Gomez Sim Industries FPE V2 Steering Wheel
Gomez Sim Industries, better known as GSI, has established itself as a leading manufacturer of high-quality sim racing wheels since its founding in January 2021. Under the leadership of Jose Gomez, the brand has become a favorite in the sim racing world. GSI is known not only for its outstanding quality but also for collaborations with icons like IndyCar legend Tony Kanaan, whose name appears on several Limited Edition wheels. Additionally, Daniel Sosulski, widely recognized as YouTuber Dan Suzuki, plays a key role within the company as Director of Engineering. This highlights GSI’s close connection to the sim racing community.
GSI’s wheels are carefully handcrafted in Dallas, Texas, with a focus on craftsmanship and precision. This commitment has earned the brand a reputation for uncompromising quality. GSI’s motto perfectly captures their philosophy: “Our products are designed with attention to detail to meet the high standards of passionate gamers and professional sim racers.” Whether it’s a formula-style or GT-style wheel, every product reflects a dedication to passion and expertise.
We’ve always maintained a great relationship with Jose and his team. Earlier this year, during Sim Formula Europe, plans were made to review both the Formula Pro Elite V2 (FPE V2) and the GT-MAX32 wheel (review coming soon). Since we were scheduled to meet the GSI team again at the ADAC Simracing Expo this year, we agreed to pick up the wheels in person at the event. Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, that didn’t work out. However, just a few days later, both wheels were delivered to us via DHL! We can’t wait to share our experiences with these wheels.
The Formula Pro Elite V2 is available through GSI’s online store, with a starting price of around €1,235.00, excluding VAT, shipping, and potential import fees. Depending on the chosen configuration, the price may vary. The configuration we received is available for approximately €1,800.00, including VAT, shipping, and import fees.
Packaging and Contents
As mentioned, we received both wheels via DHL. Upon unpacking the GSI FPE V2 wheel, the first thing that stands out is the packaging. Normally, the box features a sleek sleeve with a detailed technical overview of the wheel. Unfortunately, our unit lacked this sleeve, as the FPE V2 was shipped alongside the demo units from the ADAC Expo. However, this isn’t a major issue since the box itself still gives off a professional impression.
Opening the box, we’re greeted by a QR code that links directly to the online manual—a smart and modern solution. The interior of the box is carefully arranged with high-quality, sturdy black foam, which immediately inspires confidence in the wheel’s protection during transport. Removing the top layer of foam reveals the GSI FPE V2 wheel, neatly packed alongside a USB data cable.
The package does not include additional accessories, such as mounting hardware for a QR or adapter. For those eager to get started right away, this might be a slight inconvenience. However, the minimalist approach aligns with GSI’s philosophy: simplicity and quality take precedence.
The Gomez Sim Industries FPE V2 Steering Wheel
The GSI Formula Pro Elite V2 is a high-end steering wheel designed specifically for demanding sim racers. This V2 version is an upgraded model of the original Formula Pro Elite. The wheel is fully PC-compatible and works seamlessly with software such as SimHub or GSI’s own SimOS App. With a diameter of 300 mm and a weight of approximately 1.5 kg (over 20% lighter than its predecessor), the Formula Pro Elite V2 is, according to GSI, perfectly optimized.
Its core is CNC-machined from aluminum and finished with a 5 mm thick carbon fiber front plate, offering a combination of exceptional rigidity and a premium look. The grips are made from a special silicone material, providing what feels like a firm and comfortable hold at first touch.
Frontside
The front of the steering wheel is dominated by a sharp 4.3-inch touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 800×480 pixels. This screen is designed to display detailed telemetry data during races. Surrounding the screen are 20 LEDs in a 3+14+3 pattern: fourteen above the screen and six—three on each side—next to it. These LEDs are RGB and fully customizable in both color and brightness.
The steering wheel features ten high-quality push buttons, five on each side. Positioned at thumb level are two rotary encoders, and slightly closer to the screen are two 7-way multi-directional joysticks. Additionally, five rotary encoders with click functionality are strategically placed at the center of the wheel. These make quick adjustments, such as brake balance or fuel strategy, effortless.
All push buttons and central encoders are equipped with RGB LEDs, resulting in a total of 66 customizable LEDs. The wheel also offers 57 configurable inputs in total, providing extensive flexibility for personalization and control.
Backside
On the back of the wheel, you’ll find the shifter modules, along with a bolt pattern for adding a dual-clutch system. The shifter modules are positioned at the height of your middle fingers and are the same type (“CEMS N52” V3 Shifters, as GSI calls them) found on our X-29 wheel. By default, the modules come with aluminum paddles, but our version is equipped with the optional carbon paddles. These paddles are not adjustable.
