Customer Car: Mini F56 With Mirco RS1 FIA Seat Fitted With Multipoint Side Mounts
Our customer came into the showroom with a clear goal in mind — transform their Mini F56 into a more capable and focused track-day car. While the stock seats offered enough comfort for daily use, they lacked the lateral support needed when pushing the car to its limits on track. After sitting in a few options and testing fitment in-store, the Mirco RS1 FIA bucket seat stood out as the ideal choice. Not only did it offer the bolstering and support needed for high-speed cornering, but its slim profile made it a surprisingly good fit for the compact cockpit of the Mini F56.
While fitting aftermarket bucket seats into cars like the F56 can be tricky, we spent time with the customer carefully measuring the interior space to ensure a perfect fit. What we discovered was a huge win: the Mini’s factory floor mounting points are completely flat and spaced 405mm across, making them ideal for direct side mounting without a subframe. That’s a rare advantage in modern hatchbacks and meant we could mount the Mirco seat directly to the floor using Endurance Motorsport multipoint side mounts for the lowest driving position and most secure fitment possible. It also opened the door to a quick, subframe-free installation with minimal hardware and maximum strength.
Installation Challenges and How We Solved Them
One issue we faced was the 420mm width of the RS1 seat shell at the side mount area. This made it slightly too narrow to bolt straight into the 405mm bolt pattern of the Mini without some adjustment. Our solution? We used our widest Endurance Motorsport multipoint side mounts, flipped one bracket around, and shortened the mounting gap to fit the RS1 securely.
This method also gives drivers extra flexibility to shift the seat slightly left or right, fine-tuning the seat’s position for a more central and comfortable driving feel. It’s also particularly useful for head restraint seats, helping you avoid unwanted contact with the interior trim. This installation method is simple, smart, and ideal for track builds like this one.
We found that the Mini F56 uses M10 floor bolts that don’t work with aftermarket M8 side mounts. Our customer had to drill out two holes to make the original factory bolts work. Because these side mounts are 3mm thick steel, and only an additional 2mm was being removed, this was safe to do without compromising the side mount.Â
Floor-Mounted Setup – Pros and Cons
There are clear advantages to mounting a bucket seat straight to the floor:
- Fewer components means a quicker, cleaner installation
- Lowest possible driving position for improved headroom
- Solid, motorsport-grade fitment with no moving parts
- Great for taller drivers wearing helmets
But it’s not for everyone. The drawbacks?
- No sliding adjustability for daily use or multiple drivers
- Not compatible with reclining or base-mounted seats
- Not ideal for cars that share duties between the road and the track
- No seatbelt mount for factory seat belt, this setup is designed to be paired with a racing harness.
- Additional drilling on the universal side mounts is required.Â
Alternative Daily-Use Fitting Options
While our customer chose to side-mount their Mirco RS1 bucket seat directly to the floor for a fixed and motorsport-focused setup, not everyone is building a full-on track car. Many MINI F56 owners are also looking for a more road-friendly setup — something that’s easier to live with day-to-day and allows for seat adjustability, the use of factory seat belts, or the option to swap in a reclining seat. For this kind of setup, we always recommend using a vehicle-specific subframe like the one from Planted Technology, which is purpose-built for the MINI F56 and bolts straight into the factory floor mount points with no modification required.
What makes the Planted Technology bracket such a solid choice is its incredible versatility. It’s drilled to support all three major bolt patterns found on the majority of aftermarket seats, 345mm, 405mm, and 291mm, making it compatible with a wide range of fixed-back bucket seats and reclining sport seats from brands like Sparco, OMP, Corbeau, Cobra, and more. Whether you’re installing a base-mounted reclining seat for daily comfort or a base-mounted bucket seat with sliding runners for track flexibility, this frame will accommodate your setup. It also includes integrated seat belt mounting points so you can safely retain your OEM three-point belts, perfect for keeping your car MOT compliant while still enjoying aftermarket seating. With the right combination of runners and side mounts, this bracket gives you the freedom to tailor your setup exactly how you want it, whether that’s comfort, adjustability, or safety.
Seat Spotlight: Mirco RS1 Bucket Seat
The Mirco RS1 is a tried-and-tested FIA-approved bucket seat designed to give drivers that perfect mix of comfort and race-ready performance. It’s a popular option among club racers and track day enthusiasts, thanks to its compact shape and strong fibreglass shell. Our customer chose the 3D Spacer fabric trim, which is a fantastic choice for track-focused builds. This material is breathable, helping to keep the driver cooler under pressure while also being durable enough to hold up to repeated use and regular wear from harness belts and race gear.
What makes the RS1 particularly well-suited to smaller cars like the Mini F56 is its narrow profile and contoured shell. It provides excellent shoulder and thigh support without flaring too far out, making it easy to install in tight interiors without clashing with door cards or centre consoles. Despite its compact footprint, the RS1 doesn’t compromise on ergonomics; drivers feel securely held in place without feeling cramped.
Key Features:
- FIA 8855-1999 approved for competitive motorsport use
- Lightweight fibreglass shell construction
- 3D Spacer fabric for improved breathability and durability
- Compact dimensions suitable for smaller interiors
- Built-in harness slots for 4, 5 or 6-point racing harness compatibility
- Deep side bolsters for enhanced lateral support
- Custom embroidery, stitching colour, fabric and shell colours available to order
-
From £357.00 Excl. VAT Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Mirco RS1 Seat Dimensions
Before you commit to fitting one of these into your own build, it’s worth checking the sizing.
Shoulder width: 570mm
Base width (external): 470mm
Total seat height: 910mm
Mounting width (side): 290mm
Recommended waist range: 28–34 inches
This seat fits the Mini with zero modifications. If your car has a tight cockpit, the RS1 is a smart choice for drivers who want a compact seat with added head support.Â
Side Mount Focus: Endurance Motorsport Multipoint Brackets
These Endurance Motorsport multipoint M8 side mounts are the most adjustable side brackets we offer and they played a huge role in the success of this installation.
Key Features:
- Multiple side height options for driver positioning
- Elongated base slots for flexible mounting
- Can be flipped or reversed to fit narrow or wide seats
- M8 bolt compatibility with most popular racing seats
Alternative Bucket Seats We Recommend for the Mini F56
If you’re planning a build similar to this customer’s setup, these seats are our top picks:
-
From £324.00 Excl. VAT Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Final Thoughts – Track-Ready Fitment Made Simple
This Mini F56 build is a great example of how a compact car can still run a full FIA seat setup with the right parts and advice. The Mirco RS1 paired with Endurance Motorsport side mounts gives a safe, supportive and race-ready experience, while the clean floor mount approach simplifies everything. Whether you’re chasing lap times or just want more feedback and support behind the wheel, this setup delivers.
Thinking about building your own Mini for the track? Pop in and try the RS1 for yourself. It’s on display in our showroom, ready for viewing and testing.