Choosing a Good Daily Driving Racing Seat
Finding the best racing seat for a daily driver is of the utmost importance as a lot of hours are spent behind the wheel. Comfort and safety are important in choosing the right racing seat. For these reasons, the article focuses on brands such as Sparco that deliver when it comes to the aforementioned.
A few things are put into consideration when it comes to getting the best racing seat for a daily driver. You want to look at the comfort level because driving is not just about getting from point A to B.
Your posture needs to be right to ensure you don’t disfigure your sitting position and how perfectly you fit in your chair will ensure you are seated comfortably without running the risk of slippage.
Safety is another aspect that is important, especially for individuals who are involved in varying motorsports as accidents are higher than they are in daily driving. For this reason, the racing seat needs to be infused with safety measures aimed at minimizing any injuries should an accident happen.
For the above reasons, seats approved by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) translated to International Automobile Federation in English, should be considered because they meet the safety standards. Having to spend extra for such seats will be an option because then you would be putting safety first.
Some of the best brands when it comes to manufacturing good racing seats are, Sparco, OMP, and Recaro among others. We discuss some of the best racing seats the market has to offer right now including specifications to make choosing your preferred seat that much easier.
Quick Comparison Table
Best Racing Seat for Daily Driver
Sparco R100 Black/ Black Seat
The Sparco R100 Black Seat is a very popular option on the road due to its comfort and safety. It is great for day-to-day driving, off-road driving as well as track racing.
It comes enforced with a tubular steel frame aimed at ensuring durability and at the same time providing extra strength. This is probably “THE” most popular racing seat out there.
Due to its low bolstering bottom mount capability for a wide range of applications, it is compatible with a majority of the car models in the market. This, added to the tubular steel frame, make this seat a great standalone product.
In case you need to allow passengers into your car’s rear seats, it has a reclining mechanism is quite easy to use and the seat is compatible with the three and four-point harness.
It is available in a range of colors catering to personal preference but it doesn’t come in a pair. While the R100 is a great choice given its compatibility with most cars and the comfort, it isn’t approved by the FIA which may come as a requirement for some motorsports.
Compared to other alternatives, you will be getting value for your money with the Sparco R100 Black seat. The downside is this seat is not FIA-approved.
Pros
- Bottom mount compatibility
- Tubular steel frame
- Low bolstering and padding for added comfort
- Variety of colors to choose from
- Cloth seat material
- Compatible with 3 & 4-point harness
- Weight is 37.2lb
- Unique design
Cons
- Does not come in a pair
- Is not FIA approved
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MOMO START
The Momo Start is Sparco's direct competitor. What sets this seat apart and makes it a favorable option is that this racing seat is FIA-approved. It uses a self-extinguishing fiberglass shell upholstered in long-lasting black velour fabric.
Unlike the Sparco, this Momo Start bucket seat has a unique feature which is the 5 seat belt openings. These allow for the integration of any seat belts suited for your preference. It is also lighter than the Sparco at 17.8lbs.
While it may be pricier than its competitor, it is a good option for your day-to-day driving as well as race track driving.
Pros
- Durable velour fabric
- Fiberglass shell
- Approved by FIA
- Weight is 17.8lb
- 5 seat belt openings
Cons
- Pricy
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Auto Dynasty NRG Innovations FRP-301 Fiber Glass Bucket Style Racing Seat
Auto Dynasty has manufactured a not-so-ordinary seat with this NRG FRP-301 Fiber Glass Bucket Style Racing Seat. The company chose to incorporate fiberglass material and has managed to still retain its robust steel frame.
What sets this seat apart from others is that the use of fiberglass material makes it lightweight and for a pair, the weight is 44 pounds which really is impressive.
The FRP-301 has a steel frame with comfortable woven upholstery injected as well as injected molded foam adding to comfort and safety, the seat has deep thigh straps to ensure that you as the driver are safely secured into your seat. It’s compatible with 4, 5, and 6-point seat belt straps so you have options when it comes to your safety.
This model is fit for anyone working within a budget and are designed to offer the best sitting position as they provide shoulder and lower back support. On the subject of improving comfort, they come with additional lumbar support. In its package, it comes with mounting brackets as well as steel adjusters.
The FRP-301 seat is not FIA approved but it is still very ideal for daily driving and occasional track driving. It comes in two different sizes so you get to choose what you prefer. For such as reputable brand, it’s amazing how they’ve managed to come up with an affordable seat for most.
