OMP HTC EVO VTR Fibreglass Seat In-Store Showcase

Every seat that leaves our showroom goes through a thorough quality inspection before it’s packed and dispatched to its new owner. Occasionally, however, a seat arrives that immediately grabs everyone’s attention, and that’s exactly what happened when the OMP HTC EVO VTR Fibreglass Seat arrived at our showroom.

This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to see the HTC EVO VTR in person, and it’s safe to say it made an impression. Designed for serious motorsport competition, the seat combines an aggressive head restraint design with a lightweight fibreglass shell and the latest FIA 8855-2021 approval, making it one of the most advanced seats currently available from OMP.

Unlike many head-supported seats, the HTC EVO VTR has been carefully designed to fit a wider range of vehicles. The integrated head and shoulder supports have been shaped to provide excellent protection while remaining as compact as possible, helping the seat fit into cars where larger containment seats may struggle. This makes it a particularly attractive option for drivers who need the latest FIA safety standards but still have limited cockpit space to work with.

One of the biggest talking points is its FIA homologation. The HTC EVO VTR complies with the latest FIA 8855-2021 standard, giving it a 10 year homologation when used with the correct OMP side mounts. Compared to the five year homologation found on the majority of FIA bucket seats currently on the market, this represents a significant long-term advantage for drivers building race cars that will see years of competition use.

Before this seat heads out to its new owner, we had the opportunity to inspect every aspect of its construction, from the shell quality and trim finish through to the removable cushions and aggressive support bolsters. It also gave us the chance to compare it against many of the FIA seats already on display in our showroom, making it one of the most interesting new arrivals we’ve seen this year.

Why Upgrade to Sports Reclining Seats?

The OMP HTC EVO VTR has been developed for drivers who demand the highest levels of safety, support, and durability. It’s aimed squarely at serious motorsport competitors who need a modern containment seat that complies with the latest FIA regulations while remaining practical enough to fit into a wide variety of race cars.

One of its biggest advantages is the latest FIA 8855-2021 homologation. While most FIA-approved bucket seats are certified for five years, the HTC EVO VTR offers a 10 year homologation when paired with the correct FIA-approved OMP side mounts. This makes it a very attractive option for drivers planning long-term race builds, as the seat remains eligible for competition for twice as long before replacement is required.

Choosing OMP also means investing in one of motorsport’s most respected manufacturers. Their seats are used across circuit racing, rallying, hill climbs, endurance racing, drifting, and many other disciplines, with a reputation for combining innovative safety technology with excellent driver comfort.

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OMP HTC EVO VTR Fibreglass Seat
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A Closer Look at the OMP HTC EVO VTR

The OMP HTC EVO VTR immediately stands out thanks to its purposeful motorsport design. Every part of the seat has been engineered around maximising driver protection while still maintaining comfort over long periods behind the wheel. From the aggressive shoulder containment to the integrated head supports, it’s clear this seat has been developed for drivers competing at a high level of motorsport.

The lightweight fibreglass shell is one of the seat’s biggest strengths. It offers exceptional rigidity and impact protection, providing performance close to a carbon fibre shell while remaining much more affordable. This makes it an excellent option for drivers who want a premium FIA-approved competition seat without the higher cost often associated with carbon fibre alternatives.

Unlike some larger containment seats, the HTC EVO VTR has been carefully shaped to fit into a wider range of race cars. The integral head and shoulder supports provide excellent lateral support and increased protection during side impacts, while their compact design makes the seat more suitable for vehicles where cockpit space is at a premium. This opens up more installation possibilities compared to some of the bulkier head-supported seats on the market.

Driver comfort has also been given plenty of attention. The removable back, base, and leg cushions are manufactured using breathable 3D Airnet material, helping to improve airflow and reduce perspiration during long races or endurance events. The shoulder areas feature OMP’s grip-enhancing dotted fabric, helping to reduce upper body movement and keep the driver firmly positioned under heavy cornering, braking, and acceleration.

Overall, the HTC EVO VTR feels incredibly robust and confidence inspiring. The combination of its lightweight fibreglass construction, aggressive support bolsters, breathable removable cushions, and the latest FIA 8855-2021 approval makes it one of the most advanced motorsport seats currently available from OMP. It’s designed for drivers who want maximum safety, outstanding support, and long-term durability, whether they’re competing in circuit racing, rallying, endurance events, or serious track day competition.

Key features

Lightweight fibreglass shell construction.
FIA 8855-2021 approved with 10 year homologation.
Integrated head and shoulder containment.
Grip-enhancing shoulder fabric.
Removable 3D Airnet back, base, and leg cushions.
6 point harness compatible.
Designed for serious motorsport and competition use.

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Key Points From This Blog

The HTC EVO VTR complies with FIA 8855-2021.
Provides a 10 year FIA homologation.
Lightweight fibreglass shell construction.
Integrated head restraint for increased protection.
Removable 3D Airnet cushions.
Suitable for drivers with a 30 to 36 inch waist.
Designed for serious motorsport applications.

FIA 8855-2021 vs FIA 8855-1999

One of the biggest differences between the HTC EVO VTR and many FIA seats currently available is its homologation.

Most FIA bucket seats found on the market, including many displayed in our showroom, comply with the FIA 8855-1999 standard. These seats receive a five year homologation for motorsport competition before requiring replacement under FIA regulations.

