Will the Sparco Sprint L Seat Work with M2 Rails? Here's the Complete Guide
Seat fitting guide
A customer with a Honda Civic FN2 asked us whether their Sparco Sprint L would go on M2 Motorsport direct fit sub-frames. It is a good question, because the Sprint L is Sparco's wide version of the Sprint, and a wider shell changes which mounting routes work.
The short answer is no: the Sprint L is too wide for M2 rails. For that car we recommended a different route: a Planted Technology bracket with a Sparco slider, using the Sprint L's base mounts. This guide explains both routes, why we went the Planted way, and what to check before you order either.
- The Sprint L is Sparco's wide Sprint, for a 40 to 42 inch waist, FIA 8855-1999
- It can be base mounted or side mounted
- Base mount uses Sparco's 345mm by 271mm pattern
- M2 frames are side mount kits with 290mm side mount holes
- For the FN2 we recommended a Planted bracket with a Sparco slider
- Planted's 2006 to 2011 Civic bracket is SB068; check your chassis before ordering
What is on this page
What the Sprint L is
The Sprint L is the large shell version of Sparco’s Sprint FIA bucket seat. Everything in the standard Sprint carries over: a steel shell, velour trim, six point harness slots, HANS friendly, and FIA 8855-1999 homologation. The difference is that the shell is cut wider and deeper for bigger drivers, and we list it for a 40 to 42 inch waist.
Crucially for fitting, the Sprint L can be mounted two ways. It has base mounts on Sparco’s 345mm by 271mm pattern, and it can be side mounted using Sparco’s FIA steel side mounts. That choice is what the M2 question comes down to.
A steel shell flexes less than fibreglass, so the shell width needs to suit you properly. If you are at the lower end of 40 inches, Garreth’s advice is to sit in one before committing.
How M2 rails work
M2 Motorsport direct fit sub-frames are complete kits: the frame, the runners and the side mounts together, made for one car and bolted to the factory floor mounting points without drilling. The FN2 kit is part M2-20280-0000.
They are built for side mounted bucket seats and take seats with 290mm side mount holes. A seat that only has base mounts needs M2's adaption bars as well. So the question with any seat on an M2 kit is simple: do its side mount points line up with the frame?
For the Sprint L the answer is no. The shell is too wide to sit on M2 rails, which is why we pointed this customer to the Planted route below. The one Corbeau point to know: its side mount seats now use M10 fixings, while M2 and PCI side mounts are drilled for M8, so the holes need drilling out slightly for M10, a small modification rather than a straight bolt-on.
The route we recommended: Planted and a Sparco slider
A Planted Technology bracket is made for one car and bolts to its factory seat mounting points. Its top is drilled for the sliders of the main seat makers, including Sparco, so a base mounted Sparco seat can go on it with a Sparco slider in between.
That suits the Sprint L well. Its base mounts are on Sparco’s 345mm by 271mm pattern, the same as Sparco’s sliding runners, so the stack is: Planted bracket on the floor, Sparco slider on the bracket, seat on the slider. The slider gives you fore and aft adjustment, which you would otherwise lose, and it matters for getting your reach to the wheel and pedals right.
For the FN2, Planted’s bracket is SB068, listed for the Honda Civic from 2006 to 2011. Honda sold three different Civics in those years, the FN2 in the UK and Europe, the FD2 saloon in Japan, and another car in North America, and they do not share a floor. Send us the registration or chassis number so we order the right one. The bracket is handed, so order one per side.
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Fitting the Sprint L on a Planted bracket
1. Remove the factory seat. The FN2 has side airbags in its seats, so disconnect the battery and note each connector before unplugging anything.
2. Bolt the Sparco slider to the Sprint L’s base on the bench, then bolt the seat and slider to the Planted bracket.
3. Fit the bracket to the factory mounting points and torque every bolt.
4. Check the stack. Make sure the slider locks, the seat does not move, and your harness geometry works with the seat’s final position before you fit the belts.
Note that Sparco’s runners are for road and track day use and are not FIA approved for competition. If the car runs in a series with scrutineering, ask us about an approved mounting setup. Our guide to seat height in bucket seat installs is worth reading before you choose.
Can the Sparco Sprint L be base mounted?
Yes. It has base mounts on Sparco’s 345mm by 271mm pattern, and it can also be side mounted.
Does the Sparco Sprint L fit M2 rails?
No. The Sprint L shell is too wide for M2 rails. Base mount it on a Planted bracket with a Sparco slider instead.
What did you recommend for the Civic FN2?
A Planted Technology SB068 bracket with a Sparco slider, using the Sprint L’s base mounts.
What seats do M2 frames take?
Side mount bucket seats with 290mm side mount holes. The Sprint L is not one of them: it is too wide for M2 rails.
Are Sparco runners FIA approved?
No. They are for road and track day use, not FIA approved for competition.
Who is the Sprint L for?
We list it for drivers with a 40 to 42 inch waist.
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Our FN2 answerPlanted plus a Sparco slider
Base mount the Sprint L on the car's own bracket, with fore and aft adjustment.
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