I am - as you may know - a big fan of sim racing DIY projects. Not only because you build something unique that fits your own setup perfectly, but mainly because the process itself is incredibly satisfying. In particular, I have developed a soft spot for the DIY kits by Pokornyi Engineering. Their designs are thoughtful, modular and offer an ideal balance between price, quality and challenge. Whether you are a beginner or have assembled a handlebar or other accessory before - you can make it as difficult as you want. That makes their projects accessible and instructive.

After building the HYP-R and Rally Button Box, I knew there would be a sequel one day. And that became the Pokornyi Engineering F499: a replica of the steering wheel from the Ferrari F499P hypercar. The range of cool DIY projects is now huge, with new projects being added regularly. From the moment I saw this design, I knew I wanted to build it! The industrial design, clean layout and functional setup with lots of input options make this wheel something special. Moreover, this is a replica steering wheel, just like the HYP-R, of one of my favourite hypercars. A must-have, then!

In this article, I will take you through the complete build process. I show you what parts I used, what the project cost, how the montage went and how the handlebars hold up in use on my sim rig. No marketing talk, just an honest and practical review of one of the most remarkable DIY handlebars I have built so far.

Pokornyi Engineering F499

Before we dive deeper into the construction process, I'll tell you the main features and specifications of this steer.

All-metal and carbon construction

The F499 is built on a solid base of CNC-milled aluminium and carbon fibre plates. You can also choose - to save money - to print the back. My advice? Buy the all-metal body. This makes for an extremely rigid and durable construction that won't shrink - even under high force feedback loads. The finish feels premium, and the weight is perfectly balanced for prolonged endurance sessions.

Size and fit

With a diameter of just 288 mm, the wheel falls exactly between a GT wheel and a prototype/F1 style. The size feels ideal for both technical tracks and high speeds, where precision and fast steering movements are important. The silicone-moulded grips are ergonomically shaped and feel surprisingly comfortable and solid.

5" VoCore Touchscreen Display

The built-in 5-inch VoCore touchscreen is undoubtedly the showpiece of the F499. The display runs smoothly via SimHub and is fully customisable in terms of layout. Whether you are racing in iRacing, ACC or Automobilista 2 - you can display all important data (such as tyres, fuel, FFB or sector deltas) directly in your field of vision. The touch functionality also works while driving, although I personally use it mainly as a visual reference, not to adjust live settings.

Lighting and LEDs

Above the screen are 20 RGB LEDs that you can fully configure via SimHub. Think switch lights, deltas, pit limiter warnings or rain indicators - you name it. The buttons and encoders also have RGB backlighting, making the wheel not only visually impressive, but also super functional in the dark or at night races.

Buttons and input options

The F499 offers a huge range of input options:

• 10 mechanical TACT buttons With a pleasant 500g pressure resistance - sturdy but not overly heavy.
• 6 side encoders, useful for settings such as TC, ABS or engine mapping.
• 4 quadruple rotary switches that lets you set brake bias, diff or ERS at multiple levels, among other things.
• 2 Funky switches (7-way navigation) - ideal for navigating menus or cameras.
• 2 rear toggle switches - perfect as brake balance, engine mapping or headlights.

Everything feels sturdy, clicky and professional. Nothing feels cheap or loose and all buttons are well positioned for quick access without losing your grip.

Magnetic shift paddles and dual clutch

Behind the wheel are sturdy magnetic paddle shifters, which click sharply and give plenty of feedback. The shifters make a beautifully full sound! In addition, the steering wheel features dual-clutch paddles.

Compatibility and connections

The wheel comes standard with a 70mm PCD mounting pattern, meaning it is compatible with virtually all common quick-release systems. Among others, the Pokornyi Engineering F499 is compatible with Fanatec (with Podium Hub), Simucube, Simagic, Moza, Asetek and any other wheelbase with a 70mm PCD mounting.

Native SimHub integration

A major advantage is that the F499 is fully compatible out-of-the-box with SimHub. No need to install separate plugins or firmware hacks: all LEDs, screen, buttons and encoders are automatically recognised and can be easily configured within your existing SimHub profile.

Supplies

What sets Pokornyi Engineering apart is the freedom you have in how you approach a project. You can opt for an almost complete kit with all the necessary parts, or, on the contrary, put everything together yourself through different suppliers.

Lately, Pokornyi has been expanding its range with DIY kits that are more than just individual files: they are full-fledged construction kits that allow you to assemble a professional steering wheel step by step. Sort of like Technical LEGO, but for sim racers 😉 You are thus assured of matching parts and high finishing quality - all from one supplier. That makes building not only easier, but also a lot more reliable.

