Racing Test

With the folks at Logitech showing the courtesy of including a copy of rFactor, I naturally tested the G25 with that sim. I also tested it with GTR2 and NASCAR Racing 2003 Season.

While I have many racing sims, rFactor is the only one I always drive with manual shifting regardless of the type of racing car. For me, the fun in rFactor is to master its virtually unlimited venues offline and online with manual shifting. Both of the G25's manual modes-sequential and gated-worked well with this sim.

The G25's larger wheel size and 900 degree turning radius capability made racing feel more natural, more real than I've experienced with less expensive wheel and pedal systems. The word smooth comes to mind when driving rFactor. The wheel was rock solid on my desk and the pedal base did not move an inch, not even under frantic racing conditions. Moreover, the G25's  simulated pneumatic brake pedal made diving into corners easier as well as more realistic.  I have one criticism of the G25 when compared to a less expensive wheel like the Thrustmaster Rallye GT Force Feedback Pro Clutch Pedal Edition.  In both rFactor and NASCAR 2003 Season, the force effects in the G25 felt less engaging. Your opinion might differ, but that's mine.

The G25 comes equipped with a dual-motor force feedback system that spreads the forces evenly throughout the wheel. But I couldn't shake the disappointment that such an expensive and well-engineered piece of equipment could feel less engaging with force feedback implementation.  Sometimes it felt as if the forces lagged a fraction of a second or two when tires made contact with bumper strips, chicanes or grass and would continue for a second or so after rubber again met smooth pavement.

But forces did not seem to re-engage instantly when I headed immediately back onto grass.  This was puzzling, especially when measured against the half as expensive RGT which provides significantly more engaging force feedback particularly in rFactor. Force feedback implementation in NASCAR Racing 2003 Season was about even between the two wheels, although the RGT's feedback seemed, again, to be more accurate.

Nevertheless, the G25 was superior overall in both sims. The larger and more comfortable steering wheel, the rock solid pedal base, the ability to feather throttle action, and the simulated pneumatic brake pedal on the G25 are unmatched by anything else on the traditional retail market.

The final test came with SimBin's GTR2: FIA GT Racing. Predictably, force feedback engagement was very subtle with the G25, but that's not the fault of the wheel.  Force feedback implementaiton in GTR2 is, perhaps, the sim's only major weakness. But as an overall test of realistic driving dexterity, GTR2 is unmatched, in my opinion.

The excellent features of the G25 were highlighted in this sim. I decided to re-do the Driving School challenges with the G25. I found the challenges easier to beat on the first try with the G25's manual sequential shifting mode. The short-throw shifter and progressive throttle made accelerating and passing a very pleasing sensation. I felt in control during the challenges, especially in wet weather acceleration, braking and cornering.  In actual races, out braking opponents on the corner was a breeze with the exceptional brake pedal and the G25's 900 degree turning radius. While the huge turning radius took some getting used to, once I did both my lap times and proclivity for finding myself out of control in sharp chicanes decreased noticeably.   With the G25, I feel like I'm actually driving instead of playing a game.