Whether you race professionally, take part in street races, or enjoy off-road driving, safety must always be your number one priority. One way to improve your safety is to invest in a purpose built racing seat. Such seats are designed to reduce lateral movement, cushion your body from impacts, and provide additional support in the areas where you need it the most. However, with so many different types, styles, and models of racing seats available, it can be difficult to know which is the best for your needs. Our panel of racing enthusiasts and car lovers have compiled a list of the 10 best racing seats to point you in the right direction.
The Best Car Racing Seat
Sparco R100 Black Seat
The Sparco R100 Black Seat racing seat has a tubular steel frame for strength and durability. It comes complete with bottom mount capability and low bolstering, meaning that it can fit into most car makes and models with ease. The seat is compatible with three and four-point harnesses and has an easy to use reclining mechanism.
Auto Dynasty Racing Seat
The Full Reclinable Red and Black Trim Carbon Look PVC Leather Type-R Racing Seat by Auto Dynasty is made from a durable, strong steel frame and injection-molded foam, and covered with high-quality woven cloth. The deep bolsters help to keep the driver firmly in the seat to increase safety and comfort in all driving situations. The seat provides support for the lower back and shoulders and can take a four, five, or six-point harness. Two seats are included in the package and the seats are suitable for most car makes and models; however, seat brackets are not included.
RCI 8000S Poly Baja Hghbck Seat Blk
The RCI 8000S Poly Baja Highback Seat Black is created from molded high-density polyethylene plastic. The seat has a double wall and full back construction to give side, back, and full lumbar support. It comes complete with fixed bottom mounts and is suitable for most makes and models of car, but some modification may be required to achieve the perfect fit.
JEGS 70200 Pro High Back Race Seat
The JEGS 70200 Pro High Back Race Seat is made from molded black polyethylene and has a 17-degree back angle. Its lightweight design makes it easy to fit, however, the brackets and other fittings need to be purchased separately.
Auto Dynasty PVC Leather Type-R Racing Seat
The Auto Dynasty Full Reclinable Black Cloth Carbon Look PVC Leather Type-R Racing Seat is made from injection molded foam that surrounds a durable steel frame. The entire construction is coved with a high-quality woven material. It comes with built-in seatbelt harness holes and can be used with a four, five, or six-point harness. The deep thigh bolsters help keep you firmly in the seat, promoting safety and comfort. The seat comes complete with an adjustable slider and can be fully reclined.
Sparco 008231NR Universal Sprint 2014 Seat
The Sparco 008231NR Universal Sprint 2014 Seat is designed with side and bottom mount capability. It has a tubular steel frame for durability and is covered with self-extinguishing fabric for safety. The seat is compatible with five and six-point harnesses and is FIA approved. It is designed for universal fit but does not have a reclining feature.
MOMO 1076BLK Racing Seat
The MOMO 1076BLK Racing Seat is a highback bucket seat made from fiberglass. It is designed to provide comfort and protection while racing. The shape of the upper part of the seat is specifically designed to reduce lateral movement. The anatomical backseat cushions are covered in an Airnet technical material that is exclusive to MOMO. The material improves airflow and reduces driver fatigue and the seat includes removable double leg cushions for optimal support. It is suitable for five-point seat harnesses and is FIA approved and HANS compatible.
NRG FRP-310 Pair of Fiber Glass Bucket Style Racing Seat
The NRG FRP-310 Pair of Fiber Glass Bucket Style Racing Seat comes with an adjustable mounting bracket, making it easier to fit them to a wide range of vehicles. The seats are made from high-quality reinforced fiberglass with a durable steel frame and injection-molded foam. The seats are covered in woven material and have deep thigh bolsters to increase safety. The seats provide additional support for the shoulders and lower back. They are compatible with a four, five, or six-point seat belt harnesses.
DNA RS-T1-PVC-BK-R Type-1 Black PVC Leather Racing Seat
The DNA RS-T1-PVC-BK-R Type-1 Black PVC Leather Racing Seat is designed for the passenger side and is finished with red stitching. The seat is made from a durable steel frame and injection-molded foam, covered with woven upholstery and finished with faux leather. It includes deep thigh bolsters for safety and has built-in lower back and shoulder support. The seat is compatible with a four, five, or six-point seat belt harness and fits most vehicles.
Spec-D Tuning RS-C400SURS-2 Seat
The Spec-D Tuning RS-C400SURS-2 Seat is a driver and passenger seat set finished in black PVC and blue suede. The seats are compatible with four-point seat belt harnesses and are designed for off-road driving. The seats fit most types of vehicles, although custom brackets may be required.
