Asetek SimSports Releases the Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel. Premium Features Without the Premium Price?
When Asetek SimSports announced the Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel, it immediately grabbed our attention. After all, the wheel promises many of the standout features from their flagship Invicta Formula wheel, but at a significantly lower price.
But does the Forte truly offer the best of both worlds, or are there compromises hidden beneath the surface?
The Forte Formula Pro wheel enters the market at $649 USD plus tax or €629.41 EUR excluding VAT, making it nearly $1,000 cheaper than the Invicta Formula wheel which at launch was priced at $1,499 USD.
Given this substantial price difference, we expect to find major trade-offs. Surprisingly, the Forte packs a punch where it counts, although some features have been cut back.
At its core, the Forte Formula Pro offers the same 4.3-inch RaceView display as the higher-priced Invicta, delivering crisp 800×480 resolution at 60 Hz. For a wheel mounted display we think almost everyone would be thrilled to have this on their wheel. The resolution is more than high enough for its size and having a 60 Hz refresh rate means that the display will never appear to be choppy.
The construction of the rim is where cuts have been made. Unlike its Invicta counterpart, the Forte wheel is built from glass fiber reinforced material that was then finished in forged carbon. When compared to its more expensive sibling, it tips the scales at a mere 1160 grams, vs 1500.
Although this should be a benefit when it comes to using the rim on less powerful bases such as the La Prima and the Forte, we do worry about the in-hand feel when compared to its more expensive counterpart. There’s something to be said about how an all metal construction feels in the hand even when compared to a high quality composite.
The feel of the wheel rim is something that’s difficult to speculate on until we get one of these units in our hand, which won’t be happening for a while as although pre orders are live, products won’t start shipping until the August 14th 2025 release date
Now back onto the feature set, Asetek also equipped the Forte with the same extensive inputs. The Forte Formula Pro features 10 push buttons, 3 rotary encoders, 6 thumb encoders, and two seven way switches amounting to a total of 142 customizable input options, which we’re sure all sim racers will find to be more than enough.
In terms of aesthetics and functionality, the Forte doesn’t skimp on visual flair either. It features 31 fully programmable RGB LEDs, including RevLights and FlagLights, keeping vital race information visible without distracting from the track ahead.
Compatibility should be seamless as well for those on Asetek bases and even for those who want to mount it to a third party wheel base using their own quick release. The Forte Formula Pro comes with Asetek SimSports Quick Release system and has USB-C compatibility.
Perhaps the most significant differentiator, aside from price, is the option to customize handles and paddles separately, something that helps keep initial costs down but allows upgrades or changes are if desired.
One of the biggest sticking points in our opinion with this wheel is the paddle layout. At $649 it is certainly a premium wheel, and we would have liked to have seen clutch paddles included at this cost. Typically this upgrade costs over $100, on GSI rims the HSE clutches are a $195 post purchase upgrade and with Cube Controls their universal clutches are € 158. In contrast Asetek charges $37.99 for the most basic version of their clutch paddle upgrade. We think this makes it a far more palatable upgrade in the long term than it otherwise would have been.
Early adopters placing their orders before June 15th, 2025, can snag even more savings, with Asetek offering 10% discounts on the wheel and handles or 15% when including shifters and paddles.
Final Thoughts
The Forte Formula Pro steering wheel is shaping up to be a compelling option. By closely mirroring many of the features of Asetek’s premium Invicta Formula wheel but coming in at less than half the price, its positioned as a smart choice for racers seeking a high end wheel rim without completely emptying their wallet and eating ramen for the next 2 months.
Is this the sim racing wheel that bridges the gap between premium and affordability? Early impressions strongly suggest yes.
If you would like to learn more about the new Asetek Forte Formula Pro you can check it out on their website here or you can check it out and other products in our shop.