Ford Focus Mk1 bucket seat guide
1998 to 2004, including ST170 and RS
The chassis was well ahead of its time, which is why people still bother building a twenty-five-year-old hatchback. The ST170 and RS in particular carry a following into serious motorsport and time attack builds, not just nostalgia.
Both the ST170 and RS came from the factory with better seats than the standard Focus, and the RS Sparco seats are worth money on their own. If you are swapping them out, store them and their fixings properly, and tell us what you are trying to achieve so the replacement combination actually suits the car.
These cars are old enough now that the floor is worth checking before ordering anything. This guide covers the fitting frames, competition seats, and roll cages confirmed for the Mk1, built 1998 to 2004.
- Five brands list a Mk1-specific direct-fit sub-frame: Sparco, OMP, Corbeau, Recaro and Planted Technology. All confirmed for 1998-2004
- If your car has the factory RS Sparco seats, they are worth money on their own. Store them and their fixings properly rather than disposing of them if you swap in a competition seat
- Check the floor mounting points before ordering. These cars are old enough now that condition varies significantly between examples
- Both base mount and side mount are available. Side mount uses the Sparco FIA steel brackets
- Harnesses above 3-point need a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar
Mounting
The Sparco direct-fit sub-frame (14839) at £81.50 and OMP direct-fit sub-frame (15752, part HC816) at £97.17 both bring the floor up to the base-mount pattern, taking Sparco, OMP and Corbeau seats. The Corbeau sub-frame (16551) at £245 is the brand-specific option for Corbeau seats.
The Recaro sub-frame (14958) at £179.37 is the matching frame if you are running a Recaro recliner, including the Sportster CS. The Planted Technology bracket (18054) at £185.50 covers the 2000-2007 range and works with a wide range of seat types; talk to us before ordering to confirm the combination.
For side mount, the Sparco FIA steel brackets (13876) carry their own FIA approval. Add the Sparco sliding runner kit (14036) for fore-aft adjustment.
Keep the RS Sparco seatsIf your car has the factory-fitted RS Sparco seats, they carry real resale value on their own. Store them and their original fixings properly rather than disposing of them, in case a future owner wants them back.
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Competition bucket seats
Most seats here carry FIA 8855-1999 approval. The Sparco Sprint at £210 and Cobra Monaco Pro at £235 are dual-mount options at a similar price, the Cobra offering a steel shell. The OMP Champ-R at £318 and OMP TRS-E Sky at £243 are lighter fibreglass alternatives, side mount and HANS-compatible.
The Mirco RTS-2 Velour at £349, Mirco RS1 3D at £372, Sabelt GT3 at £431 and Sparco Evo L QRT at £510 sit at the upper end, all suited to an ST170 or RS built for regular track use. The Corbeau Sprint X System 1 at £575 and Pro Series X System 1 at £610 are the newest-standard FIA seats in this range.
The Endurance Motorsport Club Sport at £209.79 and Auto Style Type RR at £254.60 are the accessible track day options rather than full competition seats.
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Competition seats for the Focus Mk1Which bucket seat for a Ford Focus Mk1
For a track day car, the OMP Champ-R at £318 is a lighter FIA-rated fibreglass option. If the car sees contact, the Cobra Monaco Pro at £235 trades some weight for a steel shell. For an ST170 or RS built properly for circuit work, the Sparco Evo L QRT at £510 or the Corbeau Pro Series X System 1 at £610 give strong support through fast corners. Talk to us with the seat dimensions and confirm the sub-frame before ordering.
Reclining sport seats
Reclining sport seats are base mount, fitting the sub-frames above depending on brand. The Sparco R100 at £235 is the practical starting point. The Auto Style Type JW at £245.60 and Type MS at £236.60 are accessible alternatives. The Sparco R500 Fabric at £274.16 and R333 at £374.56 give a step up in lateral support.
The Cobra Daytona at £499.17 is the Cobra reclining option here. At the top of the range, the Recaro Sportster CS at £1317.75 and the heated version at £1795.50 are premium reclining seats. The Sparco SPR at £1549.12 is the alternative premium option if you are not set on Recaro specifically.
