When Does a Two-Pedal Setup Make Sense? Exploring the Flexibility of the CSL Elite Pedals V2

If you’re into sim racing, you’re into Fanatec, and then you’ve probably noticed that the CSL Elite Pedals V2 come as a full three-pedal set—throttle, brake, and clutch. But here’s the thing: not everyone actually uses all three pedals. In fact, a lot of racers prefer to remove the clutch and run the pedals as just a two-pedal setup. At first, that might sound a bit odd, but once you understand how different racing disciplines work—both in real life and in sims—it actually makes a lot of sense.

Whether you’re simulating Formula 1, karting, rally, or touring cars with paddle shifters, the clutch pedal isn’t always necessary during racing. In these cases, ditching the clutch can improve pedal positioning, comfort, and ultimately your lap times. Let me explain why two pedals might be all you really need, depending on what and how you race.

Let’s start with Formula racing. In real life, these cars don’t use a clutch pedal during races. Gear shifts are all handled with paddle shifters on the wheel, and the clutch is only used during the start sequence (and even that’s done with clutch paddles behind the wheel, not a foot pedal). So in sim racing, it’s super common—even at the top level like the F1 Sim Racing World Championship—for drivers to run just throttle and brake. Removing the clutch frees up space, makes the pedal box less cramped, and lets you position the pedals more like an actual formula car, where your feet are close together in a tight cockpit.

Same goes for karting sims. Karts don’t have clutches or gearboxes in the traditional sense. You’re either on the throttle or the brake—nothing in between. I race karts in sims like KartKraft and iRacing’s kart content, and switching to a two-pedal setup made the whole experience feel more natural and less cluttered.

Then there’s rally and touring cars with sequential gearboxes. A lot of these cars don’t use the clutch once you’re moving. You just pull the shifter or tap a paddle and go. Some people still keep the clutch for realism during launches or specific cars, but if you’re mostly driving modern WRC cars or something like the Audi RS3 TCR, two pedals is all you really need.

The CSL Elite V2 pedals make switching super easy. You can remove the clutch pedal with just a few screws, slide the throttle over for better spacing, and it feels like a completely different setup. Plus, the load cell brake on the V2 is legit—it gives you precise control, which is key for disciplines like F1 where brake pressure modulation is everything.

Of course, if you’re into H-pattern shifting or drive a lot of classic cars where manual clutching is part of the fun, keep all three. But if you’re into modern, paddle-shifted racing, a 2-pedal setup can make your rig feel cleaner, faster, and more realistic.

It’s not about doing less—it’s about matching your gear to the kind of racing you love.