The Final Say! Design 9.0 Usability 9.0 Installation 10.0 Value 9.2 Williams F1 Team Racing Wheel  - reviewed by Tory Favro Review Date: 19 March 2003 Review Score: 9.3/10 Distributed By: Joytech

Yet another player in the field of PS2 peripherals, Joytech have managed to hit the mark spot on with the Williams F! Team Racing Wheel. Based on the designs used by the Williams F1 team, this wheel is a hybrid of two styles used by the real life drivers with the emphasis being on the design of the wheel used by Juan Pablo Montoya. The first thing that struck me about this wheel is that it's extremely solid to both touch and use. My primary complaint about many wheels I have tried is that they overall feel very much like a cheap plastic product. This wheel is a great design and also helps to create the illusion that you are using a real Williams wheel, not just a licensed product. Everything has been laid out perfectly with the wheel to provide one of the best driving experiences I have had on a console for a very long time. Even the pedals which have often been the bane of keen gamers are well positioned and with their design are sure to look after players ankles and feet.

A nice thing about the wheel is that is has two modes of securing itself for play, to either your legs or traditionally to the coffee table. If you are like me however and your coffee table doesn't have anywhere to secure a wheel, then between your knees it is.

There is an onboard display that tells players the time over a 12 hour period and also can act as a stopwatch. It's a nice touch and also something that will truly set this wheel apart from the crowd. One of the things that I always worry about wheels is that they will break soon after getting them set up. This wheel is so damn chunky it could be used as an offensive weapon. You are not going to break this baby without making an effort.

Features:
Authentic visual replica of the official WilliamsF1 Team FW23 Racing Wheel
Grand Prix style butterfly paddle.
Non-slip rubber grip provides comfortable control.
Independent Shift-Tronic™ gear stick for compatibility with stick shift racing games.
Robust analog accelerator and brake pedals.
Variable intensity vibration feedback.
Built in 4 digit LCD stopwatch and 12 hr clock.
Adjustable clip-on leg supports providing ultimate comfort.
Desktop suction cups give a secure grip on smooth flat surfaces.
Seven Segment LED showing Analog or Digital mode setting.
Three colour LED array clearly displays throttle level during gameplay.
4 pre-programmed wheel sensitivity modes with LCD feedback.
Patented quick release wheel is fitted or removed in seconds.
Proprietary "Dual Bearing Management System" provides ultra smooth steering and stability.
Fully compatible with PlayStation®, PSone™ and PlayStation®2 game consoles. Dual shock™, Dual Shock2® compatible software.

The wheel is very easy to maintain a grip on even when the going is tough as there are convenient non slip rubber grips on the wheel and the shift stick almost seems directly welded into the unit. The wheel does provide feedback and reacts the way you would imagine it to when playing. It is simplicity to set up, use and with 4 driving modes providing the right amount of wheel lock, the wheel should support all genres of driving from F1 through to my personal favourite, the rally.

I would heartily recommend the F1 Wheel from Joytech as a great way of getting into using racing peripherals. The device is sturdy and heck and suitable for players of all ages to use without the owner worrying about folks breaking it. This wheel is a keeper and it was a pleasure to review it. When scoring this wheel, I took into account the value of the wheel, it's construction, design and the price. Taking into consideration you are only looking at about $129 for a wheel like this is what stood it so well in favour with me.

Give it a shot!

- Tory Favro