Piloting Porsche: Steering Control Centers Through History
Porsche takes a look back at the amazing evolution of the control centers that have played an important role in its motorsports success.
Overlooked Component
While typically mentioned briefly in all car reviews, the humble steering wheel doesn't exactly garner the kind of attention the rest of a car's components do. But along with the gauges (generally) mounted behind them, a car's control center is something that's evolved quite a ways from the early days. So Porsche recently decided to take a fascinating look back at this evolution in terms of how it's made an impact in the world of motorsports.
Photos: Porsche
Button-less
Porsche has always used its racing cars to develop components for its road-going cars, and the humble steering wheel is no exception. And that even goes the other way around. Standard steering wheels from everyday Porsche sports cars were first fitted in the racing cars of the Stuttgart marque mid last century. Even the legendary Le Mans Porsche 917 featured not a single button or display function, which is hard to fathom today.
Photos: Porsche
Sharp Curve
"It’s hard to believe, but developments in this regard only really took off in the year 2000. Since then, the massive progress in steering wheel development is clearly evident," explained Porsche Director Factory Motorsport Pascal Zurlinden. In just 20 years, Porsche's steering wheels have evolved from simple things covered in leather to full-blown multifunctional controllers.
Photos: Porsche
Variety of Functions
The latest Porsche 911 RSR, for example, has a grand total of 30 functions on the steering wheel, which, when activated in certain combinations, can also mobilize other functions. At Weissach, there are two specialists who work specifically on discovering new and improved ways to control functions via the steering wheel. And that work has certainly paid off in today's racing cars.
Photos: Porsche
Fast Evolution
"In 1999 I contested the Carrera Cup as a Porsche Junior. Back then, the steering wheel had no buttons, no radio, no paddle shifters, no pit speed limiter. We had to drive along the pit lane with an eye on the speedometer," said Timo Bernhard, 2016 World Sports Car Champion. In 2001, the Cup-Porsche received a radio button on the steering wheel, with the number of control functions in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded in the American Le Mans Series growing to six by 2004. At that time, the switches and buttons were installed in a modified, commercially available motor racing steering wheel.
Photos: Porsche
Top Priority
Over time, the design became increasingly important. The layout of all functions became the top priority so that the drivers could use them as intuitively as possible. "It’s like watching television at home," Pascal Zurlinden said. "The TV remote controls are constantly being upgraded with new buttons, with apps, Amazon Prime, etc. Despite this, operating them quickly becomes second nature. If I get a different model from the same brand I immediately know how to use it. That’s what we do at Porsche, as well. Because the layout always follows the same pattern, the drivers have no problems switching from one vehicle model to another."
Photos: Porsche
Don't Overlook
The steering wheel has evolved so fast that it's mind-blowing to compare the latest ones to those of just a couple of decades ago. "When comparing an old and a new steering wheel, it’s hard to believe that the new models are even lighter than the earlier ones – despite all the operating controls, displays, and electronics. This is thanks to the use of aluminum and carbon fiber," Zurlinden said. So while we may often overlook the humble steering wheel, perhaps it's time we gave it some much-deserved credit.
Photos: Porsche
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