Pros
- Side mount brackets
- Durable fabric covering
- Fiberglass shell
- 4 seat belt openings
- Weighs 20.5lb
Cons
- Need seat brackets for complete installation
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OMP RS-PT2 Lightweight Racing Seats
The RT-PT2 Lightweight racing seat is another go-to option when looking for a comfortable racing seat that you could still use for daily driving. The shell has been manufactured with fiberglass material and this bucket-style seat comes with big shoulder harness slots that are accommodative of various heights.
It is an FIA-approved seat that features high-side bolsters fit for lateral leg support and provides more protection. Another unique feature is the shaped security headrest aimed at limiting the helmet's lateral movement. The seat is fully covered in black velour and is compatible with HSC as well as HANS.
The RS-PT2 is one of the lightest racing seats and this is a plus because it conforms to most standards in racing while it might be expensive, it is worth it in the end.
Pros
- Removable back cushion
- Compatible with HANS and HSC
- Split leg rests
- FIA approved
- Weighs 10.4lbs
Cons
- Pricy
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Type One Universal Fully Reclinable Racing
The Type One Universal Racing seat is a high-performance F 1 Racing Style seat made with high-quality clothes that ensure the durability of your seat. It has a strong durable steel frame that is covered in injection molded foam and it is durable as well as woven upholstery.
This seat does not leave safety out of the equation as it has deep thigh bolsters that will keep you securely in your seat no matter what the driving conditions are. This not only brings in the aspect of safety but also offers a lot of comfort.
Support for your shoulder and lower back has been taken into consideration as the seat has strong built-in seat belt harness holes. It is best used with 4, 5, and 6-point seat belt harnesses so you can pick what you fancy.
If you’re looking for comfort, this Type One Universal seat is the option for you and it comes as a pair as well as universal sliders.
Pros
- Steel frame covered in injection molded foam
- Deep thigh bolsters
- Shoulder and lower back support
- 4, 5, and 6-point seat belt harness
Cons
- Reports of non-existent predrilled holes
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NRG RSC-200-NRG Type-R Racing Seat
The NRG RSC-200-NRG Type R racing seat is a genuine NRG innovation product that comes in a classy design. If you’re looking for a professional-looking seat that means business, then look no further.
This RSC-200-NRG is a high-performance JDM Racing Style seat that is covered with injection-molded foam as well as woven upholstery that takes this seat to higher levels.
It contributes to comfort just as some on this list have and that is by providing shoulder and lower back protection. This is because of racing or even daily driving. Your poster is important and an unhealthy posture could result in trouble.
The seat's durable frame is covered with the best quality fabric and it comes with universal seat sliders the purchase comes with an instruction guide to get you fitted with your new car seat as fast as you want.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable Steel Frame
- Installation is easy
- Covered with injection molded foam
- Comes with universal sliders
Cons
- Colors tend to fade with time
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Type R Style Black Faux Leather Seats
These Type R Style faux leather seats come in a pair suitable for the di=river and passenger side. Like a few other products, it is a comfortable steel seat made with a strong quality steel frame that is then covered with injection-molded foam and woven upholstery.
There are built-in supports for your lower back if you do feel overly tired when using ordinary seats. Added to this, it comes with deep thigh bolsters to keep the driver firmly seated in the chair. Comfortability, stability, and security were definitely top of the list during their manufacture.
It comes with universal sliders and is made with top-of-the-grade faux leather so there’s definitely an element of sophistication. The Type R Style Leather seats are best used with 4, 5, and 6-point seat belt harnesses.
Pros
- Sophisticated finish
- Comfortable
- Prevents driver and or passenger from slipping
- 4, 5 and 6-point seat belt holes
Cons
- Seat bracket not included
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Sparco 008231RS Seat Sprint
The Sprint seat is a great option for weekend racers as it ensures safety as well comfort during driving. Selective care has been placed on ensuring the right balance in safety, styling and most importantly value.
It is FIA approved and is made with fire retardant material and features beautiful and yet contrasting quilting. There is a better fastening of the positioning of the side or bottom attachments found on the tubular, to the shell. Seat belt holes on the fifth and sixth are added for improved safety.
It is available in three colors i.e. black, red, and blue and while that may not be a wide range of colors, it is still better than standard one-color-only products.
Pros
- Fire retardant fabric
- Options in color choice
- FIA approved
- 5 and 6-point seatbelt holes
Cons
- Lacks reclining feature
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Buyer’s Guide
FIA Approval and HANS Compatibility
Any professional racing or racing within organized motorsport requires the use of seats that are FIA approved, taking note of the change in standards that have changed from 8855-1999 to the newer standard, 8862-2009.
