VRS DirectForce Pro Review: DFP15 vs. DFP20 vs. uDFP20 (2026)
VRS has sat on this site as a one-word compatibility footnote -- our Ascher Racing review lists it alongside Fanatec, Asetek, Simagic and Moza as a base the B16-USB button box bolts onto, and nothing else. VRS has never gotten its own breakdown here, despite building one of the longer-running direct-drive lineups in the hobby. Here's what the DFP15, DFP20 and uDFP20 actually cost, what each one leaves out, and why the model numbers don't track the prices the way you'd expect.
VRS by the Numbers
- $799 / €899: the US/EU price of the DirectForce Pro (DFP20), VRS's fixed 20 Nm flagship base, per the brand's own US retailer listing.
- €549.99: the starting price of the uDFP20, VRS's software-upgradable base -- shipped locked around 9 Nm until you unlock more torque.
- €799.99: the price of the DFP15, VRS's 15 Nm base -- roughly €99 less than the 20 Nm DFP20 for 25% less torque.
- $49 / €49 each: the cost of the mounting bracket and hub clamp, both sold separately from every VRS base, per VRS's own FAQ.
- 2019: the year VRS opened public reservations for the original DirectForce Pro wheel base, per the brand's own announcement.
- 22-bit vs. 21-bit: the BISS-C position encoder resolution gap between the DFP20 and the DFP15.
VRS Wheelbase Lineup: Full Comparison
| Model | Peak Torque | Encoder | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFP15 | 15 Nm | 21-bit | ~€799.99 (EU listings; no confirmed US price) | EU buyers who specifically want its all-aluminium chassis |
| DirectForce Pro (DFP20) | 20 Nm | 22-bit | $799 US / €899 EU | Buyers who want full torque with no unlock step |
| uDFP20 | ~9 Nm, software-unlockable to 20 Nm | Not published | From €549.99 | Lowest real entry price, pay-as-you-grow torque |
Mounting brackets and hub clamps ($49/€49 each) are sold separately from every model above, and bundle/retailer pricing shifts by region -- confirm the live listing before buying.
The Naming Trap: The Base Named "20" Doesn't Ship at 20
VRS's three model names read like a straightforward torque ladder -- 15, 20, and an upgradable "20" -- but the pricing and specs don't line up that way. The uDFP20 is the cheapest of the three at €549.99, and its name borrows the same "20" from the flagship DFP20. In practice, one retailer lists the uDFP20 shipping locked at roughly 9 Nm; reaching the 20 Nm its name implies means paying to unlock higher torque tiers through VRS's own DirectForce Config Tool. Per VRS, each unlock is permanent once purchased, but it's an extra cost layered on top of the €549.99 entry price, not included in it.
Meanwhile the DFP15 -- the model with the lower, more "budget"-sounding number -- is priced at €799.99, only about €99 under the fixed 20 Nm DFP20 at €899, for 5 Nm (25%) less torque and a step down from 22-bit to 21-bit encoder resolution. VRS doesn't appear to sell the DFP15 with a published US dollar price at all, unlike the DFP20 ($799) and uDFP20 (from €549.99) -- German Sim Racing's listing even bundles it only with VRS's own R295 wheel and pedals rather than selling the base alone. That makes the DFP15 the hardest of the three to call a genuine "budget" option, despite having the smallest number in its name.
There's a third bundling gotcha worth knowing before you buy: VRS's R295 wheel connects to the DFP20 and uDFP20 through a quick-release adapter that's included when you buy the R295 wheel on its own, but it is not included with the DFP15 wheelbase purchase. Buying the base first, wheel later -- the normal order for most F1 fans upgrading piece by piece -- means budgeting for that adapter separately if you start with a DFP15.