At the center of the wheel is a 6×70 mm bolt pattern, which, in our case, has a 50 mm optional hub mounted. This hub also features a 6×70 mm bolt pattern, making the wheel compatible with virtually all popular quick releases, including those from Fanatec, Asetek, Simucube, Simagic, and more. Beneath the aluminum adapter, there’s a 4-pin Lumberg connector that links the wheel to a powered USB hub (preferably) and then to your PC.
Assembly
We’ll be using the GSI FPE V2 steering wheel with our Simucube 2 Sport wheelbase and will attach a Simucube Quick Release to the hub on the back. This can easily be done using the six included M5 bolts that come with the Simucube Quick Release. While it’s possible to mount the Simucube Quick Release directly to the wheel, we’ve chosen to use a hub between the wheel and the wheelbase. This provides a bit more space and better suits our setup.
Once the wheel is mounted to the Simucube wheelbase, we connect the Lumberg connector to the wheel and plug the USB cable into an available USB port on the PC. Now we’re ready to configure the GSI FPE V2 steering wheel in SimHub and/or GSI’s own software, the SimOS App.
Software
The steering wheel is essentially plug-and-play and works seamlessly with both SimHub and GSI’s proprietary software, SimOS. GSI provides an online manual for the FPE V2, which explains in just a few simple steps how to set up the wheel in both programs. As manufacturers increasingly move away from relying on third-party software like SimHub, GSI also offers its own software. Both applications perform excellently, making the wheel easy to use and configure.
SimHub
Adding the GSI FPE V2 steering wheel to SimHub is quick and straightforward. With just a few clicks, everything is ready to go. We start by installing the latest version of SimHub to ensure compatibility. Once the wheel is added, it works almost immediately, and we can configure the display and LEDs in just a few easy steps. To set up the display, we download GSI’s template dashboard and select it in SimHub. Next, we configure the touchscreen by enabling ‘advanced mode’ in SimHub and setting up the controls.
To customize the RGB LEDs and telemetry functions of the buttons, we can use the default profiles provided by SimHub. Additionally, Gomez Sim Industries (GSI) offers an impressive range of LED profiles on the FPE V2 product page. These profiles transform the FPE V2 into a spectacular RGB LED showcase.
We opted to use the GSI profiles and applied our favorite colors to the buttons and encoders. These GSI profiles also come with handy integrated telemetry features, such as flag warnings, a spotter, a pit limiter indicator, and much more. These profiles make the FPE V2 not only visually stunning but also functionally comprehensive.
SimOS
The simOS App is the official application from Gomez Sim Industries (GSI), designed to easily configure their steering wheels. With this software, you can update the wheel’s firmware, adjust dual-clutch settings, and customize the encoders to your liking.
In our case, we kept the default settings since our FPE V2 doesn’t have a dual-clutch system, and the other settings were already perfectly suited to our needs. We used the simOS App solely for a quick and straightforward firmware update, which was completed in just a few clicks. For further adjustments, such as configuring the display, RGB LED settings, and telemetry functions, we currently still rely on SimHub.
Driving with the Gomez Sim Industries FPE V2 Steering Wheel
With the wheel fully set up and customized to our preferences in SimHub, we’re ready to take our first virtual laps. To thoroughly test the GSI FPE V2, we used it across various GT3 Porsches in Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione.
The first impression starts with the very first touch. The grips feel comfortable and sit firmly in hand. While the seams on the inner and outer edges of the silicone rubber are visible, they are hardly noticeable while driving, whether wearing gloves or not. However, when using gloves, the grips can feel slightly slippery, making it harder to maintain a solid hold. Without gloves, this isn’t an issue. A key advantage is that the grips remain dry and non-sticky even during longer sessions without gloves, significantly enhancing comfort.
Weighing around 1.5 kg, the GSI FPE V2 is relatively lightweight, especially considering the premium materials used in its construction. This low weight contributes to the smooth movement of the wheel with the wheelbase, allowing even the finest details of the force feedback to come through. Even when we dialed down the wheelbase power to below 10 Nm, the wheel remained an exceptionally precise and responsive conduit for force feedback.
Operating the GSI FPE V2 Steering Wheel
All the materials used, such as the push buttons and the aluminum knobs on the rotary encoders, exude a premium feel. The push buttons provide clear, tactile feedback, while the rotary encoders have a noticeable click with every step. The buttons and encoders located near the thumbs are perfectly positioned. They are smooth to operate during driving, eliminating the need to take our hands off the wheel.