The difference in standards is that the new ones simulate four impacts instead of the older three. Other changes include the incorporation of stiff, energy-absorbing foam for the head, shoulder as well as pelvis areas.
HANS basically stands for Hand and Neck System and the HANS device is technically referred to as a Frontal Head Restraint (FHR). This device is simply for added comfort and more safety in reducing any serious injuries during a car racing crash. The cars that are HANS compatible give room for the harness without compromising the safety of your head and neck by ensuring your head or neck are not pushed forward.
Adjustable Seat Design
Depending on whether you have a two-door or four-door car will determine the availability of rear seats. This will determine the ability of one being able to recline the seat which is desirable when it comes to driving comfortably.
The option of having a reclinable seat is, however, a personal choice. If you prefer to do without the reclinable, then it would be wise to only change the driver’s seat to leave room for other passengers to access the rare seats from the passenger’s side or incorporate sliding mechanisms.
Seats Made For Comfort
Comfort is a necessity when it comes to driving irrespective of whether you installing racing seats to your racing car or your daily drive car. It doesn’t really matter which it is but the important thing to note is that you will spend a lot of time in the car driving and as is, older bucket seats can be quite uncomfortable.
The right balance of paddings on your seat will be important because too little padding can create a problem for you and too much of it could cause too much movement.
The right balance when it comes to padding will offer the needed comfort. If you find driving uncomfortable then you could get a cushion for your car seat that can be easily removed when you switch to driving on a racetrack.
Vehicle Compatibility
Compatibility is key. Most if not all racing bucket seats are engineered to be universal provided there is enough space in your car. For them to be fully universal, one has to replace the mountain mechanisms that it’s connected to in the car.
These are important in ensuring that the seat is able to withstand the force endured by track use but important to note is that these do not always come with the seat.
Seat Weight
In choosing the best seat for your car, you need to put weight into consideration. The lighter the weight, the better for you the seat will be. Most car seats range between 15 to 40 lbs with some being lighter. You however need to note that the lighter the seat will be, the pricier it will get because they use high-quality materials to achieve the lightness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Racing Car Seat?
Racing car seats are basically seats that have been designed specifically for increased safety especially if you’re involved in a lot of motorsport driving. These seats come enhanced with deeper seats, and higher backs and are constructed with stronger materials. All this is in an effort to increase comfort as well as safety.
How Should I Clean My Racing Car Seat?
First things first, check your manufacturer’s guide to look at the products that are safe for use on the seat material.
To avoid having to go to extreme measures in cleaning, ensure that you vacuum regularly and avoid spilling things on the seat. By vacuuming, you reduce the chances of any dirt, food crumbs, or any other particles getting stuck in the seats.
In case you have any seat covers, take them out and have them washed with care and precision and at regular intervals especially when any spillages occur. Always make sure you dry the seats completely to reduce any chances of mold and mildew growing on your seat.
How Do I Know the Right Size Seat for Me?
For safety and comfort to be rightly effective, the seat has to fit you perfectly. The height, width, and depth of the seat, all need to measure perfectly.
Body measurements – It’s important to take your own measurements to ensure that you are a perfect fit with the car seat you want to purchase. Take measurements of your shoulders, hips as well as waist to ensure that the lateral fit is just right.
Next, you want to measure the distance from the inside of your knee joint all the way to the rear of your bottom to ensure that you fit perfectly on the base of the seat you wish to purchase. This will also help in identifying the right padding for you.
How deep the seat is will determine whether the seat will hold you or you’ll be out of place and driving in the most unfavorable conditions eventually impairing your driving abilities.
Lastly, measure your upper body; shoulders, neck of your base, and the top of your head to basically ensure that the seat is tall enough and ensure the neck and shoulder support is correctly placed.
Racing Seat for Fat People
Ok, not the best wording, but it seems to be what people put into the search box. If you are a heavy-framed male or female and you are looking for a racing seat for your car or gaming setup make sure you do your research. From what we can see the best racing seat for fat people is the Sparco Racing seat. It comes in different sizes including an XL. Make sure you check out the comments and speak to the seller to give your size and weight.
Another recommendation for heavy after looking through forums is the Corbeau seat. Check that out. It may be UK only but worth checking to see if they have a USA distributor.
Conclusion
Knowing what you want out of your car seat makes work easier and knowing the ins and outs of the best racing seat for daily drivers is really the first step toward achieving maximum comfort.
The editor's top pick on this article has to be the Sparco R100 Black Seat simply because it one, comes from a highly reputable brand, and two, it delivers immensely on comfort and safety. Enjoy your drives with much ease with any of the options above.
