The RX-8 is the last rotary Mazda built for road use, and it had a following from the day it launched. The Renesis 13B spins to nine thousand revs, the chassis is well-balanced by the standards of anything in the same bracket from that era, and the rear-hinged half doors are still a talking point. What the original seats cannot do is keep up. They work on a commute but they are not enough for a track day, and the foam does not survive the heat the rotary pushes into the cabin during hard laps.
One frame route for this car: the Planted Technology bracket. Planted brackets are base mounts that take any reclining seat pattern we stock, so the field is open once the bracket is in. Cameron and I put together five seats below that work with this car, from a £449 Sparco to a £2,800 carbon SPX. The route in every case is the same: Planted bracket, matching sliding runners, seat.
The Planted Technology bracket is a steel base mount that bolts to the RX-8’s factory floor mounting points, no drilling required on a standard floor. It is sold per side, driver and passenger separately, and it does not include runners. Part number SB079. The bracket is compatible with any base-mount reclining seat, which is why every seat in this guide is an option: a 291mm Cobra, a 345mm Sparco and a 405mm Recaro all bolt straight to it through their respective runner kits.
One note on the doors before you order. The RX-8’s rear half doors only open once the front is open. A Planted base-mount bracket does not add any side extrusion to the floor, so it does not change the door aperture. If you later plan to add side mounts to the bracket, think about rear-seat access before you do.
Part SB079, £224.95 inc VAT a side. RHD driver and passenger listed separately. A flat base that accepts any reclining seat pattern in this guide, paired with the matching runners. Sold without runners.
Every reclining seat we stock bolts down through a base-mount pattern, and for the RX-8 via the Planted bracket, all five patterns in this guide work. The Corbeau RRS Low Base is drilled for both 291mm and 345mm, which makes it the most flexible seat in the list. The Sparco R333 and SPX use the same 345mm x 271mm pattern and share the same runner kit. The Daytona uses Cobra’s 291mm x 330mm, and the Recaro Sportster CS uses a wider 405mm x 290mm. Each has its own runner kit. Pick the seat first, then add the matching runners alongside the bracket.
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Planted bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Corbeau RRS Low Base | 291 or 345 | Fits |
| Sparco R333 | 345 x 271 | Fits |
| Cobra Daytona | 291 x 330 | Fits |
| Recaro Sportster CS | 405 x 290 | Fits |
| Sparco SPX | 345 x 271 | Fits |
The RRS Low Base is where most RX-8 owners start, and it is usually the right call. The RX-8 cabin sits lower than a hatchback, and the Low Base variant buys back headroom that a standard-height seat takes from you. Corbeau drill it for both 291mm and 345mm bolt patterns, which means it pairs with either the Corbeau 291mm runners or the Sparco runner kit on the Planted bracket. The backrest shape is sculpted at the shoulder and thigh rather than flat, which is containment without committing to a full racing shell. The fit range runs to 38 inches at the waist, so it takes drivers the R333 and the SPX do not.
The R333 is the entry recliner in Sparco’s road seat range, and on a car with this chassis there is a real argument for it. Steel frame, cloth trim, a recline mechanism that holds its angle under road use. One thing to say plainly before you order: Sparco publish it as a 32 to 36 inch waist and under six foot. That is narrower than most seats in this guide, so check your measurements before adding it to the basket. If you are right on either boundary, drop us an email or click to open a chat and Cameron will measure the seat against your dimensions. The 345mm x 271mm pattern uses the Sparco runner kit alongside the Planted bracket.
The Daytona is the everyday Cobra recliner: side bolsters at the shoulder and thigh, a recline mechanism that holds its position under track-day loads, and a build quality that puts up with daily use without looking worn out inside two seasons. It is available in a standard cloth trim and the Tartan Edition if you want more character on the inside. One thing the Daytona suits well on the RX-8 is the heat question. Cobra trim the Daytona in breathable cloth options without the heat of heavy velour, which matters on a car with a rotary running alongside you. The 291mm x 330mm pattern works on the Planted bracket with Cobra’s own 291mm sliding runners.
The Sportster CS holds you firmly through the shoulders and thighs without the squeeze of a full FIA bucket, so it stays comfortable on the drive to the circuit as well as on it. Recaro list it for all waist sizes and all heights, which covers the same ground as the RX-8’s interior does. On the RX-8 specifically, trim choice is worth thinking about before you order. A rotary puts serious heat into the cabin, and the Sportster CS comes in Ambla leather as well as Dinamica suede. For most track use the leather breathes better over a long session. The heated version adds a useful option if the car still does winter miles. The 405mm x 290mm base mount is wider than either the Sparco or Corbeau patterns, so it uses the Endurance Recaro-compatible runner kit on the Planted bracket.
The SPX is Sparco’s carbon composite recliner, and it is a different animal from the R333. The shell is carbon composite, the weight is low, and the backrest curve holds the driver firmly at the shoulder and hip. Sparco list it for 32 to 38 inch waists and all heights, so it is not as restricted as the R333 and it covers most of the same ground as the Corbeau in terms of fit. One thing to know: the SPX has no built-in head support. On a road car that is not a concern, but if this RX-8 is going near a circuit regularly with a harness, you want a bar or cage structure behind the seat. Cameron can talk through the options. The 345mm x 271mm pattern shares the same Sparco runner kit as the R333.