The 7-way switches are conveniently placed at thumb level, making them easy to operate while keeping our hands firmly on the wheel. They feel smooth and responsive, allowing for quick and precise inputs. However, to use the 7-way switch as a rotary encoder, we needed to use both our thumb and forefinger, momentarily taking our hand(s) off the wheel. The same applies to the five rotary encoders positioned at the center of the FPE V2, which also require a brief grip adjustment.
A standout feature is that all push buttons and the five rotary encoders in the center are telemetry-driven. In SimHub, we could configure the LEDs of these inputs to display specific telemetry data, such as flag statuses, pit limiter activation, spotter alerts, and more. All buttons and encoders come with standard labels permanently embedded into them, indicating the most common functions. While this limits the flexibility to assign alternative functions, it also makes the push buttons significantly more durable. For those who see this as a limitation, GSI offers a custom option on their website, allowing every input to be fully personalized.
The 4.3-inch screen is perfectly sized for the FPE V2 and remains highly readable during races. A practical feature is the touchscreen functionality, allowing you to switch between dashboards by touching the screen on the left or right side. However, in practice, we found ourselves rarely using this option. Instead, we preferred using a rotary encoder on the wheel for this purpose. The brightness and contrast of the screen are easily adjustable via SimHub. At maximum brightness, the screen delivers excellent readability, with sharp and vibrant colors. It supports a refresh rate of up to 30 fps (30 Hz), which is more than sufficient for smooth telemetry display. Note: To fully utilize the screen, a SimHub license is required to transmit data at 30 Hz to the wheel. The free version limits this to 10 Hz.
The LEDs surrounding the wheel are bright and display colors accurately as configured. The 3x14x3 LED layout above and alongside the screen provides extensive configuration options in SimHub. For example, we assigned the side LEDs to flag situations and spotter information, while the top LEDs were used for RPM functionality. The support in SimHub is excellent, offering a wide range of available LED profiles and dashboard templates.
The shift modules on the back of the wheel boast a solid, high-quality build and are impeccably finished. The edges of the carbon paddles feel smooth, further enhancing the premium experience. Although the paddles are not adjustable, they can be mounted on the inside of the modules to bring them 6 mm closer. For us, the standard distances were perfect, allowing the modules to be operated comfortably.
The shift modules are strategically placed at the level of the middle fingers and offer a satisfying shift feel with clear, firm feedback. This makes gear changes intuitive and responsive, even during intense racing sessions.
Conclusion
Our first impression of the FPE V2 was already positive, and this was only further confirmed during our review. With the FPE V2, Gomez Sim Industries has delivered a worthy successor to the Formula Pro Elite.
The wheel is easy to use thanks to its support for both SimHub and GSI’s own SimOS software. SimHub integration provides extensive functionality, including display usage, impressive RGB LED profiles, and useful telemetry features. SimOS is mainly geared towards firmware updates and basic settings, but for more advanced configurations, SimHub is indispensable.
The build quality and materials used are major highlights. The grips feel comfortable in hand and offer solid traction without gloves. However, with gloves, they can feel slightly more slippery. The wheel is lightweight, ensuring a responsive and smooth experience, even with lower force feedback settings. The buttons and encoders feel premium, are strategically positioned, and provide precise input. That said, using certain features, such as the 7-way switches or the rotary encoders at the wheel’s center, sometimes requires briefly letting go with one hand.
The 4.3-inch screen is bright, sharp, and easy to read while racing. The touch functionality is a fun extra, but in practice, we personally prefer using an encoder to switch between dashboards. The extensive LED configuration offers plenty of creative options, with vibrant colors and excellent support via SimHub.
The shifter modules on the back are sturdily built and ergonomically placed. They deliver an intuitive and responsive experience with clear feedback. Although the paddles are not adjustable, we found the default setup ideal. However, this could be a consideration for users with specific preferences.
In short, the GSI FPE V2 excels in ease of use, configurability, and build quality. The only minor drawback, the slightly slippery grip with gloves, does little to detract from the overall experience. This wheel is a top choice for serious sim racers looking for quality and versatility.
We tested the GSI FPE V2 in combination with a Sim-Lab P1X Pro, Simucube 2 Sport, P1Sim Mistral Pedals, Assetto Corsa, and Assetto Corsa Competizione, and we are very pleased with the results. Are you as impressed as we are? The Formula Pro Elite V2, as it’s officially called, is available through GSI’s webshop, starting at €1,235.00 excluding VAT, shipping costs, and potential import fees. The price may vary depending on the configuration.
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