The Sparco ADV Prime in carbon. Part number S008033.
This is homologated to FIA 8862-2009, which is the highest FIA seat homologation there is. A seat has to survive impact loads well beyond anything the 8855 standards ask for to carry it, and that is why professional GT, prototype and top level rally cars run seats like this. For a club car it is a great deal more seat than the regulations require, and we will say so rather than sell you one.
What is in it
A carbon fibre bodyshell at around 5.3kg, developed with M-Sport, with optimal head and shoulder protection built into the shape. FIA approved energy absorbing padding, a self extinguishing fabric lining, anti slip material on the shoulders and the seat, and a full length cushion with a separate leg rest.
Sparco cut it for a driver over six feet with a 32 to 36 inch waist, which is a specific combination and worth checking against yourself before you spend.
Mounting is part of the approval
The 8862-2009 approval applies when the seat is used with the ADV Prime side mounts. It uses M12 lateral fastenings at 290mm spacing. Put this shell on general purpose brackets and the installation is no longer covered by the homologation it was sold on, whatever the label says. The matched side mounts are the ones to use.
Seat only, six point compatible, head and neck restraint friendly. Ask us for the manufacture date on current stock.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers over 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 8882-2009 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.
