Direct drive
A direct-drive (DD) wheelbase mounts the steering wheel straight onto the motor shaft — no belts or gears — giving the strongest, most detailed force feedback. It is the high-end sim racing standard.
Direct drive — definition
A direct-drive (DD) wheelbase connects the steering wheel straight onto the motor shaft — with no belts or gears in between. That removes the slack and notchiness of cheaper designs and delivers the strongest, most detailed force feedback, which is why it is the high-end sim racing standard.
DD bases are rated by torque in newton-metres (Nm), from roughly 8 Nm at the entry level to 25–32 Nm at the top. The best-known brands include Fanatec (now owned by Corsair after its 2024 acquisition), MOZA Racing and Simagic, while Logitech G and Thrustmaster also offer direct-drive tiers above their gear- and belt-driven ranges.