Best Car Racing Seats Buying Guide
Choosing the right racing seats for your vehicle is about more than just knowing what is available. It is also important to understand why these seats are the best and what it is you need to look for in a racing seat. It also helps if you better understand who should use a racing seat and the different types of seats that are available. In this section of the buying guide, we explore each of these elements in more details and provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about racing car seats.
What to Look for in a Car Racing Seat
When looking to purchases a racing seat for your car the first consideration needs to be the main purpose of the seat and the car. If your focus is track racing, then your needs will be very different to someone who is primarily focused on street use or even off-road driving.
If you are track racing, then it is vital that you purchase a racing seat that is FIA approved. Such seats are generally fixed back race shell seats. Safety is a priority over comfort with these types of seats. If you are looking for a seat that is primarily for normal street driving, then you may want to prioritize comfort and even consider a reclining seat.
As well as the purpose of the seat, other considerations include:
Vehicle fit – after the purpose of the seat, the fit is the most important consideration. If the seat does not fit into the space available in your vehicle, then it is no use. Different seats have different mounting mechanisms, and this also needs to be taken into consideration. Some seats are universal but require different mounting brackets that do not always come with the seat. Be prepared to buy brackets and other fittings separately.
Other users – do you need to be able to change the seating position for other people to use the vehicle safely? If so, then you need to consider a seat that includes or can be fitted with sliding mechanisms.
Dimensions – as well as fitting in your car, the seat needs to be a good fit for you. If the seat is too wide, then it will not hold you in place and stop lateral movement. If it is too narrow, it will be uncomfortable; not tall enough and you risk damage to your neck and shoulders. The dimensions are also important in relation to the harness openings. If these are in the wrong place in relation to your torso, then you could cause yourself a range of injuries if you need to stop quickly.
Harness fittings – different seats are suitable for different types of harnesses. Some are designed to work with the basic three-point seat belt harness that was factory fitted to your car. Others are designed specifically for four, five, or six-point racing harnesses. If you are track racing, then the right harness is of vital importance.
Cushions and padding – most seats include some degree of padding for comfort, however, the type and positioning of this padding depends on the main function of the seat. When choosing your seat, be aware of any specific needs you have, as well as taking into account the main purpose of the seat.
Passenger – if you are racing with a passenger, then they need the same level of protection as the driver. Buying a pair of seats where possible ensures that both seats fit securely into the vehicle. However, all our previous considerations must also be applied to your passenger.
Who Should Use Car Racing Seats
Anyone who takes part in motorsports should consider a suitable racing seat. This includes activities such as:
- Autocross
- Drifting
- Slalom
- Time trials
- Off-road racing
- Road racing
- Drag racing
- Dirt track racing
- Track racing
The right racing car seat is essential if you take part in any of these activities as it provides neck and back support, reducing wear and tear on these areas of your body. It also provides additional safety measures should you be involved in a collision or other motor accident. Of course, even if you do not take part in motorsport you can choose to swap out your factory seat for a racing seat, however, in these cases, it is less about function and more about form, comfort, and style.
Types of Racing Car Seat
There are several different types of racing seats available and the one that you need depends greatly on the reason why you are buying the seat. Racing seats different in shape, size, the support they offer, the level of comfort they provide, and the materials that they are made from. The most common types of racing seats are:
Adjustable racing seats – these are seats that recline and can be adjusted to meet the needs of the driver and passenger. While they offer support at the sides it is often less than that found in a bucket seat.
Bucket seats – This is a molded seat that is designed to hold the driver in place. It reduces lateral movement and provides support to the head and neck, as well as shoulders and lumbar support.
FIA seats – these are seats that are approved by the FIA for racing. If you are racing professionally or even semi-professionally an FIA approved seat is a must.
What About Safety?
A racing seat is an important safety feature in a car that is used for racing for several reasons. Primarily such seat reduces lateral movement, so less sliding from side to side. This reduces the risk of injury and ensures that you can focus on driving rather than trying to hold yourself in position.
Racing seats also provide additional protection for the lumbar region of the spine, your neck and shoulders, and your head. Combined with the correct seat belt harness, such a seat improves your safety in the event of a collision or an accident where the vehicle rolls over.
Many seats are also flame retardant, so in the event of a fire, you have a greater chance of escaping the vehicle before the flames engulf your seat.
However, all of this is only possible if you choose your seat wisely and ensure that it is correctly fitted to your vehicle. It is essential that the seat is suitable for the type of racing that you are undertaking and that it fits your body size and shape correctly. It also needs to be combined with the correct seat belt harness.
Our Top Pick
Our top pick for the best racing car seat is the Sparco R100 Black Seat. This racing seat has a tubular steel frame for strength and durability. It comes complete with bottom mount capability and low bolstering, meaning that it can fit into most car makes and models with ease. The seat is compatible with a three or four-point harness and has an easy to use reclining mechanism.
