Upgrading to racing seats is beneficial for a number of reasons, including improved safety, weight savings, enhanced comfort levels, more rigidity, and better value. One such option is fixed back racing seats which are the same seats that keep rally-car drivers in place as they zoom around tight corners at breathtaking speeds. Fixed back racing seats minimize driver motion and “plant” them in place so they can focus primarily on their driving lines instead of fighting against unwanted body movement.
Fixed bucket seats provide high-performance hold and will incredibly enhance your overall driving experience over the stock seats. All fixed back seats will also come with provisions to accept your preference of shoulder harnesses. If you are in the market to upgrade your vehicle’s stock seats for a lighter and more advanced version that is suitable for street driving and track going, then the following list will help you on your search. We have compiled a list of the top 7 best fixed back racing seats of 2021 from popular brands like Recaro, Sparco, and Bride. You can also shop Vivid Racing’s entire inventory of racing seats right here.
1. NRG FRP Ultra Edition Bucket Seat
This is the NRG Innovations FRP ULTRA Seat, which comes from the same family as the NRG PRISMA seat. The ULTRA has a new large addition seat with high-quality full race fiberglass material that was carefully assembled to increase durability on the track. This is the first full-Alcantara seat with microfiber materials to last longer and clean more easily. It features new phone pockets, comes in a variety of colors, and has a gold glitter finish fiberglass backing with a reinforced frame. And, of course, the ULTRA offers optimal body lateral/lumbar support under competition driving conditions, and is 6-point harness and HANS device compatible. This seat will give your vehicle’s interior the perfect combination of modern looks, elevated styling, a better feel, and added safety.
Features:
- Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP, Fiberglass) Bucket Seats
- Full Alcantara seats with microfiber materials
- Black finish with ULTRA logo and gold glitter backing
- high-quality full race fiberglass material
- Available in different colorways
- Phone pocket cushions
- Great lumbar support
- Side mount included
- 6-Point harness capability
2. Recaro Pole Position N.G. Racing Seat
You only have to sit in a Recaro racing seat to “feel the difference”. The Recaro Pole Position N.G. racing seat provides the best starting position for all beginners and professional racers looking to compete for podium places. Its generous range of features and numerous personalization options make it the most popular seat in GT, touring cars, and motorsports. The Pole Position N.G. is both lightweight and super strong with a fiberglass shell and thick bolstering for excellent hold. Its ergonomic S-shaped shell forms to the back with “built-in” lumbar support that provides structured support for the lower back to protects against spinal compression in high-impact accidents. Combined with high-quality foam, this seat is incredibly comfortable as well. The bolsters and deep seat cushion pocket cradle your body and keep you firmly in place to prevent fatigue and discomfort caused by unwanted movement during aggressive driving. On top of all that, this seat remains easy to get in and out of, unlike the competition.
Features:
- Seat shell made of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP)
- Features a one-piece molded shell construction
- Suitable for 4-, 5- or 6-point belts
- Integrated headrest with Recaro Logo
- Flame-retardant upholstery
- Seat and backrest cushions replaceable
- Padded lumbar support
- Includes Pole Position Side Mounts
- Bolster Material: Leather, Suede, Velour
- Insert Material: Leather, Suede, Velour
- Logo Color: Varies
3. Cipher Auto Full Bucket Non-Reclinable Seats
Cipher Racing seats offer superior comfort, holding power, and style compared to your car’s OEM seats. Furthermore, Cipher seats typically weigh about half the amount of stock seats while offering a durable and strong tubular frame for daily driving and competition use. With that said, Cipher has produced one of the most comfortable racing seats on the market that provides impressive support and offers great value. The Cipher Auto Full Bucket Non-Reclinable Seats are ideal for maximum sharp and quick turns, keeping you in place for a better driving experience with added confidence. All Cipher Auto Seats having mounting points on the bottom of them that allow the seat to be bolted directly onto one of over 1000 different Cipher Auto brackets. These seats also come with single-locking sliders to make the installation process a breeze. Uninstall your old seats and bolt the Cipher Auto Seat with sliders to the Cipher Auto bracket and the entire assembly directly into the car.
Features:
- Made with high-quality anti-slip cloth
- Weighs about half the weight of the stock seats
- Extra strong and ultra-lightweight tubular steel frame
- Single lock sliders (CPA9001SLR) included
- Side mount brackets (CPA9004SBR) included
4. Buddy Club V2 P1 Limited FRP Wide Bucket Seat
The Buddy Club Black P1 Edition Bucket Seat boasts quality, safety, and leading ergonomics to deliver a comfortable and enhanced driving experience. The knowledge and experience gained through the development of professional motorsports have been used to create this high-performance seat for road use. The Buddy Club P1 seat offers exceptional lateral support, superior safety, and a firm yet comfortable feeling. It’s made from fiber-reinforced plastic for the ultimate lightweight construction with maximum strength over your car’s stock seats. It also features an improved cushion design with high sides and a hard friction suede trim for increased support. Available in regular or wide width variants, this seat is compatible with five-point hardness slots as well.
