Answering The Question: What Are The Most Affordable FIA Fibreglass Bucket Seats?
Seat buying guide
A question we hear a lot: what is the cheapest way into an FIA approved fibreglass bucket seat? Steel framed FIA seats are usually the least expensive way to get the approval, but some drivers want the lighter weight and stiffer shell of fibreglass without paying for a top end seat.
There are good options. This guide explains the difference between steel and fibreglass, then goes through ten of the most affordable FIA fibreglass seats we list, from OMP, Mirco, Bimarco and Sparco, in two groups by price.
- All ten seats here are fibreglass and homologated to FIA 8855-1999
- Lower priced group: OMP First-R, Bimarco Cobra Pro, Mirco Classic, Mirco GT, OMP Champ-R
- A little more: Sparco Rev QRT, Mirco RS2, Bimarco Phantom, Sparco Grid Q, Mirco RS1
- All are side mount seats, so side mounts and a frame are extra
- Most are cut for a 32 to 36 inch waist, so check your size
- Steel framed FIA seats cost less again, but weigh more
What is on this page
Fibreglass or steel
Steel framed FIA seats, such as the Sparco Sprint, OMP TRS-E and Cobra Monaco, are usually the least expensive way to get an FIA label. Steel keeps the manufacturing cost down and copes well with knocks, but it adds weight; these seats are often around 10kg or more.
A fibreglass shell is lighter for the same approval, and it is stiff through the sides, so the seat holds its shape under cornering load. Both carry the same FIA 8855-1999 homologation and satisfy the same scrutineer, so the choice is about weight, feel and budget, not approval.
If weight matters in your class, or you simply want a lighter car, fibreglass is worth the step up. If budget is the main concern and the seat does not need to be light, a steel seat is a sound choice.
The lower priced group
OMP First-R. The entry point to OMP’s competition seats, a fibreglass shell at 9.4kg in practical velour, with a removable base cushion that makes cleaning easy and can drop your seating position slightly.
Bimarco Cobra Pro. A fibreglass fixed back seat for drivers under 6ft with a 32 to 36 inch waist, side mounted and six point harness compatible.
Mirco Classic. Mirco’s period shaped shell in velour, HANS friendly, taking a four or six point harness and suiting any height with a 32 to 36 inch waist. It is a favourite for older cars that need a current FIA label without a modern looking seat.
Mirco GT. The entry point to Mirco’s FIA range, built for a smaller driver window of up to 85kg and 170 to 185cm, which suits circuit and sprint drivers of that size well.
OMP Champ-R. A fibreglass seat with removable lumbar and leg supports, so the fit can be tailored and the cushions taken out to clean. It has medium side bolsters, five harness slots and is HANS compatible.
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From £380.40 Incl. VATPayPal Credit250+ coloursKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £380.40 Incl. VATPayPal Credit250+ coloursKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
A little more money
Sparco Rev QRT. The entry point to Sparco’s FIA range, made with Sparco’s QRT process, in velour, HANS compatible and suitable for all heights with a 32 to 36 inch waist. It is a narrower seat than the Sparco Evo.
Mirco RS2. The seat with head support we sell most. It wraps the shoulders and head, takes a six point harness and a HANS, and suits any height with a 32 to 36 inch waist, which makes it a common choice for club racers who need head protection.
Bimarco Phantom. A fibreglass fixed back seat for all heights with a 32 to 36 inch waist, side mounted and six point harness compatible.
Sparco Grid Q. Just above the Rev QRT in Sparco’s range, with a breathable fabric trim in place of velour, HANS compatible and six point harness compatible, for a 32 to 36 inch waist.
Mirco RS1. One of Mirco’s deeper RS shells, holding you more than the GT, and in 3D mesh trim it breathes well. It is for a 32 to 36 inch waist and a driver under 6ft.
Choosing between them
Price is only part of it. Start with your size: most of these seats are cut for a 32 to 36 inch waist, and some are aimed at shorter or taller drivers, so a seat that fits will always be better value than a cheaper one that does not. Then decide whether you need head support, which points to the Mirco RS2, and how much the trim matters.
Remember the rest of the fitting. All ten are side mount seats, so budget for side mounts and a frame for your car. And an FIA seat is approved for a fixed period from its date of manufacture, which our guide to FIA 8855-1999 and 8855-2021 seats explains.
Garreth’s advice is to send us your height, waist size, car and what you compete in, and we will tell you which of these makes the most sense. You can also browse our full range of fibreglass FIA racing seats.
What is the cheapest FIA fibreglass bucket seat?
Among the seats we list, the OMP First-R is at the lower end, alongside the Bimarco Cobra Pro and the Mirco Classic and GT.
Is a fibreglass FIA seat better than a steel one?
It is lighter and stiff through the sides, but both carry the same FIA 8855-1999 approval.
Which affordable FIA fibreglass seat has head support?
The Mirco RS2, which wraps the shoulders and head and is HANS friendly.
Do these seats come with mounts?
No. They are side mount seats, so side mounts and a frame for your car are extra.
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