The Sabelt X-Pad Carbon Motorsport Seat, part number SABRFSEXPADCARBON, is a carbon fibre bucket seat approved to FIA 8855-1999. The shell is produced in one size, equivalent to the L shell of the X-Pad Fibreglass range. Brackets are not included.
The FIA 8855-1999 approval is the same standard carried by the fibreglass X-Pad (RFSEXPADNR). The shell geometry, DCT-SUPER NARROW head protection, ADS air ducting and Kinderpoint non-slip fabric carry over from the fibreglass version. The difference is the shell material and the weight saving that comes with it.
Carbon fibre construction is considerably lighter than fibreglass. In a car where total weight is closely regulated, or where the driver is building a setup with minimum possible mass, the carbon shell reduces one variable without changing the approval level or the containment geometry.
At £2,433 against the fibreglass X-Pad at £630, the carbon version commands a substantial premium for the material upgrade. The FIA approval level and protective geometry are the same. If your class only requires FIA 8855-1999 and you are not constrained by weight regulations, the fibreglass version achieves the same compliance at significantly lower cost.
For drivers whose class requires FIA 8862-2009, neither the X-Pad Carbon nor the fibreglass version meets that standard. The Sabelt GT-PRO Carbon (SABRFSEGTPROPAD) carries FIA 8862-2009 approval and is the seat for that requirement.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers with a 36in to 38in or 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 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.
