What it is
The CSL Steering Wheel R300 V2 is a 300mm D-shaped rim in Fanatec’s CSL line, finished in smooth genuine leather with gold stitching accents and built onto the CSL Universal Hub V2. The flat bottom and gold stitching are what set it apart from the plain round CSL rims. Like the rest of the modular CSL line it carries the hub’s snap-dome shifters and a small 3-digit display, and it connects through the QR2 Lite quick release. It is a rim, not a complete wheelbase: it adds the grip, buttons and shifters to whatever Fanatec base you already run.
Who it’s for
You are the right buyer if you race GT3, touring cars or track-day cars and you want a wheel that looks the part. The 300mm flat-bottom shape matches the fixed-hand position those cars want, and the gold stitching gives it a bit more visual character than the plain round rims. The smooth leather is an easy, low-fuss grip. On a Fanatec base it is an affordable way to get a smart-looking GT rim without paying ClubSport money.
You are the wrong buyer if you race rally or drift, where you feed the wheel through your hands, because the flat bottom gets in the way of that motion, or if you want an on-wheel display and rev lights, because this one has neither beyond the hub’s basic readout.
In use
The flat bottom is the defining feature. For GT3 and track-day driving, where your hands stay near quarter-to-three, it sits naturally and the 300mm diameter gives the steering the right pace for those cars. The smooth leather grips well bare-handed, so there is no need to reach for gloves the way you would with suede or Alcantara, and the gold stitching is a nice touch that lifts the look without changing how it drives.
The flip side is the same flat bottom. If you slide your hands round the rim, as you do in rally or when catching a slide, the flat section interrupts the motion and a fully round wheel is the better tool.
The 3-digit hub display does the basics and no more. There is no RPM LED strip, so a shift light is not part of the package.
What to watch out for
The flat bottom is single-purpose for fixed-hand driving. Be honest about what you race before buying, because if your garage leans towards rally or drift, a fully round CSL rim is the more flexible choice.
Remember the rim does not decide console support. If you are on Xbox or PlayStation, the licensing lives in the base, so check your wheelbase is console-licensed before assuming this rim gets you on track.
Verdict
A smart-looking, focused GT rim. For $264 / £209 the R300 V2 gives GT3 and track-day drivers a 300mm flat-bottom shape on a Fanatec base, with gold stitching that sets it apart and smooth leather that needs no gloves. Its only real trade-offs are the flat bottom ruling out rally and drift, and the basic 3-digit display shared across the whole CSL line. If you want a wheel you can feed through your hands, a fully round CSL rim is the sibling to weigh up.