What VRS Doesn't Include in the Box
Whichever base you pick, VRS's own FAQ confirms the mounting bracket and the motor shaft hub clamp are both sold separately, at $49/€49 each -- roughly $98/€98 just to physically bolt the base to a rig and attach a hub, before you've spent a cent on a steering wheel rim. The hub clamp itself has a second catch: it only has threaded holes, not through-holes. VRS says any quick release or hub extender using the standard 6-screw, 70mm PCD bolt pattern should fit -- but if your wheel rim or quick release is designed for through-bolt mounting instead, VRS's own FAQ suggests drilling the threaded holes out with an M5 bit to make it fit. "Works with any 70mm PCD hub" comes with that asterisk attached.
One more quirk worth knowing before your first install: VRS's FAQ describes a specific, recognizable failure mode if the motor's power connector is plugged in backwards -- calibration fails, and the wheel turns right, then left, three times, then stops. It's a wiring mistake, not a defective unit, and flipping the connector resolves it; still, it's the kind of thing worth knowing in advance rather than troubleshooting cold.
Which VRS Wheelbase Should You Actually Buy?
Most F1 fans building a first PC rig and chasing the lowest real entry price should start with the uDFP20 at €549.99 and skip unlocking torque tiers they don't need yet -- you can raise the ceiling later through software without buying new hardware, which beats committing to a fixed-torque base upfront. Buyers who want full 20 Nm and the 22-bit encoder with no unlock step, and don't mind the higher sticker price, should get the DirectForce Pro (DFP20) directly at $799/€899. The DFP15 is hard to recommend over either: it costs nearly as much as the 20 Nm flagship for notably less torque and a lower-resolution encoder, and -- unlike the other two -- doesn't have a confirmed US price, so EU buyers who specifically want its all-aluminium chassis are the clearest audience left for it. Whichever base you choose, add $49/€49 twice for the mounting bracket and hub clamp to your budget, and check your wheel rim's bolt pattern before assuming the included hub clamp will fit without modification. For how VRS's torque figures compare against Fanatec, Moza and Simagic, see our direct drive wheel guide; for keeping a high-torque base from flexing your rig, see our sim racing cockpit guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the catch with the VRS uDFP20 budget wheelbase?
The uDFP20 starts at roughly €549.99, but one retailer lists it shipping locked to about 9 Nm of torque rather than the 20 Nm its name implies. Reaching the full 20 Nm requires unlocking higher torque tiers through VRS's own DirectForce Config Tool software, and per VRS each unlock is permanent once purchased -- so budget for the unlock cost on top of the base price if you want DFP20-level torque.
Is the VRS DFP15 actually cheaper than the DirectForce Pro (DFP20)?
Barely. EU retailers list the DFP15 at €799.99 against €899 for the 20 Nm DFP20 -- roughly a €99 gap for 5 Nm, or 25%, less torque. VRS also doesn't appear to sell the DFP15 with a published US dollar price, unlike the DFP20 ($799) and uDFP20 (from €549.99), which makes the DFP15 the hardest of the three to recommend as a genuine budget pick.
Does the VRS hub clamp work with any wheel or quick release?
Not automatically. VRS's own FAQ says any quick release or hub extender using the standard 6-screw, 70mm PCD pattern should fit the hub clamp -- but the hub itself only has threaded holes, not through-holes. Rims or quick releases designed for through-bolt mounting may need the threaded holes drilled out with an M5 bit before they'll attach.
What happens if the VRS DirectForce Pro's power connector is plugged in backwards?
Per VRS's own FAQ, plugging the motor power connector in backwards causes calibration to fail in a specific, recognizable way: the wheel turns right, then left, three times, then stops. It's a wiring mistake rather than a hardware fault, and reversing the connector resolves it.
The Bottom Line
VRS's model names read like a clean 15-to-20 Nm torque ladder, but the real pricing and feature set don't track the numbers: the base literally named "20" ships below that figure until you pay to unlock it, and the base named "15" costs nearly flagship money. Compare actual delivered torque and included hardware, not the digits in the model name, before you buy -- and remember the mounting bracket and hub clamp are extra no matter which base you pick. Pair whichever one you choose with a rigid sim racing cockpit so rig flex doesn't undercut the wheelbase's own precision.