The Sabelt X-Pad Fibreglass Motorsport Seat, part number RFSEXPADNR, is a fibreglass bucket seat approved to FIA 8855-1999 in a single size L shell. Brackets are not included.
Head protection uses the DCT-SUPER NARROW system: the wings at the top of the seat extend forward to contain the helmet but stay narrower at the crown than the standard DCT format used in the GT-PAD. For drivers who wear larger helmets or who find wide head wings too close at the ears, the SUPER NARROW format gives additional clearance while still meeting the head protection standard required by FIA 8855-1999.
ADS air ducting runs through the sides of the shell, directing airflow to the driver’s back. The surface fabric is Kinderpoint, a non-slip textile that grips the seat surface when the driver is pushing against the side in cornering loads.
Trim is standard velour. Side mount fixings at the standard Sabelt bracket centres. Compatible with 4 and 6 point harnesses.
The X-Pad shell is size L only. If you need M or XL shell sizing at FIA 8855-1999, the GT-PAD Modular (SABRFSEGTPAD) covers all three sizes with a different head protection format. The X-Pad Rallycross (RFSEXPADRCROSS) is the same L shell with an easy-clean surface for off-road or muddy conditions. For carbon fibre in the same shell, the X-Pad Carbon (SABRFSEXPADCARBON) carries the same FIA 8855-1999 approval at higher cost.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers with a 36in to 38in or 32in to 36in waist. Those are the paper numbers; how a seat actually feels to sit in and climb out of is a different question, and our showroom team sit in these seats every day, so call us with your height and waist and we will give you the honest answer.
Is it FIA approved, and for how long?
Yes, it carries FIA 8855-1999 homologation. Every FIA seat has a not-valid-after year printed on its homologation label, and that label date is what a scrutineer checks, so look at the label on the seat you receive and check it against your championship regulations. Buying new means you get the freshest label the maker currently produces.
What do I need to fit it to my car?
This is a side-mount seat: it hangs between side brackets, the motorsport-style stack with fine height and angle control. You will need the car-specific frame, and a sliding runner if you want fore-and-aft adjustment. Our guide on base mount versus side mount walks through the whole stack, and tell us your car and we will quote the full kit.
Does it work with harnesses and a HANS device?
The shell takes 4 point compatible and 6 point compatible. If you are planning the full seat, harness, and HANS setup, tell us the car and we will spec it end to end.
How do I know it will feel right, not just fit on paper?
Fair question, because makers publish widths and weights, never feel, and two seats with identical numbers can feel nothing alike in the car. We keep the ranges on display in the Nottingham showroom, you are welcome to come and sit in them, and if you cannot get to us, call and describe your build, as the team sit in these seats every day. Our head support measurements guide shows the kind of real-world data we collect.