Thrustmaster Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition review

The Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition from Thrustmaster is the pinnacle of every boy racer’s dreams. Designed to replicate exactly the wheel found in the Ferrari F430, its unique feature is the base with integrated pedals and a telescopic arm for the wheel. The major drawback of this system is that it doesn’t have force feedback, as that would be too power-hungry for wireless operation. It runs off 4 AA batteries, which Thrustmaster claim will last for 50 hours.

The wheel itself is beautifully made, with a leather-effect grip, buttons for console operation, and a replica Manettino dial. This clever device switches between five positions and also has a button action. The stand has the same build quality, but the design is flawed: the tilt of the arm is controlled by two screw locks that are meant to lock the arm’s hinge, but they are far too stiff and we couldn’t tighten them enough to stop the arm from moving during play.

Usage is straightforward: you plug the small USB receiver into your PC or PS3, and check that the lights on the receiver and wheel are both on. We tested it with the bundled copy of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and Dirt 2, and it worked well with both games.

The lack of force feedback means that the wheel will appeal more to arcade racing fans, rather than simulation junkies, and it’s incredible fun to use. Having the pedals fixed firmly in place means they won’t creep away from you over the course of a race, but the inability to lock the arm’s tilt securely mean the wheel doesn’t feel as secure as one clamped to a desk.

Those who prefer realism will moan at the lack of force feedback, but for arcade fans with deep pockets, it’s a great toy, and one that’s easy to pack away when you’re done with it.