The OMP HTE EVO VTR, homologated to FIA 8855-2021. Part number OMPHA0-0901-A01.
The 2021 standard is the current FIA seat homologation and it is a harder one to pass than the 8855-1999 that most competition seats still carry. It also runs for longer, so a seat bought to it stays legal for more seasons. If you are weighing this against a cheaper 1999 seat, compare cost per season rather than ticket price.
What HTE means here
The HTE is the higher specification shell in the EVO family, sitting above the HTC. Fibreglass, fixed back, side mount, four and six point harness compatible, black. OMP list it for all heights with a 36 to 38 inch waist bracket.
The mounts are part of the approval
An 8855-2021 homologation applies when the seat is used on the correct side mountings, which are sold separately. Put an approved shell on brackets that were never part of the approval and the installation is no longer covered by it, whatever the label on the seat says.
You also need a vehicle specific sub-frame under the mounts. Tell us the car and we will make sure the whole installation stands up rather than just the seat.
Ask us to read the manufacture date off current stock before you order.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes, we have covered this exact product: OMP HTC EVO VTR Fibreglass Seat In-Store Showcase, and OMP HTE Evo Bucket Seat New For GSM Performance. 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 8855-2021 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.