A pair of OMP ARS competition seats in fibreglass. Part number HA774E-X2.
The ARS is a roomier shell than most in the OMP competition range. OMP list it for all heights with a 36 to 38 inch waist bracket, which is a good deal more accommodating than the WRC-R or the First R, and it is the seat to look at if narrower shells have not worked for you.
Specification
Fibreglass, velour trim, FIA 8855-1999 homologated, fixed back, side mount, four and six point harness compatible, black.
Velour grips more than a smooth surface, which matters when you are strapped in hard and the shell is doing the holding. It also does not go cold and slippery the way vinyl can in an unheated garage.
Why a composite shell
It holds its shape under lateral load in a way a tubular steel frame with foam over it cannot quite match, and it weighs less. That is what separates the fibreglass seats from the steel framed TRS range below them, and it is what you are paying for. The approval is the same.
What else you need
Approved side mounts and a vehicle specific sub-frame per seat. An approved seat on unapproved mounts is not an approved installation, so the mounts are part of the job.
Seats only. Tell us the car and we will match mounts and frames, and ask us for the manufacture dates on current stock.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes, we have covered this exact product: Which Is Right For You? OMP Champ VS OMP ARS. That is first-hand coverage from our own builds and showroom, not brochure copy.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers with a 36in to 38in waist. Those are the paper numbers; how a seat actually feels to sit in and climb out of is a different question, and our showroom team sit in these seats every day, so call us with your height and waist and we will give you the honest answer.
Is it FIA approved, and for how long?
Yes, it carries FIA 8855-1999 homologation. Every FIA seat has a not-valid-after year printed on its homologation label, and that label date is what a scrutineer checks, so look at the label on the seat you receive and check it against your championship regulations. Buying new means you get the freshest label the maker currently produces.
What do I need to fit it to my car?
This is a side-mount seat: it hangs between side brackets, the motorsport-style stack with fine height and angle control. You will need the car-specific frame, and a sliding runner if you want fore-and-aft adjustment. Our guide on base mount versus side mount walks through the whole stack, and tell us your car and we will quote the full kit.
Does it work with harnesses and a HANS device?
The shell takes 4 point compatible and 6 point compatible. If you are planning the full seat, harness, and HANS setup, tell us the car and we will spec it end to end.
How do I know it will feel right, not just fit on paper?
Fair question, because makers publish widths and weights, never feel, and two seats with identical numbers can feel nothing alike in the car. We keep the ranges on display in the Nottingham showroom, you are welcome to come and sit in them, and if you cannot get to us, call and describe your build, as the team sit in these seats every day. Our head support measurements guide shows the kind of real-world data we collect.