Fanatec first introduced their Quick Release (QR1) system back in well over a decade ago when it was featured on the first Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Base.
At the time, the QR1 was groundbreaking, making competing systems from brands like Thrustmaster look more like toys with their
plastic and screw quick release. Its easy-to-use design and impressive rigidity set an industry benchmark at the time.
However, a lot has changed over the last decade. Wheelbases have grown significantly more powerful, especially with the widespread shift from belt-driven to direct drive technology. These advancements have begun to expose the limitations of the QR1 system, notably its susceptibility to flex, especially in the cheaper variants such as the QR1 Lite.
In response, Fanatec announced a major overhaul with the new QR2 system back in 2020. Although delayed, QR2 finally arrived in 2023 and has become the standard across all new Fanatec wheel bases and rims by 2025. Undoubtedly, the QR2 is a superior product, aligning better with contemporary sim racing demands. Fundamentally the QR2 is such a solid design it’s been approved for FIA racing applications, with the highest end variant of the QR2 even carrying FIA certification.
Is the QR2 Upgrade Worth It?
Whether upgrading from QR1 to QR2 makes sense for you depends heavily on your setup, budget, and expectations. If you’re
using older Fanatec belt-driven wheelbases such as the CSL Elite and the CSW V2.5, upgrading isn’t an option since QR2 retrofit parts are available only for the CSL DD, DD1, and DD2 bases.
For those who own wheels such as the CSL DD and have a rim with the plastic QR1 Lite should seriously consider upgrading. These plastic quick releases can develop significant wear over time, creaking, flexing, or even cracking. Failure can result in damaged wheelbase pins, a frustrating and costly issue that more often than not results in the rim having to be thrown away. In this case, QR2 could save you from long-term headaches, and potentially even save you money, not to mention the gains in rigidity and minor improvement in force feedback clarity from the lack of flex.
Things get more complicated if you’re an owner of the full metal QR1. Although the system isn’t the best on the market anymore and is considered legacy. If you’re happy with it and don’t plan on purchasing new rims any time soon, it’s worth hanging onto. Although yes, there are force feedback improvements to be had from the QR2 and the rock solid feel and action is great, is it worth the cost?
Cost Considerations
The Fanatec’s QR2 upgrade is far from a cheap upgrade, especially since upgrading the wheelbase side makes it incompatible with existing QR1 wheels forcing users to have to upgrade all rims to the new QR2.
For the CSL DD the QR2 costs $79.99 for just the base side and an additional $109.99 for every wheel side QR2 quick release.
Things get even more expensive for the DD1 and DD2. The QR2 Base Side for those rims, the Type M, is $139.99, with wheel-side adapters still at $109.99 each.
This means a basic upgrade can easily exceed $180. However, the increased rigidity can significantly enhance force feedback precision and overall driving feel, especially on higher-end bases like the DD1 and DD2.
Affordable Third-Party Alternatives
Fortunately, the aftermarket community provides some budget-friendly alternatives. Companies such as Simube offer complete
CSL DD quick-release sets including the base side and one wheel side adapter for just $95. If you want additional wheel-side adapters, each is priced at $55, a substantial saving compared to Fanatec’s official parts.
While we haven’t personally tested these third-party options, community feedback is generally positive.
The Budget-Friendly Compromise
If concerns over flex aren’t severe enough to justify the full QR2 upgrade but you’re worried about durability, another viable option is upgrading your plastic QR1 Lite to Fanatec’s original metal QR1, priced at $49 for the original on Fanatec’s website it can be a great middle ground. While not as rigid as QR2, it’s a cost-effective and immediate improvement that requires no base modifications that come along with the QR2, plus all of your Fanatec rims on the old QR1 standard still work.
(Update May 16th 2025, Fanatec has since stopped selling the QR1, we believe this means the best budget option for QR1 lite users to be a used QR1 if you are ok with used products or the Simube bundle)
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, whether or not you upgrade depends on your personal experience. If you’re satisfied with your current setup and aren’t experiencing issues, there’s no rush. However, QR1 Lite users might find the upgrade a worthwhile investment, even just for peace of mind and long-term durability.
Keep pushing those limits, and we’ll see you on track!