The HTC EVO VTR complies with the much newer FIA 8855-2021 standard, extending that homologation period to 10 years when installed with the correct OMP side mounts.

For drivers planning to keep their race car for many seasons, this can significantly reduce long-term running costs while ensuring the seat remains eligible for FIA-sanctioned events for much longer.

This seat is suitable for:

Circuit racing.
Rallying.
Hill climbs.
Sprint events.
Time attack.
Track day use.

Driver and Vehicle Fitment

Although the HTC EVO VTR has been designed to fit more vehicles than many traditional containment seats, it’s still important to check the dimensions before purchasing.

The seat measures 660mm across the shoulders, making it noticeably wider than many standard FIA bucket seats. This gives excellent upper body support but also means it is better suited to vehicles with generous cockpit space. Smaller hatchbacks and tighter interiors may experience clearance issues around the door cards or centre tunnel, so measuring your vehicle beforehand is highly recommended.

The shell is also shorter than many comparable bucket seats. From the base to the shoulder supports it measures approximately 600mm, meaning drivers with longer torsos should carefully check that their shoulders align correctly with the upper bolsters and harness slots.

Internally, the seat measures 385mm across the hip area, making it best suited to drivers with approximately a 30 to 36 inch waist.

Main dimensions

Overall height: 920mm.
Shoulder width: 660mm.
Base to shoulders: 600mm.
Hip width: 385mm.
Base width: 505mm.
Recommended waist size: 30 to 36 inches.

Installation and Mounting Options

Like most composite shell motorsport seats, the OMP HTC EVO VTR is side mounted only. The seat features M12 mounting points and is designed to be installed using side mounts rather than base-mounted runners, creating a much stronger and more secure installation for motorsport use.

While the seat can technically be fitted using universal side mounts, drivers looking to benefit from the full FIA 8855-2021 approval should choose the dedicated OMP FIA Approved Side Mounts designed specifically for the HTC EVO VTR. These brackets have been developed to match the seat perfectly and are an essential part of achieving the seat’s full 10 year FIA homologation. Without these specific OMP side mounts, the seat does not qualify for the 10 year FIA approval, making them a key part of the overall installation for competitive motorsport.

The OMP side mounts are manufactured from high-strength steel and are FIA approved to work with the HTC EVO VTR. They provide multiple mounting positions, allowing you to fine tune the seat height and recline angle to achieve the ideal driving position while maintaining the correct installation required for FIA competition use.

Once the seat is mounted to the OMP side brackets, the complete assembly can then be fitted directly to a vehicle-specific seat sub-frame or mounted straight to welded floor rails, depending on how the vehicle is being built. Direct floor mounting is common in race and rally cars where achieving the lowest possible seating position and maximum rigidity is a priority.

Although the HTC EVO VTR could technically be paired with a 345mm wide sliding runner setup, this isn’t how the seat has been designed to be used. Sliding runners introduce moving parts into the installation and are intended for road cars rather than dedicated competition vehicles. For track and motorsport builds, we always recommend a fixed installation using the dedicated OMP FIA-approved side mounts, giving the strongest, safest, and fully homologated setup.

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OMP FIA Approved Side Mounts For HCT Evo VTR Fibreglass Seat
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Why We Were Impressed

We inspect a wide range of motorsport seats every week, from entry level FIA bucket seats through to premium carbon fibre models, so it takes something genuinely different to stand out. The OMP HTC EVO VTR certainly did that from the moment it arrived at our showroom.

The first thing that stood out was the overall build quality. The fibreglass shell feels incredibly rigid and well finished, while the removable 3D Airnet cushions give the seat a premium feel without compromising its motorsport-focused design. Everything from the stitching and trim to the shell finish reflects the level of quality you’d expect from one of OMP’s flagship competition seats.

We were also impressed by how OMP has managed to package a full head-supported FIA seat into a design that’s more compact than many other containment seats on the market. While it’s still best suited to larger cockpit spaces due to its 660mm shoulder width, the head support has been shaped carefully to make the seat more accessible for a wider range of race cars than many comparable models.

Perhaps the biggest highlight, though, is the 10 year FIA 8855-2021 homologation. This is still relatively uncommon compared to the traditional five year FIA approval used on most motorsport seats, making the HTC EVO VTR an attractive long-term investment for competitors who want the latest safety standard without needing to replace their seat as frequently.

Overall, the HTC EVO VTR feels like a seat that has been designed without compromise. It combines outstanding support, excellent driver comfort, modern safety technology, and a premium level of construction into a package that’s ready for serious motorsport. It’s one of the most impressive OMP seats we’ve had through the showroom, and after seeing it in person, it’s easy to understand why it’s becoming a popular choice for high-level race and rally builds.

Final Thoughts: A New Benchmark for Modern Motorsport Seats

The arrival of the OMP HTC EVO VTR gave us the opportunity to inspect one of OMP’s latest competition seats before it was dispatched to its new owner, and it certainly lived up to expectations.

With its lightweight fibreglass construction, aggressive containment design, premium removable cushions, and class-leading 10 year FIA homologation, it offers a compelling package for drivers looking to invest in a long-term motorsport seat.

If you’re building a serious race or rally car and want the latest FIA approval together with outstanding support and comfort, the OMP HTC EVO VTR is a seat that’s well worth considering.

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