What it is
The Podium Steering Wheel Bentley GT3 is the flagship of Fanatec’s Podium wheel line. It is a 310mm GT-style rim with Alcantara grips over a magnesium core, built as a 1:1 replica of the real-world Bentley Continental GT3 wheel. Unlike the modular CSL rims, this is an integrated wheel: the hub, paddles, buttons and screen are all built in, so there is no separate hub to buy. The standout feature is a large 3.4-inch circular telemetry display, backed by dual rev strips and flag LEDs. At $1999 / £1580 it sits at the top of the range. It still attaches to a Fanatec base rather than being a complete wheelbase, so it adds the grip, controls and display to whatever base you run.
Who it’s for
You are the right buyer if you race modern GT3 and endurance seriously and you want the most authentic, best-equipped wheel Fanatec makes. The 1:1 Bentley replica shape and the magnesium build give it the heft and presence of a real competition rim, and the integrated circular display is the part that sets it apart from the rest of the line. If you spend long stints in GT3 cars and want on-wheel telemetry that stays upright as you steer, this is the wheel built for that.
You are the wrong buyer if you want one wheel for mixed disciplines, or if you are price-sensitive. At $1999 / £1580 this is a specialist flagship, not a do-everything rim, and there are far cheaper ways to get on track if the integrated display is not the reason you are here.
In use
The first thing you notice is the weight and the quality. The magnesium core gives it real heft, and the Alcantara grips are the correct material for long GT stints in gloves. The self-levelling circular display is the feature that earns the badge: it keeps the readout upright through the wheel’s rotation, so a glance mid-corner actually tells you something rather than showing you a tilted screen. The dual rev strips and flag LEDs round out a properly equipped face.
The catch is that the screen only does its job with software behind it. Out of the box you get the basic readout, but the full per-corner telemetry needs FanaLab or SimHub feeding it data. Set that up and the display becomes properly useful; skip it and you are paying for a screen you are not using.
What to watch out for
It is heavy and it is expensive. The magnesium build is a quality point, but the weight is noticeable, and at $1999 / £1580 you are paying flagship money. Be honest about whether the integrated display is worth that premium for how you drive.
The circular screen needs sim and software support to show telemetry properly, so factor in the FanaLab or SimHub setup time. And remember the rim does not decide console support, the base does, so check your base is console-licensed if you are not on PC.
Verdict
The best-equipped wheel in Fanatec’s range, and priced like it. For $1999 / £1580 you get a 1:1 magnesium Bentley GT3 replica with an integrated self-levelling circular display that nothing else in the line matches. The trade-offs are the weight, the price and the software you need to make the screen earn its keep. If you race GT3 seriously and want the flagship, it delivers; if you do not need the integrated display, the Podium BMW M4 GT3 covers most of the same ground for less.