To build the Pokornyi Engineering F499, you will need the following materials and supplies. Prices do not include VAT. Below are the most important parts.

Besides the main components of the project, a number of smaller but essential components are needed to complete the F499. You can order all of these directly from the Pokornyi Engineering web shop. Below is a list of the extra parts I used, including guide prices:

The above list is almost complete. Keep in mind some more unforeseen costs or parts that are not on this list. You can find all these on Pokornyi Engineering's website. After buying the F499 DIY files carefully go through the (Bill Of Material) BOM list to make sure you have all the parts.

What does it cost to build the F499?

The total cost of building the Pokornyi Engineering F499 depends heavily on the choices you make while putting the parts together. The project offers a lot of flexibility, meaning you can go as elaborate - or, conversely, as economical - as you like.

In the configuration as I have built it in this article, you end up with a total of about €900 to €1,000. In doing so, I ordered almost all parts directly from Pokornyi Engineering. Think of the carbon front plate with integrated silicone grips, the pre-assembled PCBs, the ready-made shifters, high-quality connectors and matching accessories. With this approach, you can be sure that all parts fit together seamlessly and that you are working with high-quality materials.

However, a more budget-friendly route is also possible. By ordering components yourself from platforms like AliExpress and opting for 3D-printed versions of, for example, the rear, shifters and clutches, you can cut costs significantly. In that case, you do have to factor in more montagwork, slightly less finishing quality and possibly a bit more trial-and-error during the build. In this assembly, I estimate the total cost at around €500 to €600.

It is good to have this bandwidth in mind beforehand. That way, you can consciously weigh up how much you want to invest in quality, convenience and finishing yourself. Would you rather not build the wheel yourself, but add it directly to your sim rig? Then Pokornyi Engineering also offers a fully assembled version of the F499 to. Its price is €1,350 excluding VAT. A hefty investment - but in return you get a ready-made, professionally finished steering wheel, meticulously inspired by the Ferrari 499P hypercar.

Building steps Pokornyi Engineering F499

Below is a clear overview of the eight steps I followed when building the F499 DIY steering wheel kit from Pokornyi Engineering. This approach makes the process clear and accessible - ideal for anyone wanting to get started themselves.

The beauty of the F499 kit is that building it is really part of the experience. You don't just buy a steering wheel, you build something you can be proud of. And although the end result looks like it comes straight out of a real Le Mans prototype, the building process is surprisingly accessible. In fact - this is one of Pokornyi Engineering's most accessible and easiest DIY projects to date. Without any technical knowledge, you can assemble this steering wheel just fine.

In the steps below, I take you through how I approached it, what struck me, and why I would recommend this project to anyone with a bit of ambition and interest.

1. Gather all materials

Good preparation makes all the difference. I started by collecting and organising all the parts I ordered all through Pokornyi Engineering. Think PCBs, the VoCore display, buttons, encoders, housing, shifters, clutch and mounting hardware. Everything was neatly packaged and the quality of the parts stood out immediately. By pre-sorting everything by category, I was able to work quickly and efficiently during construction, without having to search all the time.

I first quietly spread out all the parts on the floor and checked them against the manual and bill of materials. What I liked is that almost all parts are plug-and-play, and you don't have to worry about whether something will fit - everything is designed to function as a whole. No complicated soldering either, which was a challenge at times with the HYP-R.

2. Fix VoCore display

We start the build process by attaching the 5″ VoCore display, which is the central part of this steering wheel. The first step is to insert four threaded inserts into the display holder, using a soldering iron. This ensures that the screen can be mounted securely and safely. Next, the VoCore screen is attached to the holder with double-sided tape and then secured to the PCB with four screws. At this stage, the LED light guide for the RPM LEDs and the rotary light guide on the centre rotary encoder are also placed. These parts will later provide clear visual feedback during driving.

3. Inserting rotary encoders and buttons

Next, I mounted all the rotary encoders and knobs in the right place in the faceplate. The parts click neatly into the recesses and the good fit makes everything feel solid right away. The encoder buttons provide clear, firm feedback.

4. Assemble shifters and clutch

I had opted for Pokornyi's ready-made shifters, which made montage considerably easier. The click is sharp and precise. I did build the clutch (dual clutch paddles) myself using the 3D printed parts. While this is relatively simple, in the future I would consider taking these as off-the-shelf parts as well because of the higher finish quality.

5. Assemble head enclosure

This step starts by inserting all threaded inserts into the enclosure using a soldering iron. This ensures that all parts can be securely attached later. You can opt for a 3D printed back, or the all-aluminium back.

