MSA Homologation Extended Dates: Motorsport UK Adds A Year To Some FIA Seats
Important news, March 2021
On 8 March 2021 Motorsport UK, the governing body that used to be called the MSA, announced that it is extending the validity of certain FIA homologated competition seats by one year. The reason is the pandemic: many competitors have not been able to get the full usable life out of seats that expired in 2020 and 2021.
If you compete on an FIA seat, it is worth checking the label now. Here is what the extension says, which seats it covers, and where to read the full wording.
- Announced by Motorsport UK on 8 March 2021
- A one year extension for certain FIA homologated competition seats
- Applies under regulations N6.13.6.1 and R48.10.6
- Seats labelled as made in 2013: usable for up to 8 years from that date
- Seats with a Not Valid After date of 2019: usable until 31 December 2022
What is on this page
What Motorsport UK has announced
The Motorsport UK Board and its Technical Committee have agreed a 12 month extension beyond the homologated life of seats that expired during 2020 and 2021. Competitors have lost events to lockdowns, and the governing body has said it wants to recognise that seats bought for those seasons were not used for their full life.
The relevant regulations are N6.13.6.1 and R48.10.6. The change is made as an exemption under regulation A2.4, it takes effect immediately, and it runs until 31 December 2022.
Which seats the extension covers
There are two cases. A seat whose original homologation label shows a manufacture date during 2013 may be used for up to 8 years from the date on that label. A seat whose original label shows a Not Valid After date of 2019 may be used until 31 December 2022.
Those dates already include the two extra years of use over the FIA homologation that seats in National events in these disciplines were allowed. So this is one more year on top of that, not a fresh start. The extension also applies only where those regulations apply: if you compete elsewhere, your own championship’s rules decide.
How to check your own seat
Find the FIA homologation label on the seat shell and read the date on it: either the year of manufacture or the Not Valid After date, depending on the label. Then compare it with the two cases above.
Garreth’s advice is to read the label before the season, not in the queue at scrutineering, and to check the full wording yourself on the Motorsport UK announcement. If the answer is still unclear, your scrutineer or championship is the one to ask. Our guide to damaged FIA seat labels covers what happens when the label cannot be read.
A new FIA seat standard: 8855-2021
Alongside the extension, Motorsport UK has pointed to the new FIA 8855-2021 seat standard. It sets significantly higher performance requirements than the 1999 standard, with more strength in rear impacts and better support for the pelvis, shoulders and head in side impacts. A seat approved to it has a maximum usable life of 10 years from its year of manufacture.
If you are replacing a seat anyway, it is worth asking us about the new standard and when seats built to it will be available.
What did Motorsport UK announce on 8 March 2021?
A one year extension to the validity of certain FIA homologated competition seats, because of the pandemic.
Which regulations does the seat extension apply to?
Regulations N6.13.6.1 and R48.10.6, as an exemption under regulation A2.4.
My seat's label says Not Valid After 2019. Can I still use it?
Under the extension, a seat with a Not Valid After date of 2019 may be used until 31 December 2022 where those regulations apply.
How long does an FIA 8855-2021 seat last?
A maximum usable life of 10 years from its year of manufacture.
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Before the seasonRead the label now
One more year for some FIA seats, but only if the date on yours falls inside the extension.
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