The Pole Position FIA, part 070.98.01, is Recaro’s competition seat for drivers who need FIA 8855-1999 homologation for timed events. It is not the seat for road use: it is side-mounted, fixed-back, and built around a GRP shell that prioritises head protection and harness geometry over the comfort features that a reclining road seat carries. FIA approval runs for five years from the production date printed on the label inside the shell, not from the date of purchase.
The shell weighs 7.0kg. At 235mm across its narrowest section it is a slim shell that suits drivers with a 32 to 36 inch waist and a height under 6 feet. A 6-point harness fits correctly through the five-slot configuration; a 4- or 5-point belt also routes cleanly. The shoulder cutouts are shaped for HANS/FHR use. Available in Perlon velour black or red; the cushions are removable and washable, which extends the working life of the cover in an active competition season.
The Pole Position FIA sits below the Profi SPG in the Recaro motorsport range. The Profi SPG is designed specifically for rally use with a taller and wider shell, while the Pole Position is the circuit-focused product at a lower entry price. The Carbon version of the Pole Position (part RecaroCarbonABE) uses a carbon-aramid shell instead of GRP and carries ABE road approval rather than FIA competition homologation, so it is a separate product with different certification. Seat only: side mounts and sub-frames are separate items. FIA-approved seats cannot be transferred into or out of regulatory compliance by coating or modification; the label is the authoritative document for scrutineering.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes, we have covered this exact product: Back in stock: Recaro Pole Position ABE, in velour and Ambla leather, and Fitting a Recaro Pole Position in a Porsche 993: brackets, rails and room for a tall driver. That is first-hand coverage from our own builds and showroom, not brochure copy.
ABE or FIA Pole Position, which do I need?
The ABE version carries German road-use approval and is the one for street builds; the FIA version is homologated for competition. Same shell either way, so pick by what the car does. Both mount on Recaro’s own bolt pattern, so use the frames we list for Recaro seats, and tell us your car and we will match the exact subframe.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers under 6ft in height with a 32in to 36in 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 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.
