Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally Review: Compact and Surprisingly Versatile

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De Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is zo’n product waar ik al lange tijd naar uitkeek om te mogen testen. Niet alleen omdat het één van de populairdere Fanatec accessoires is, maar vooral omdat het een belofte in zich draagt die ik zelden echt waargemaakt zie: één compacte module die je stuurbediening in meerdere disciplines logisch kan maken.

At first glance, the look catches your attention, but the real appeal lies in its wide applicability. The Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is not a complete wheel, but neither is it a separate button box that you screw somewhere on your cockpit. You build it into a Fanatec hub, in front of your wheel rim. It thus becomes a central cockpit interface designed to control functions directly and intuitively, without detours via keyboard, mouse or endless menus.

That makes it interesting for sim racers who do want to drive with a round rim, but don't want to sacrifice modern racing functionalities. Rally and rallycross are obvious, but the question that particularly concerned me was: does this also work if you mainly drive GT or endurance, or is it mainly - as the name says - a rally module?

Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally

The Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is a compact Podium module with nine RGB buttons, two D-pads, three 12-way multi-position switches and a 1” OLED display. The key is not in the number of inputs, but in the ergonomics and front-mount construction: you build a fixed interface in front of your rim, which still gives you mature cockpit controls with a round rim.

If you're already in the Fanatec ecosystem, this is one of the most logical upgrades for those who ride multiple disciplines. The price feels fair for what you get, but the total investment adds up quickly if you need another hub and quick release.

What makes this Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally so special is that, according to Fanatec, this is not an “inspired replica”, but the same module used in practice by the M-Sport World Rally Team in the 2022 and 2023 Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 WRC cars. Fanatec even links concrete results to this: the module is said to have helped Sébastien Loeb win in the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally, and Ott Tänak wins in Rally Sweden and Rally Chile in 2023. 

Unboxing: presentation and contents

Fanatec can sometimes feel a bit corporate, bland and old-fashioned in presentation, but here they really got it right. The box and the whole unboxing experience are remarkably strong. Not just neat, but thoughtful. The colours stand out, the layout is right and you can immediately see that this is positioned as a Podium product. That sounds like a detail, but it immediately sets the tone: this is not a simple plastic module you “buy on the side”, this feels like a serious part of your wheel.

In the box you will find:

• Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally
• Aluminium adapter ring
• Sticker set
• Additional button inserts
• 4× Torx bolts
• Torx key (T20)
• Tweezers
• Quick guide

Those extra button inserts and the tweezers are so typical of Fanatec here who does understand how people use this. You're going to configure this thing, change labels and try until your layout is right. Then it helps if you don't have to fiddle with nails and crooked stickers.

Installation and montage

The montage of the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is fundamentally simple, but you need to understand one thing upfront: this is front-mount. The module comes before your rim. So you don't “build something with it”, you build your handlebars as a whole.

You first attach the aluminium adapter ring to your wheel rim with countersunk bolts. Fanatec does supply the 4 Torx bolts for the module itself, but the bolts you use to attach the adapter ring to your wheel rim depend on your rim/hub combination (often you reuse existing countersunk bolts). Then you place the module in the four recesses and secure it with the supplied Torx bolts. You then connect the module to the hub via the USB-C connector.

On my Monte Carlo steering wheel (Sparco R383 rim + Podium Hub), the fit was exactly as you expect. Everything falls logically into place and you keep the build tight. This is nice not only during montage, but especially during driving. With a lot of handlebar rotation, you don't want micro play, no creaks, no feeling that your handlebars just “built up”.

Ergonomically, this is also the combination where the module feels at its best - and what this module and combination is built for. A round handlebar, lots of rotation and yet all the core functions within thumb reach. That is exactly the gap this module is trying to fill.

Price of the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally

What does the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally cost? The Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally costs €269.95 in the Fanatec store. Keep in mind that this is just the module. In practice, you'll also need a compatible Fanatec hub (and depending on your setup, a suitable quick release) and, of course, a handlebar, so the total entry price may be higher if you're not yet in the ecosystem. If you are already deep into the Fanatec ecosystem, then the price of the module feels like a logical upgrade. If you are starting from scratch, then it quickly becomes a package decision.

