Sparco Sprint L vs Sparco Sprint: Which One is Right for You?
Seat buying guide, Sparco Sprint
Sparco's Sprint and Sprint L look like two sizes of the same seat, and in many ways they are. Both are FIA 8855-1999 homologated, both are built on steel, and both had the same trim update in 2025. But the size difference is bigger than it looks, and it decides which one suits you and which one fits your car.
This guide compares the two side by side: dimensions, who each one fits, how they mount, and the trim. Whether it is for a competition car, a track day car or a sim rig, it should help you pick the right one first time.
- Both are FIA 8855-1999 homologated fixed back seats on a steel structure
- Sprint: 505mm at the shoulders, 480mm at the base, 860mm tall
- Sprint L: 570mm at the shoulders and base, 915mm tall
- Our listings: Sprint for a 32 to 36 inch waist, Sprint L for 40 to 42
- Both can base mount on the 345mm by 271mm pattern or side mount
- The Sprint comes in black, blue and red; the Sprint L in black
What is on this page
What the two seats share
Both seats are homologated to FIA 8855-1999. Where most FIA seats are moulded fibreglass, the Sprint range is built on a tubular steel structure. Steel is heavier, but it keeps the price well below a composite seat, which is why the Sprint is such a common first competition seat. If your series has rules on seat material or weight, read them before you order.
- Steel construction
- The 2025 trim, with chevron stitching and grip material at the base and shoulders
- Soft velour on the rest of the seat
- Five harness slots, for a four, five or six point harness
- HANS friendly, no head wings
- Base and side mounting
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From £252.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Dimensions and who each one fits
Sparco Sprint
- Shoulder width: 505mm
- Base width: 480mm
- Height to the harness slots: 610mm
- Total height: 860mm
- Our listing: a 32 to 36 inch waist, all heights
It suits slim to average drivers, and its narrow shell makes it a good choice for smaller cars and tight cockpits.
Sparco Sprint L
- Shoulder width: 570mm
- Base width: 570mm
- Height to the harness slots: 660mm
- Total height: 915mm
- Our listing: a 40 to 42 inch waist, all heights
It suits bigger drivers with broader shoulders, in cars with the room for it.
| Sprint | Sprint L | |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder width | 505mm | 570mm |
| Base width | 480mm | 570mm |
| To harness slots | 610mm | 660mm |
| Total height | 860mm | 915mm |
| Waist (our listings) | 32 to 36 inches | 40 to 42 inches |
| Colours | Black, blue, red | Black |
The Sprint L is 65mm wider at the shoulders and 90mm wider at the base. That is a big step, and it means the L will not fit every car, so measure the space between the centre console and the door card before you buy. Notice too the gap between the two: if your waist is between 36 and 40 inches, you sit between the Sprint shells, and a different seat may suit you better. Tell us your size and we will suggest one.
Installation and mounting
One of the best things about both seats is that they mount either way, which few FIA buckets do.
- Base mount: on the 345mm by 271mm pattern, which matches many Sparco, OMP and Corbeau subframes and runners
- Side mount: four M8 points, 290mm apart, for Sparco’s FIA steel side mounts and a frame for the car
That makes either seat easier to fit in road and fast road cars, and in cars with awkward floors where one method is simpler than the other. Both are sold as the seat only. For the extra wide Sprint L, base mounting also avoids the width problem of side mounts on a wide seat, which our guide to fitting the OMP TRS-E XL and Sparco Sprint L explains.
Trim and wear in real use
Both seats have Sparco's 2025 trim, and it is more than a new look. The grip material at the base and shoulders helps hold you in corners, and it wears better where you rub the seat getting in and out. The velour elsewhere is soft and comfortable over long sessions.
That makes both seats better suited to regular track use and long sim racing sessions than earlier versions.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the Sprint if you are slim or average build, the car is tight inside, or you want a colour other than black.
- Choose the Sprint L if you are a bigger driver who needs more room, and the car has the space for it.
- Look at other shells if your waist sits between 36 and 40 inches.
Garreth’s advice is to sit in both before deciding, which you can do in the showroom. If you cannot get to us, send your height, waist and car and we will tell you which one fits.
What is the difference between the Sparco Sprint and Sprint L?
The Sprint L is 65mm wider at the shoulders and 90mm wider at the base, for bigger drivers.
What waist size is the Sparco Sprint for?
Our listing gives the Sprint for a 32 to 36 inch waist and the Sprint L for 40 to 42.
Can the Sparco Sprint be base mounted?
Yes. Both the Sprint and Sprint L base mount on the 345mm by 271mm pattern or side mount.
Are both Sprint seats FIA approved?
Yes. Both are homologated to FIA 8855-1999.
What colours do they come in?
The Sprint in black, blue and red; the Sprint L in black.
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Our viewSprint for most, L for big
Same seat and mounting, two sizes: pick by your waist and your car.
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