What it is
The Podium Steering Wheel R300 is a 300mm D-shaped round rim in Fanatec’s Podium line, wrapped in smooth premium leather with gold and black accents. What sets it apart from the ClubSport wheels is the hardware it bundles: rather than ClubSport components, it ships with high-end Podium parts, the Podium Hub and the Advanced Paddle Module. At $664 / £525 it is a high-end, multi-purpose track wheel aimed at GT3, GT4 and touring cars. It is a rim and module bundle rather than a complete wheelbase, so it adds the grip, hub and paddles to whatever Fanatec base you run, and it needs some manual assembly to put those pieces together.
Who it’s for
You are the right buyer if you want a premium round rim with genuine Podium-grade hardware and you race a mix of GT3, GT4 and touring cars. The leather grip and the round D-shape make it more versatile than a committed formula or flat-bottom GT rim, and the bundled Podium Hub and Advanced Paddle Module are a real step up from the ClubSport equivalents. If build quality and the round profile matter to you and you are happy to specify the rest, this is a strong base to build on.
You are the wrong buyer if you want a wheel that arrives fully featured. Out of the box the R300 is fairly bare, so if you do not want to add modules to get directional sticks, encoders or a display, a more complete wheel suits you better.
In use
The build is the highlight. The leather grip feels premium, the gold and black accents look the part, and the Podium Hub and Advanced Paddle Module are clearly a tier above ClubSport hardware in the hand. The round D-shape works well across GT3, GT4 and touring cars, giving you a versatile rim that is not locked to one discipline.
Where it shows its nature is the spec out of the box. There are no directional sticks or encoders unless you add modules, and no built-in display or rev LEDs unless you fit a Button Module Endurance. The bundle also needs assembling, so factor in some build time before your first session. None of this is a fault as such, it is how the Podium modular system works, but it means the wheel you take out of the box is not the wheel you will end up racing.
What to watch out for
The real cost is more than the sticker. At $664 / £525 you get the rim, the Podium Hub and the Advanced Paddle Module, but to add directional sticks, encoders, a display or rev LEDs you will be buying modules on top. Be honest with yourself about that total before you commit, because a fully featured R300 costs noticeably more than the bundle price.
Expect some manual assembly, 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
A premium, build-it-up round rim. For $664 / £525 the R300 gives you genuine Podium-grade hardware in the Podium Hub and Advanced Paddle Module, with a leather D-shape that handles GT3, GT4 and touring cars. The honest caveat is that it ships fairly bare, so most buyers will spend more on modules to get directional sticks, encoders and a display. If you want the build quality and are happy to specify the rest, it earns its place; if you want everything in the box, look at a more complete wheel.