forces, there is no notable difference in our experience.
The rubber ring of the old system could be the cause of that - while the more pronounced forces "overpowered" it, the more nuanced ones might have been somewhat dampened by the flexible part of the "lock".
For many, the main draw of the Fanatec QR2 would be the ease of use when changing wheels. Whereas the QR1 required multiple steps, the QR2 allows sim racers to switch wheels within seconds. Simply pull back the collar on the quick release, pull off the wheel, and click the new one in place - done! This element might not be of the greatest importance for those who mainly race with one wheel, but those who use different rims frequently will likely appreciate this change.
Additionally, there are six bundles that offer a way to save some money when upgrading:
The bundles do help, but all things considered, making the jump to the QR2 is an expensive upgrade - especially if you have multiple wheels. For instance, upgrading two wheels and a Podium base with the standard QR2 would still set you back about €300. Depending on the level of flex you feel in your QR1, this may be worth it - or not, if you feel that it is fine and you rarely change wheels anyway.
Changing wheels is a breeze using the QR2 (pictured: QR2 Pro). Image: Fanatec
On the other hand, it is not going to be a cheap upgrade, particularly for those who like to change wheels to match the cars they are driving frequently. There is (understandably, with the systems being so different) no backwards compatibility with the wheel side QR1 or vice versa, so the upgrade has to be all or nothing - if you want to keep using all of your equipment, that is.
If you do make the jump, the ease of use and slightly more pronounced low-force details are certainly nice to have. The build quality of the QR2 parts, be it wheel or base side, is excellent, and they require virtually no maintenance. Fanatec only recommends wiping the wheel side QR2 with a soft cloth from time to time - that is it.
If you are planning on buying this product and you like what we do here at OverTake, please consider using our affiliate link. We make a small commission on each sale, without any extra costs for you.
Have you tried the Fanatec QR2 yet? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
It almost felt like a myth at one point. Having been in the works for a while, the Fanatec QR2 was prominently shown at SimRacing Expo 2022, but it still took about a year from then until it was available. Sim racers using the Fanatec ecosystem were looking forward to the QR2 quite a bit, considering the shortcomings of the QR1 system.
The "old" system was a bit clunky to operate. After mounting a wheel, sim racers still had to tighten a screw mechanism that would expand a rubber ring to push against the wheel side quick release, locking it in place. But even that left some wheels with different levels of flex or play when operating - unless you installed the infamous retaining screw. Depending on the manufacturing tolerances of a particular QR, flex could be non-existant or rather noticeable.
While the system worked, it made changing wheels on the fly more of a hassle than it should have been. The QR2 is designed to improve on all of this, so we (finally) tried it on a Podium DD2 wheel base - better late than never, right?
The wheel side and base side units were kindly provided by Fanatec.
Both are full-metal constructions. The difference between them is that the Pro model is built to FIA standards and could be used in real racing as well, while the standard version cannot. They function the same, however, and we could not find any other notable differences - except visually: The Pro model features a gold collar, the standard one has an all-black exterior.
According to Fanatec, the QR2 pro is "CNC-machined from aviation-grade billet aluminium", whereas the QR2 is made from "diecast aluminium with CNC-machined and black anodised finish".
A third model called QR2 Lite is also available, which is cheaper than the other two. It does not feature a metal construction, instead relying on a "carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide construction", according to the official product description. The QR2 Lite cannot be run in high torque mode, much like the lite version of the QR1.
The QR2 Pro, QR2 and QR2 Lite wheel side adapters (from left to right) mounted to Fanatec steering wheels. Image: Fanatec
Fanatec QR2 Assembly
Before we could hit the track, it was time to grab some tools, however. While select wheels and wheel bases can be ordered with the QR2 already installed, many sim racers will look at upgrading their existing setups. Fanatec includes instructions on how to do so, and it is easier than one might think at first.Wheel Side
For the wheel side QR2, it is as easy as removing the old QR by taking out the bolts on the back of the wheel (four to six, depending on the wheel) and mounting the new one with those same screws.Some wheels, including the ClubSport Formula V2.5X and the Podium Porsche 911 GT3 R require a plastic washer to be installed around the contact pins, which is not complicated either. The purpose of the washer is to minimze the risk of the pins being bent or snapping entirely.
The plastic washer with the correct bolts in place (well, all but one).
Be sure to check the bolts before mounting the washer, however. Fanatec advises to use the bolts that come with the QR2 instead of those that are already in place - the ones supplied with the wheel side adapter have a narrower head, with the broader ones potentially causing trouble further down the line should you retain them.
Base Side
The base side QR2 installation seems a bit more complicated for the Podium wheel bases in particular. There are two versions of the system available, which are compatible with different wheel bases.The Type M connector is needed to upgrade a Podium DD1 or DD2 base, while the Type C connector is compatible with the Gran Turismo DD Pro and CSL DD bases. Differentiating the two is easy: The Type M connects to the base via wires, the Type C uses a USB C-type connection.
