Sim-Lab brings Cosworth CCW Mk3 to sim racing

Sim-Lab en Cosworth brengen high-end motorsport technologie naar sim racing met de lancering van de – legendarische – Cosworth Carbon Wheel Mk3 (CCW Mk3). Deze professionele stuurwiel oplossing, tot nu toe exclusief gebruikt in de IndyCar en LMDh Series, is vanaf nu beschikbaar voor de sim racing community en luidt een nieuw tijdperk in voor high-end sim hardware.

A unique collaboration with depth

Dutch sim racing hardware manufacturer Sim-Lab has joined forces with legendary British engineering firm Cosworth. The result of this collaboration is the CCW Mk3, a steering wheel that has its origins in professional motorsport and is now being made available for sim racing for the first time.

Cosworth has been at the forefront of motorsport technology for more than 60 years. Their name is inextricably linked with success in Formula 1, endurance racing and hypercar projects. With 176 victories in Formula 1, 22 world titles and innovative projects such as the V12 engine in the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the 12,000 rpm engine in the GMA T.50, their CV speaks for itself.

That Cosworth is now deliberately choosing to partner in the sim racing industry not only underlines the growth potential of this market, but also shows that sim racing is being taken more and more seriously as a development platform for real racing skills.

“Cosworth's legacy of engineering excellence fits perfectly with our mission to raise the bar for sim racing hardware,” said Richard Schouteren, CEO of Sim-Lab. “Together, we bring authentic motorsport performance and usage-oriented technology to a wide audience of sim racers.”

CCW Mk3: Motorsport without compromise

The Cosworth Carbon Wheel Mk3 is not a “sim version” of a real steering wheel. This is the steering wheel that is actually used in motorsport. Cosworth will supply the original CCW Mk3 to virtually every IndyCar team on the 2025 grid, as well as making a compact hypercar variant available to sim racers.

Two variants for different sim racers:

• IndyCar version - 300 mm: Based on the original steering wheel from the American openwheel class
• Hypercar version - 280 mm: More compact variant, ideal for prototype or GT simulations

Key features at a glance:

• Full carbon fibre chassis with FIA certification
• 12 RGB-backlit buttons for direct and configurable interaction
• 4 illuminated rotaries + 4 thumb encoders for multifunctional inputs
• Up to 6 paddles, including digital push-pull and analogue variants
• 5″ sunlight-resistant TFT display (1000 nits, 800×480 WVGA)
• Integrated solid-state logging up to 4GB for motorsport data analysis
• Dual CAN 2.0B + Gigabit Ethernet for maximum compatibility
• Krontec 8STA quick-release system for solid montage

This steering wheel is not only impressive hardware-wise; the software control completes it. Via Cosworth's professional toolchain, all functions are configurable: RGB lighting per button or zone, logic, calculation models and even integration with existing motorsport infrastructure such as ECUs, VCUs and PDMs.

“Our latest evolution of the CCW Mk3 steering wheel is the result of intensive collaboration with teams and drivers,” says Paul Newby, Managing Director of Cosworth Electronics. “We have developed a product that combines technological innovation with practical applicability on the track. Together with Sim-Lab, we are now bringing this philosophy to the sim racing community.”

SimRacing Expo 2025: your chance to experience the wheel

Want to try this steering wheel in real life? Visitors of the ADAC SimRacing Expo 2025 (17 to 19 October at Messe Dortmund) can experience the CCW Mk3 for themselves at Sim-Lab's stand (booth D8). There, the steering wheel will not only be on display, but interested parties can also test hands-on how it feels to race real motorsport equipment.

The SimRacing Expo is one of the biggest events in the sim racing industry, where brands such as Fanatec, Simucube, Sim-Lab and now Cosworth present their latest innovations to the general public.

What does this mean for the future of sim racing?

This collaboration between Cosworth and Sim-Lab marks an important milestone. Until now, we mostly saw gaming brands focusing on sim racing, with products that tried to mimic the feeling of racing. What is on the table now, however, is a direct translation of real car racing into the virtual world. No compromises, no marketing tricks - but proven technology, developed for racing teams, now available to passionate sim racers.

This trend is part of a broader development in which sim racing is not just a hobby, but also a training tool for professionals. Think of drivers training daily in a simulator, teams analysing data based on virtual sessions, and engineers performing tests in simulated environments. The CCW Mk3 is designed for such applications - but now it can also be used in your home setup.

Who is this handlebar suitable for?

Although the steering wheel is in the premium segment, it is not exclusively intended for professionals. Serious sim racers, e-sports teams, sim racing centres and even engineers in training can benefit from the CCW Mk3's technology and precision. Designed to operate for thousands of hours in harsh conditions, the steering wheel offers unprecedented levels of control and feedback.

“By working closely with motorsport teams, we have created a wheel that perfectly suits the needs of real drivers as well as serious sim racers,” Newby said.

Price and availability

At the time of writing, no official price or delivery date has been announced. However, it has been confirmed by both Sim-Lab and Sim Rep Engineering that the price of the CCW Mk3 will be about the same as the Mercedes-AMG F1 steering wheel. And yes, that means a hefty price tag - so this wheel is meant for the true enthusiast who will only settle for the best.

Would you prefer an affordable replica with a similar look and feel? Then opt for the Pokornyi Engineering HYP-R wheel - an impressive alternative at a fraction of the price.

Updates on pre-orders and availability are expected after the SimRacing Expo. For this, keep an eye on Sim-Lab.co.uk and SimRacingHub.

Final aftertaste

The collaboration between Sim-Lab and Cosworth feels like a logical, yet groundbreaking step for the sim racing world. Where for years we were used to “inspirations” on real racing hardware, there is now a product that literally crosses over from the professional pad dock to the living room. This is something I can only applaud. It shows how close virtual and real motorsport are now - and how sim racing is increasingly becoming a full-fledged platform for innovation, training and pure experience.

Personally, I find this a fascinating development. We are reaching a point where the line between real racing and sim racing is blurred, not by marketing talk, but by real technology that has already won its spurs at the highest level. For the avid sim racer, this is not just another wheel, but a chance to experience what it feels like to work with exactly the same tools as an IndyCar driver. And that - regardless of price or segment - makes the future of sim racing more exciting than ever.