Features:
- Regular or wide width versions are available
- Ultra-lightweight design compared to stock
- Strong fiber-reinforced plastic construction
- Made with suede materials on key areas
- High-quality fiber material used on the sitting surface of seat
- Wool mat is used on the backside surface for better air circulation
- Excellent body support for the best driving position possible
- Buckle frame technology for durability and excellent hold
5. Sparco QRT-R 2019 Competition Seat
The Sparco QRT-R is the first seat to feature the brand’s patented QRT ultra-light technology. QRT is a patented state-of-the-art technical process based on aerospace technologies to create a lightweight and durable seat that delivers weight savings of up to 30 percent compared to traditional production methods. This QRT Technology gives an unparalleled mechanical strength to weight ratio for fiberglass composite racing seats. QRT Technology provides an average weight savings of 7 pounds (up to 10-plus pounds) per shell. The main benefit is that these seats approach the weight of a carbon fiber seat at the price point of a fiberglass seat. In fact, the QRT-R is the lightest “medium/large” size fiberglass seat on the market with the shell weighing in at only 9.9 pounds (15 pounds in full trim).
The FIA-approved QRT-R seat has a unique CAD design that features a lower seating position that can fit a taller driver with the exterior dimensions that can fit into smaller vehicles. In fact, this series of seats was specifically designed for larger drivers and can fit a 36-inch waist driver comfortably. The Sparco QRT-R requires the special QRT-R Side mounts (#600QRT) which allows the seat to be racked back for a comfortable seating position.
Features:
- Lightest “Medium/Large” size fiberglass seat on the market
- Lower seating position that can fit taller/larger drivers
- Smaller outer dimensions for small vehicle fitment
- QRT Technology gives an average weight savings of 7lbs per shell
- FIA-approved to guarantee high levels of quality and safety
6. Tillet B5 Race Car Seat
The Tillet B5 Race Car Seat was originally designed to complement the narrow Lotus Elise/Exige. Because its compact exterior increases headroom significantly, the B5 is shaped to sit the driver lower in the car, which reduces the likelihood of hitting their crash helmet on a roll cage. This can also prove to be a gamechanger for tall drivers in low cars like the Mazda Miata. With these seats, you can sit within three-quarter inches of the floor pan. And, although the seat is small, it can fit a surprisingly wide range of driver sizes. It’s important to note that while the B5 seat works well in narrow cars, it has been successfully installed in Audis, Ferraris, Porsches, kit cars, and more!
The new Tillet B5 seat weighs in at just 9.3 pounds with a 17-inch height, 32-inch width, and 24-inch length. The seat is not only remarkably light but also very rigid, which adds to the handling feedback and heightened feeling of security. These seats are made from either GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic), which is an extremely sturdy yet economical material, or GRP with a layer of carbon fiber on the seating surface. The carbon fiber outer not only looks amazing but is also somewhat more resistant to wear and tear than the black/GRP gel coat finish.
Since this seat is not a full bucket seat, it is compatible with 3-point or 5-/6-point belts, making it a highly versatile option and a top choice for both street and track cars. It has a side profile that was developed from many years of manufacturing kart seats, and provides excellent support while leaving the shoulders free to help steer the car unhindered.
Features:
- Very narrow seat allowing for easy installation
- Fits cars like the Lotus Elise/Exige or Mazda Miata
- Lightweight weighing in at 9.3 pounds
- Usable with OEM street 3-point belts
- Compatible with 5-/6-point racing harnesses
- Available in carbon/GRP or black GRP finish
- Compatible with a HANS or neck restraint device
- Height 17″ (43.2 cm)
- Width 32″ (81.3 cm)
- Length 24″ (61.0 cm)
7. Bride ZETA IV Full Bucket Seats
The Bride ZETA IV seat is the latest model of the brand’s ZETA series which has won many races and kept drivers safe since its launch in 1990. This is the standard model of Bride’s full bucket seat with a wide range of users, from road going to circuit driving and competition. Now, after an interval of 16 years, the ZETA IV is the new edition of Bride’s full bucket seats. The shell has been designed to fit the body shape and is a Bride flagship model designed for various scenes from street driving to hard sports driving. In addition, the shell material can be selected from two types: FRP silver shell and super aramid black shell. The color variants are gradation logo, black, or red.
Based on the Bride sheet manufacturing technology and the brand’s experience over the years, the ZETA IV edition seat has achieved super light weight and high rigidity by using high-performance materials for each part. This is a full bucket seat that is superior to conventional products in all aspects of safety, comfort, hold, and durability. The Bride ZETA series has evolved into a racing sport seat that can be used for the long run in a wide range of vehicle types and categories by installing the LOWMAX system which has been used in some seats, large belt holes, durable PVC leather, etc.
Features:
- New standard model for the ZETA Series
- Shell design and hold performance considering safety
- Advanced material and manufacturing method
- LOWMAX system is used in ZETA series
- FIA approved and conformity to the safety standard
- Made with flame-retardant fabric
- Shell Types: Silver FRP or Super Aramid Black
- Colors: Gradation Logo, Black or Red
- Weight: 7.4 kg (16.3 lbs)