The Planted bracket bolts to the RX-8’s factory floor mounting points. No drilling on a standard floor. Torque the floor bolts and check seat belt buckle clearance before driving, because a sport seat usually puts the buckle in a new position. The bracket is sold per side, so a pair of seats means two brackets in the basket. Runners are separate for every seat in this guide, matched to the bolt pattern below. The Corbeau RRS Low Base is drilled for both 291mm and 345mm, but the table below uses the 291mm Corbeau runner as the standard pairing.
| Your seat | Runners to order | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Corbeau RRS Low Base | Corbeau 291mm sliding runners (214839) | £98 a pair |
| Sparco R333 | Sparco sliding runner kit (184229) | £65 a pair |
| Cobra Daytona | Cobra 291mm sliding runners (214851) | £98 a pair |
| Recaro Sportster CS | Endurance Recaro-compatible runner kit (224836) | £79.20 a seat |
| Sparco SPX | Sparco sliding runner kit (184229) | £65 a pair |
The Planted bracket fits the Mazda RX-8 from 2003 to 2012. The RX-8 was discontinued after 2012 and replaced by nothing directly equivalent; if your car has a 2013 registration or later it is a different chassis and this bracket does not apply. If you are not certain of the production date, check before ordering.
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Waist | Height | Weight | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbeau RRS Low Base | 291 or 345 | 32 to 38in | All heights | Not published | £498.00 |
| Sparco R333 | 345 x 271 | 32 to 36in | Under 6ft | Not published | £449.47 |
| Cobra Daytona | 291 x 330 | 32 to 38in | All heights | Not published | £599.00 |
| Recaro Sportster CS | 405 x 290 | All sizes | All heights | Not published | From £1,581.30 |
| Sparco SPX | 345 x 271 | 32 to 38in | All heights | Not published | £2,815.79 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 2 October 2026. Where weight says not published, the manufacturer does not give one and we will not guess it. Waist and height figures are the manufacturers’ published fitment ranges; if you are on a boundary, ask us before ordering.
No, not on a standard floor. The Planted bracket bolts to the factory seat mounting points. Torque the floor bolts and check the seat belt buckle clearance before you drive, because a sport seat usually puts the buckle in a different position from the original.
The RX-8's rear half doors only open once the front is open. The Planted base-mount bracket does not add any side extrusion to the floor, so it does not narrow the door aperture. If you plan to add side mounts to the bracket at a later stage, think through rear-seat access before you do.
Worth thinking through before you order, not after. A heavily padded velour shell holds heat in; the leather, vinyl and cloth options on seats like the Recaro Sportster CS and the Cobra Daytona breathe better over a long session. If you are not sure which trim works best for your use, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will help you work it out.
Every seat in this guide is listed by its manufacturer as 4-point compatible, with belt slots in the backrest. If you are planning harnesses alongside the seat, tell us when you order and we will check the whole setup works together. The Sparco SPX has no built-in head support, so if you are fitting harnesses to the SPX, you want a harness bar or rollcage structure behind the seat.
Sparco publish it as 32 to 36 inch waist, under six foot. That is narrower than most of the range. If you are on the edge of either, ring us or use the chat before ordering. The Corbeau RRS Low Base and the Cobra Daytona both run to 38 inches and all heights if the R333 does not fit.
For most RX-8 owners: the Corbeau RRS Low Base. The Low Base clearance makes sense in this roofline, the dual bolt pattern keeps your options open later, and the fit range takes most drivers. If you are a 32 to 36 inch waist and under six foot, the Sparco R333 at £449 is the better value pick and leaves more budget for the bracket and runners.
If the budget stretches further, the Recaro Sportster CS is the seat people hold onto longest. On a rotary car that gets warm under track conditions, the Ambla leather trim is worth specifying over velour. The Cobra Daytona is the right answer if you want something more contained than the Corbeau at a sensible price, and the breathable cloth trims suit the RX-8’s heat better than some alternatives.
The SPX is there if you want the best seat in the guide with no compromises. It is genuinely light, the bolstering is precise, and it looks right in the cabin. Just talk to Cameron before ordering if you plan to run harnesses, because the no-head-support note matters on a car going near a circuit.
For anything in between, ring us on 0115 9893488 or email the team, and we will match the seat to your dimensions before you spend anything. Every combination here bolts to the Planted bracket on the RX-8’s factory mounting points.
The five reclining sport seats we rate for the Mazda RX-8 (2003-2012), with the Planted Technology bracket and runner kits that bolt each one straight to the factory mounting points.
Every Safety Devices roll cage we hold for the Saab 96, 99 and 900, with part numbers, prices, approvals and the sunroof condition on the 900 listing that catches people out.
The five reclining sport seats we recommend for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, with the Sparco sub-frame route, runner pairing table, and a full fitting guide built around the 345mm bolt pattern.
It does not fold, but the rear panels lift out. The SW Motorsports M2 seat delete kit is three pieces: a floor panel and two rear panels that clip into the rear seat release brackets and slide out, with a couple of screws on some cars.
The lowest way to sit in a Mazda MX-5 Mk3 NC: the PCI Racing fixed position kit with a fibreglass Sparco Rev or Evo, and the base cushion out for track days.
The five reclining sport seats we rate for the Honda Civic EK, with the Sparco fitting frame route that bolts each one straight to the factory mounting points.
