Which Is Right For You? Recaro Pole Position FIA VS ABE
Your questions, October 2022
We have both the Recaro Pole Position FIA and the Pole Position ABE on display in the showroom, so you can sit in them side by side. They look almost identical, and we are often asked which one to buy.
The short answer: the FIA version carries an FIA label and is for competition, and the ABE version is for fast road and track day use. Here is how the two compare.
- Both seats are on display in the showroom to try
- Pole Position FIA: FIA 8855-1999, for scrutineered motorsport
- Pole Position ABE: road approved, no FIA label
- Both are fibreglass, fixed back, side mounted seats
- The FIA version takes a 6 point harness; the ABE is listed for 4 point
- Side mounts and a frame for the car are separate
What is on this page
The Recaro Pole Position FIA
The Pole Position FIA is Recaro’s club racing bucket seat and it is approved to FIA 8855-1999, so it can be used in motorsport events that ask for an FIA seat, as long as the date on its label is in date for that championship. It has a glass fibre reinforced plastic shell, and pronounced bolsters on the cushion and backrest that hold you firmly in the seat.
It has five harness slots, so a full 5 or 6 point harness goes through it properly, and the cushions can be washed, which helps the trim last. Recaro homologate the seat together with their own side mounts as a system, so it is fitted on Recaro side mounts and a frame for the car.
The Recaro Pole Position ABE
The ABE badge stands for German road approval. The ABE seat has the Pole Position look, but it does not carry an FIA label, so it is sold for fast road and track day use, not for scrutineered competition.
Our listing marks it as 4 point harness compatible, and like the FIA seat it is side mounted, so it also needs side mounts and a frame for the car.
Which one should you buy?
It comes down to what the car is for. If you compete, or plan to, in anything that asks for an FIA approved seat, the Pole Position FIA is the one, and a 6 point harness goes with it. If the car is a fast road car that does track days, the ABE gives you the same kind of support without paying for approval you will not use.
Both are well made, with durable trim in the areas that take the most wear, and both suit a wide range of drivers. Garreth’s advice is to sit in each one in the showroom, or send us your height and waist, before deciding. Our guide to FIA seat approval explains what the label means, and base mount or side mount covers the fitting.
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From £995.40 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £1,039.50 Incl. VATPayPal CreditTop 10 productKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Common questions
Is the Recaro Pole Position ABE FIA approved?
No. The ABE version has road approval but no FIA label, so it suits fast road and track days.
What approval does the Recaro Pole Position FIA have?
It is approved to FIA 8855-1999.
How many harness slots does the Pole Position FIA have?
Five, so it takes a full 5 or 6 point harness.
Do both Pole Position seats need side mounts?
Yes. Both are side mounted, so they need side mounts and a frame for the car.
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Our viewFIA for racing, ABE for the road
Choose by what the car is used for, then sit in both.
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