RECARO
RECARO Podium Sport Seat - Right Hand Drive
RECARO Podium Sport Seat - Right Hand Drive
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| Brand | RECARO — Germany |
| Homologation | FIA 8855-1999 Competition Seat — also ABE road approved |
| Shell Material | Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) — lightweight and rigid |
| Road Use | ABE road approval — the only FIA shell seat approved for road use |
| Pad System | Innovative pad concept — varying thickness options for personalised fit |
| Harness | Suitable for 3-point (road) and 4, 5 and 6-point (racing) harness systems |
| HANS / FHR | Compatible with HANS and FHR head restraint devices |
| Mounting | Side W-type — RECARO Podium specific side mounts required (sold separately) |
| Head Support | Integrated headrest for lateral support |
| AGR Certified | German Healthier Backs Campaign certified — ergonomically validated |
| Made In | Germany — RECARO factory, Kirchheim/Teck |
| Supplied By | Tegiwa Imports — authorised UK RECARO distributor |
| VAT | Price shown includes VAT |
The RECARO Podium holds a unique position in the market — it is the only retrofit shell seat in the world with both FIA 8855-1999 competition homologation and ABE German general type approval for road use. This means a single seat can legally be used in a competition car, a road car and a simulator without compromise.
Built from a CFRP carbon fibre shell, the Podium features RECARO's innovative pad concept with varying thickness options, an integrated headrest for lateral support and full compatibility with HANS head restraint devices. AGR certified by the German Healthier Backs Campaign, it is ergonomically validated for extended use — making it well suited to long simulator sessions.
- FIA 8855-1999 homologated competition seat
- ABE road approval — unique dual certification for road and race use
- CFRP carbon fibre shell — lightweight and highly rigid
- Innovative variable thickness pad concept for personalised fit
- Integrated headrest for lateral head and neck support
- Designed for use with HANS head and neck safety systems
- Compatible with 3-point (road) and 4, 5 and 6-point (racing) harnesses
- AGR certified — German Healthier Backs Campaign validated ergonomics
- Manufactured in Germany at the RECARO factory
Sim Racing Use: The Podium is the most versatile seat in this range — equally valid for a sim rig, a track car and a road car. Specific Podium side mount brackets are required (not universal FIA side mounts) — contact us before ordering to confirm the correct bracket for your rig setup.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between FIA 8862-2009 and FIA 8855-1999?
FIA 8862-2009 is the Advanced Racing Seat standard — it offers a 300% increase in shell strength compared to the FIA 8855-1999 standard and carries a 10-year homologation period. It is the standard used in Formula 1, WEC and top-level GT racing. FIA 8855-1999 is the standard competition seat certification used across GT, touring car, rally and club motorsport worldwide. Both are genuine competition standards — 8862 is simply the higher specification.
Do I need FIA homologation for sim racing use?
No — FIA homologation is only required for real-world competition use. For sim racing, the homologation rating tells you about the quality and safety standard of the shell construction. A higher FIA rating means a stronger, better-engineered seat — which also means better lateral support and rigidity for your cockpit.
What mounting hardware do I need to fit these seats to my sim rig?
Most OMP and RECARO carbon seats use standard FIA side mounts with 290mm bolt spacing, which are compatible with all major aluminium profile cockpits including Trak Racer, Next Level Racing and custom 8020 builds. Some seats — particularly the OMP HTE One, HTE EVO VTR and HTC EVO VTR — require specific OMP brackets rather than universal side mounts. Contact us before ordering and we will confirm the correct bracket for your specific rig.
What is the difference between carbon fibre and carbon-Kevlar shells?
Carbon-Kevlar (CFRP/AFRP composite) combines carbon fibre with Kevlar reinforcement — Kevlar adds impact resistance and prevents catastrophic shattering under extreme load. Pure carbon fibre is lighter but can be more brittle under certain impact types. In practice both are excellent materials for competition seat construction — RECARO uses Carbon-Kevlar in their top P 1300 GT range for this reason.
What size seat do I need?
Most seats come in Standard and XL variants. XL versions are typically 50mm wider and taller than the standard size. As a general guide, if your waist measurement is above 38 inches or you are over 6ft tall, XL is worth considering. Many seats also offer interchangeable pad systems in S, M and L sizes that allow you to fine-tune the fit within the shell — check the individual product specifications for pad availability.
Can I use a HANS device with these seats?
Yes — all OMP and RECARO seats listed are compatible with HANS and FHR head restraint devices. HANS compatibility is a standard feature across all FIA-certified competition seats.
What is the OMP AIRTEX cover material?
AIRTEX is OMP's proprietary breathable fabric designed to reduce heat and perspiration during extended sessions. It is significantly more breathable than standard leather or vinyl upholstery and is well suited to long sim racing sessions where comfort over time matters.
Why SimTorque
Every product on SimTorque has been personally selected for the UK sim racing market. We work directly with the brands we stock, which means we know the products inside out and can give you honest advice on what's right for your setup. No inflated ranges, no generic recommendations. Just the right gear from a store that knows its stuff.
The RECARO Podium Sport Seat in right hand drive spec is brilliant. Very well made with excellent support throughout. The driving position it creates is precise and natural and the build quality is exactly what you expect from RECARO. My sim sessions feel completely different with a proper racing seat.