I then screwed the backplate onto the housing, which serves as a foundation for the rest of the assembly. I then mounted the Weipu/GX12 USB connector, which fell neatly into the connector mount and was secured with screws.

With the rear of the F499 ready, assemble the shifters and clutches. Thanks to the ready-made parts, this was easy: just a matter of turning the right M8 screws into place. The clutch paddles were also finally fitted at this point. With all shifters and clutches in place, attaching the 70mm Space Hub, which makes the handlebars compatible with various quick-release systems, followed.

Then it was time to mount the PCB in the housing. The cables of the clutches, shifters and the USB connector were connected. Then I screwed down the PCB, placed the LED light guides, and attached all the buttons to the board. Thanks to the clear layout of the PCB and connectors, this all went off without a hitch and with great satisfaction.

6. Mount front plate and rear member

In this step, we are going to assemble the F499 front panel. First, we attach the spacers to the back of the front panel. The front panel - including integrated silicone grips - was attached to the housing with screws. Please note that when screwing the front panel in place, there may be pressure on the VoCore display. Be very careful in this. Unfortunately, in my case, there was a little too much pressure on the display, causing it to break.

This is followed by fitting the button guards and securing the encoder buttons. The parts fit seamlessly and give the wheel its final shape. Your very own F499 is starting to take shape!

Now that we have mounted the front panel on the housing, it is time for the final step in this phase: mounting the rear member containing the two 2-way toggle switches. Mount the 2-way toggle switches in the rear member housing and then connect them to the PCB. Fix the rear member firmly to the back of the housing with screws. Done!

7. Applying stickers

The F499 comes with a decal sheet in which all functions are pre-printed. Incidentally, you can also opt for the F499 decal set that you can personalise yourself. This is my personal preference. This way, you make the handlebars completely your own. This large decal sheet fits perfectly over the buttons and rotaries, giving the wheel that professional racing look. A small effort, with great visual effect. Finally, I gave the wheel a twist of my own by adding some neon stickers I still had lying around. This gives the handlebars a unique look and feel! Something I am extremely happy with and makes the handlebars complete.

8. Testing the handlebars

Finally, I connected the wheel to my gaming PC. Windows immediately recognised the wheel as a game controller and SimHub also recognised the F499 without any hassle. Just add the F499 as a new device and SimHub does the rest. After a brief calibration, everything worked as expected: from LEDs and screen to buttons and clutch paddles.

You can easily customise LED profiles according to personal preference and install any dashboard, such as the one from Lovely Dashboard. Personally, I prefer the authentic dashboard from Pokornyi Engineering itself. Now that the wheel is ready, it's time for the first virtual laps on the track to test if all the inputs work properly!

9. The final result

These eight steps highlight how structured and feasible building this wheel is. Whether you are experienced or new to building DIY sim racing hardware, this project is accessible, informative and incredibly fun to do. And the great thing about this project is: you can make it as easy or difficult as you like. The more you do yourself, like 3D printing or buying materials, the cheaper - and thus more challenging - the project is.

Discover below the Pokornyi Engineering F499 in its full splendour and glory! The end result is stunningly beautiful. The only thing missing now is a round Ferrari sticker in the middle 😉

---

Want a quiet look at the construction process?

Curious about what the construction process looks like step by step? Then check out our extensive video in which we completely build the F499 - from the first screw to the final result. Ideal as visual support for this article, or as preparation for your own construction project.

Advantages and disadvantages

As with any DIY project, building the Pokornyi Engineering F499 steering wheel has its strong points as well as its drawbacks. That's why I like to list the most important pros and cons in a well-organised way, so that you can judge whether this project suits you.

Conclusion Pokornyi Engineering F499

The Pokornyi Engineering F499 is much more than a DIY steering wheel: it is a carefully designed project that allows you to build your own high-quality replica of the steering wheel from the Ferrari 499P hypercar. The building process is accessible, well-guided and immensely satisfying. You have complete control over parts, budget and finishing - and no matter which route you choose, the end result feels like something unique.

Whether you are looking for a technically challenging project, an extension for your sim rig or simply want to build something you can be proud of, the F499 is a must. Just like basically every project from Pokornyi Engineering. The wheel looks and feels professional, and thanks to the thoughtful build and support from Pokornyi, this is a project you can tackle with confidence. Now, are you a true Ferrari fan? Then this steering wheel is a no-brainer! After all, good alternatives are limited.

Getting started yourself? Then you know one thing for sure: once you drive the first few metres with your custom-built wheel, you will feel that this is much more than just another sim racing wheel! And be honest... doesn't it look great?