The CSL Elite from Fanatec is a racing wheel that can be configured from the hardware itself and is not completely reliant on software in order to be tuned, and allows for deeper and more intricate configuration that cannot be found on wheels from Thrustmaster (man, that ♥♥♥♥♥♥' name) or Logitech. Not to say either company does not put out good peripheals (I used a complete Thrustmaster rig before I stepped up and loved it), but Fanatec is a clear step up for people who want more control and immersion with simracing.

Dirt Rally was my first sim and is one that I put several hours a week into, but never really found a clear description online of ideal settings for the wheel. After just tolerating default settings for awhile and eventually learning how each setting affects the wheels performance, I found two sets of settings that have served me well for awhile.

Note: I leave all FFB settings in-game at 100%, all deadzones at 0% and all saturations at 100%.

The first set is what I use when focusing on improving my times or learning a new vehicle. Quicker, tighter and more responsive turning mixed with less wheel weight. Very helpful on stages in Germany and Monaco that have a lot of quick n' tight turns and require precise braking, and any stage where you don't want to fight the wheel to pull of a Scandinavian flick. The lowered (but not dramatically lowered, as having little to no FFB kills of a huge part of the difficulty, and is honestly kind of boring) FFB allows for more focus on driving and your co-driver and less on having to fight the wheel to correct yourself (Lancia Stratos) at high speeds (Group B) or from over/understeering.

Settings in action below:













SEN: 024
FF: 70
SHO: 100
ABS: 100
DRI: OFF
FOR: 70
SPR: 100
DPR: 100
BRF*: 50

I use the next list of settings for when I'm not focusing on making good times and wish to just immerse myself in the terrain and car physics of the game, and focus more on having a good time while dealing with the struggle of keeping the car steady. For me, Dirt Rally is one of those games that gets more fun as it gets more difficult, and letting the FFB work as intended certainly helps. Furthermore, this makes the 60's cars a bit more exciting to drive and also makes the Lancia Stratos even more uncooperative than it already is (incredibly). Some players like that, but I'm not a sadomasochist.

Settings in action (pardon the crashing):













SEN: 054
FF: 100
SHO: 100
ABS: 100
DRI: -5
FOR: 100
SPR: 100
DPR: 100
BRF*: 30

*Don't worry about this setting if you don't have a Loadcell brake. If you don't own one then I recommend getting one, it -immediately- improves your braking and overall performance. The difference was night and day. Furthermore, this option changes depending on the rig the pedals are attached to. Naturally, something with a less stiff/flex-prone pedal base should use a higher value.

Post any questions, if I can answer them I'll help figure it out.