Therefore, installation of the two differs slightly. For both, you want to start with loosening the bolts of the black clamp on the shaft of the wheel base, allowing you to slowly pull out the old QR. For the Type C QR2, it is as easy as replacing it while lining up the connector with the corresponding slot in the wheel base. Re-tighten the collar and you are done.
For the Type M, a few extra steps are necessary. Pulling out the old QR, you need to rotate the adaptor anti-clockwise until the wirese are not wound up anymore. Disconnect the plastic wire connectors, connect the QR2 wires the same way, rotate the QR2 clockwise until the wirese are almost pulled back into the base, then slowly push in the QR2. Re-tighten the collar - and that is your DD1 or DD2 base ready to go.
In total, upgrading our DD2 and two wheels took approximately 30 minutes - a rather simple process indeed.
Fanatec QR2 Performance
A secure, flex-free connection between wheel and wheel base are essential to get the most out of its Force Feedback. The QR1 did this well, even if it meant installing that retaining screw in some cases (defying the "quick" part of a quick release a bit).However, the QR2 does feel just that little bit more pronounced when it comes to smaller effects, such as small bumps in the road. With more pronounced forces, there is no notable difference in our experience.
The rubber ring of the old system could be the cause of that - while the more pronounced forces "overpowered" it, the more nuanced ones might have been somewhat dampened by the flexible part of the "lock".
For many, the main draw of the Fanatec QR2 would be the ease of use when changing wheels. Whereas the QR1 required multiple steps, the QR2 allows sim racers to switch wheels within seconds. Simply pull back the collar on the quick release, pull off the wheel, and click the new one in place - done! This element might not be of the greatest importance for those who mainly race with one wheel, but those who use different rims frequently will likely appreciate this change.
Fanatec QR2 Price
While the QR2 is an improvement over its predecessor without a doubt, it has one significant downside - and that is its price. At the time of writing this review, Fanatec lists the different versions on their website as follows:| QR2 Pro Wheel Side | €199.95 / $199.95 |
| QR2 Wheel Side | €99.95 / $99.95 |
| QR2 Lite Wheel Side | €59.95 / $59.95 |
| QR2 Base Side (Type M) | €149.95 / $149.95 |
| QR2 Base Side (Type C) | €69,95 / $149.95 |
Additionally, there are six bundles that offer a way to save some money when upgrading:
| QR2 Bundle (Type M) | €199.95 / $199.95 |
| QR2 Pro Bundle (Type M) | €299.95 / $299.95 |
| QR2 Bundle (Type C) | €159.95 / $ 159.95 |
| QR2 Lite Bundle (Type C) | €109.95 / $109.95 |
| 2x QR2 Wheel Side + 1x Base Side Bundle (Type M) | €249.95 / $249.95 |
| 2x QR2 Lite Wheel Side + 1x Base Side Bundle (Type M) | €169.95 / $169.95 |
The bundles do help, but all things considered, making the jump to the QR2 is an expensive upgrade - especially if you have multiple wheels. For instance, upgrading two wheels and a Podium base with the standard QR2 would still set you back about €300. Depending on the level of flex you feel in your QR1, this may be worth it - or not, if you feel that it is fine and you rarely change wheels anyway.
Changing wheels is a breeze using the QR2 (pictured: QR2 Pro). Image: Fanatec
Fanatec QR2 Review: Conclusion
As hinted at above, answering the question of "is it worth it for me?" is hard to do when it comes to the Fanatec QR2. If you intend to stay in the ecosystem and have multiple wheels (or plan on getting more), the upgrade might be worth it. The same is true if you feel notable amounts of flex in the connection that take away from your sim racing experience.On the other hand, it is not going to be a cheap upgrade, particularly for those who like to change wheels to match the cars they are driving frequently. There is (understandably, with the systems being so different) no backwards compatibility with the wheel side QR1 or vice versa, so the upgrade has to be all or nothing - if you want to keep using all of your equipment, that is.
If you do make the jump, the ease of use and slightly more pronounced low-force details are certainly nice to have. The build quality of the QR2 parts, be it wheel or base side, is excellent, and they require virtually no maintenance. Fanatec only recommends wiping the wheel side QR2 with a soft cloth from time to time - that is it.
Fanatec QR2: Pros & Cons
| Pro | Con |
| - Great ease of use when switching wheels | - Expensive |
| - Upgrading devices is simple | - No backwards compatibility with QR1 |
| - Clearly improves on the QR1's issues, providing a secure connection between wheel and wheel base | |
| - Compatible with all Fanatec wheels that feature an exchangeable quick release system |
If you are planning on buying this product and you like what we do here at OverTake, please consider using our affiliate link. We make a small commission on each sale, without any extra costs for you.
Have you tried the Fanatec QR2 yet? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