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Reclining seats for the Focus Mk1Which recliner for a Ford Focus Mk1
The Sparco R100 at £235 is the sensible starting point for a road-focused Mk1, a real step up from the factory seat that does not turn the car into something impractical day to day. The Sparco R333 at £374.56 is worth the jump if the car sees regular track use. For an ST170 or RS getting a full interior rebuild, the Recaro Sportster CS at £1317.75 pairs naturally with the Recaro sub-frame, or the Sparco SPR at £1549.12 if you want the alternative premium option.
Roll cages
Safety Devices list three options: the multipoint bolt-in rear cage (18753) at £457, the with-sunroof bolt-in rear cage (18747) at £428, and the weld-in CDS cage (18748) at £1282 for a car being built properly for competition. The OMP bolt-in cage (18889) at £990 and Sparco 6-point bolt-in cage (19355) at £1066 are the alternatives from those brands.
Custom Cages list two multipoint options: the CDS Multipoint (16705) at £1239.23 and the T45 Multipoint (16706) at £1377.23, both weld-in designs for a serious build.
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Harnesses
Harnesses need a roll cage or harness barA 4-point, 5-point or 6-point harness with separate shoulder straps needs proper attachment points above and behind the seat. Fit a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar before using anything above a 3-point belt.
The TRS Clubman 3-point bolt-in at £80 and 4-point clip-in at £100 both use the standard seat belt anchor points and do not need a cage. For 4-point competition use, the TRS Magnum 4-point FIA at £205 and the Takata Drift II at £229 are the step up.
For 6-point harnesses, the cage goes in first. The TRS Magnum 6-point Superlite FIA at £245, the Takata Drift III at £270, and the Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 all suit a caged Focus Mk1 going to competition or serious track days.
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What fits
Mounting route and approval for every seat in this guide.
| Seat | Mounting | Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition bucket seats | |||
| Sparco Sprint FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Dual mount. |
| Cobra Monaco Pro FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Steel shell. Dual mount. |
| OMP Champ-R FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | HANS compatible. |
| OMP TRS-E Sky FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | |
| Mirco RTS-2 Velour FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | |
| Mirco RS1 3D FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Fibreglass shell. |
| Sabelt GT3 FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Strong lateral support. |
| Sparco Evo L QRT FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | |
| Corbeau Sprint X System 1 FIA | Side mount | FIA System 1 | Newer System 1 standard. |
| Corbeau Pro Series X System 1 FIA | Side mount | FIA System 1 | Newer System 1 standard. |
| Endurance Motorsport Club Sport | Side mount | Road and Track | Non-FIA. |
| Auto Style Type RR | Side mount | Road and Track | Non-FIA. |
| Reclining sport seats | |||
| Sparco R100 | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Auto Style Type JW | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Auto Style Type MS | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Sparco R500 Fabric | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Sparco R333 | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Cobra Daytona | Base mount | Road and Track | Fibreglass recliner. |
| Recaro Sportster CS | Base mount | Road and Track | Recaro sub-frame. |
| Recaro Sportster CS With Heating | Base mount | Road and Track | Recaro sub-frame. |
| Sparco SPR | Base mount | Road and Track | Premium reclining seat. |
Common questions
Should I keep the factory RS seats?
Yes, if you can. The RS Sparco seats carry real resale value on their own. Store them and their original fixings properly if you swap in a competition seat, in case you sell the car or want to return it to standard later.
Which sub-frame should I choose?
Sparco and OMP both cover the standard base-mount pattern for Sparco, OMP and Corbeau seats. If you are running a Corbeau or Recaro seat specifically, their brand-matched sub-frames are the more direct fit.
Should I check the floor before ordering?
Yes. These cars are old enough now that floor condition varies a lot between examples. Check the mounting points are sound before ordering a sub-frame or cage.
Is there a weld-in cage option for a serious build?
Yes, several. Safety Devices, Custom Cages and both offer weld-in multipoint options for a Focus being built properly for competition, alongside the bolt-in options for a lighter track day setup.
Can I run a 6-point harness without a roll cage?
No. A 6-point harness needs anchor points above and behind the seat for the shoulder straps. Fit a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar first. A 3-point bolt-in harness uses the standard seat belt anchor points and does not need a cage.
More help
If your car has the original RS seats, tell us what you are trying to achieve before you swap them out. Cameron works through the seat, frame and car combination together, and can advise on storing the originals properly if resale value matters to you.
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