Compatibility of the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally

The Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is built for Fanatec's ecosystem. That's exactly why the integration feels so tight, but it's also immediately its main limitation. You need a compatible Fanatec hub (Podium Hub or ClubSport Universal Hub V2, including the Xbox variant) AND a wheel rim with a 6×70 mm bolt pattern. Because you mount the module before the rim, you can theoretically use it on many different rims.

In practice, ergonomics decides whether that actually works. A non-dished rim and enough space around the spokes make all the difference. Then your thumbs stay free and your fingers don't touch the module anywhere. If you choose a rim with an awkward shape or too little clearance, the ergonomic gains disappear and it soon feels like a busy control cluster.

In terms of platforms, Fanatec will always be a combination story. On PC, you usually get the most out of this because mapping, profiles and sim support tend to be richer. On consoles, the basics work fine, but you run into limitations determined by console capabilities, firmware/OS and developer support more quickly.

Platforms

• PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5: compatible with PlayStation-licensed wheel bases. Functionality may be limited by console capabilities (firmware/OS) and game support.

• PC (Windows): compatible. Full functionality remains dependent on game support.

• Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S: compatible when connected via the ClubSport Universal Hub V2 for Xbox. Functionality may be limited by console capabilities (firmware/OS) and game support.

Software: Fanatec App, FanaLab and reality by sim

For the basics, use updated Fanatec App. With it, you update firmware, check inputs and set the modes of the switches, for instance. Where you used to have separate applications, everything is now in one app. This is a pleasant improvement! If you want to fine-tune further, you will find FanaLab for lighting, brightness and certain display settings.

The experience remains typical Fanatec: uncluttered if you already know the ecosystem, but less deep than what you can do with SimHub. That's not a problem, as this module is mostly about consistent hardware controls. The real gains come from your mapping in the sim and your own layout logic.

Broad applicability: rally, GT and everything in between

For me, this is why the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally rises above the level of a ‘nice addition’. Not because you suddenly have more inputs, but because you build one fixed cockpit interface that takes you between disciplines. Once you get used to that logic, you start searching less and acting faster.

In rally and rallycross, you notice it most immediately. Your steering wheel is constantly moving, the car is restless and you have no room for doubt. That you literally have features under your thumb makes it easier to adjust something during a stage as soon as you feel grip or balance shifting.

“The beauty of this button module is that you are not stuck to one discipline. Whether you choose Rally, GT or endurance, this compact module is surprisingly versatile.”

What surprised me is how well that same principle works with a round rim in GT and endurance. You lose some direct reach compared to a dedicated GT handlebar, but you gain consistency: same layout, same reflexes, less mental noise. And especially when drifting or anything with a lot of handlebar rotation, you appreciate the compact integration. No loose button box, no cable spaghetti, just a tight handlebar that stays solid when you need to correct quickly.

Building quality and material choices

The first impression in the hand is exactly what you want from a Podium product: sturdy, compact and no rattle. Fanatec uses a carbon fibre front plate and a robust casing. The whole thing feels like it was made to be used firmly, not handled carefully.

The buttons have a clear, tight click. Not spongy, not fuzzy. The controls are close together, which makes sense given the size, but it does take getting used to at first. Especially if you have large hands, or ride without gloves, you may find in the first few sessions that your thumb just touches a second button.

The low weight is striking. Fanatec specifies 280 grams including adapter ring. In practice, you notice this especially when changing different rims: you don't suddenly feel a bulky block hanging in front of your rim. It also helps the balance of the handlebars.

Features and operation in practice

Fanatec positions this as a feature-packed module, but I prefer to look at functional blocks. What do you get and what does it do for your driving process? You get:

• 9 RGB buttons (with interchangeable inserts)
• 2 D-pads in primary thumb position
• 3 multi-position switches with 12 positions (adjustable as encoder or fixed positions)
• 1" OLED display
• access to the Tuning Menu via the hub integration

Buttons

The buttons require firm, clear pressure. Fanatec mentions an actuation force of 600 grams, and that matches what you feel. This is not a light mouse click, but it feels and sounds really great. The advantage is that you are less likely to accidentally activate something in restless moments. The downside is that on long stints, you sometimes find yourself deliberately pressing a bit harder.

