The Recaro Pro Racer SPA XL, part number REC071.44.0630, is the large-shell version of the carbon-Kevlar competition seat. The XL shell is 35mm wider than the standard Pro Racer SPA and sits 50mm taller. It is designed for drivers with a 36 to 40 inch waist and a height over six feet. A driver who fits the standard SPA shell will find the XL loose at the shoulder and hip.
Carbon-Kevlar CFK composite construction gives the XL shell a weight of 7.0kg, roughly 3kg lighter than the fibreglass SPG HANS XL at the same shell size. The weight saving is the primary reason to choose carbon over fibreglass in competition. At £3,683.40 it costs approximately twice the GRP equivalent.
FIA 8855-1999 homologation applies. Validity runs five years from the homologation date printed on the label inside the seat. Check the label date, not the purchase date, when calculating scrutineering eligibility.
The HANS geometry is built into the shell in the same way as the rest of the Pro Racer range. Harness guides are set for 4, 5, or 6-point belts. The head guard includes shock-absorbing foam positioned to work with the HANS device rather than interfering with it.
Carbon-Kevlar shells are not repairable after a serious structural impact, unlike fibreglass. If the car does serious competition and the seat may take a load in an incident, factor the replacement cost into the decision between GRP and carbon. Side mounts sold separately.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers over 6ft in height with a 36in to 40in 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.