In my opinion, the interchangeable inserts are one of the best choices on this module. Instead of stickers on the button itself, you build your layout with inserts. This remains neater, more readable and more durable.

D-pads instead of funky switches

Fanatec has opted for two D-pads on both sides of the module. Especially at rally and in cars where you want to be able to access multiple functions quickly, this works nicely. The placement close to the thumbs ensures you don't have to search. This is one of those small ergonomics choices that have an immediate effect on your focus.

The advantage of D-pads over a funky switch is mainly in predictability and error probability. A D-pad gives you four clear directions plus a pressure (click) that you hit reliably even under load. With a funky switch, the input often feels more ‘rounded’ and less defined, making you more likely to trigger the wrong direction when restless, gloved or making quick corrections.

Especially in rallying, where your steering wheel is constantly moving and you often operate by feel, that clear rastering helps. Your thumb does not have to aim or search: up is always up, left is always left, and you immediately feel whether you have made a click. As a result, operation becomes a reflex rather than an extra thought step, and you notice it immediately in focus and consistency.

Multi-position switches

The three 12-way switches are a strong point, but only if you deploy them logically. If you put “random” functions on here, it becomes a cluttered panel. If you put structurally recurring parameters on here, then it actually becomes a cockpit interface that your brain comes to trust.

I especially noticed gains if I reserved one switch for car settings (e.g. ABS/TC), one for race management (pages, pit, radio) and one for discipline-specific things (rally lights, wipers, mapping). Then a fixed mental map emerges.

1” OLED display: handy, but not the main reason

The 1” OLED display is usable for basic info like gear or speed, provided the sim transmits that data properly via the Fanatec SDK. In my use, it was especially nice as a confirmation: which tuning page am I on, which setting is active. Don't expect a dashboard replacement here, but do expect a functional feedback layer.

Advantages and disadvantages

After all the sessions, one thing remains for me: the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is especially strong when used as a fixed cockpit interface. Not as extra buttons, but as a way to make controls predictable, so you have to switch less between steering and ‘controlling’ while driving.

For whom the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is a logical choice

For me, the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally feels like one of those upgrades that doesn't necessarily make you faster, but does make you drive better. Not because you suddenly have more buttons, but because your cockpit interface is finally right. Everything is in a fixed place, you don't have to search and you can adjust things without falling out of rhythm. That's exactly the kind of detail you don't value until you've moved beyond “just driving”.

If you drive mostly casual, lean on assists a lot and rarely tinker with your car live, you're not going to get everything out of this module. Then it will mainly remain a nice piece of hardware. But once you get serious about management while driving - brake bias, TC/ABS, engine maps, black box, pit, you name it - you will notice how quickly you get used to an interface you can trust blindly.

Rally and rallycross are obvious. Lots of steering wheel rotation, lots of corrections, little time to fiddle with menus. There, this concept works almost automatically. But what surprised me most is that it also works in modern GTs and prototypes - especially if you like driving with a round rim and still want to be able to manage that modern functionality.

I would recommend the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally mainly to PC users who already have a solid base in place: a good wheelbase with a wheel that is ergonomically well-matched. This module gives you a lot of creative freedom in terms of wheel combinations. That is what makes this module so much fun.

“I honestly thought this would be a typical rally upgrade, but it is a surprising all-rounder. It has really exceeded my expectations.”

Conclusion

The Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is one of those products I have long been looking forward to finally being able to test for myself. Not because it gives you ‘more buttons’, but because it can make your cockpit interface discipline-transcending. If you often switch between rally and GT, or if you drive a round rim but do want to manage modern features, this concept falls remarkably into place.

And if you mainly rally in titles where your steering wheel moves a lot and your timing is everything, there are simply few realistic solutions that feel as complete yet tightly integrated. Precisely because you can build the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally on many different 6×70 mm rims, it becomes an interesting choice for a wide group of sim racers.

If you are not yet in the Fanatec ecosystem, I would not recommend this as a first purchase. Then wheelbase, pedals and cockpit are more logical priorities. But if your setup is already in place and you are looking for an upgrade that you will feel daily in workflow and focus, then the Fanatec Podium Button Module Rally is one of the most logical choices within Fanatec.