FIA Seats

[CelicaGT8]

Hi there,
I have more or less finished my Roll cage in my Rona, but havnt got my seats yet....

I plan to race at puki, taupo etc, i have my nactional race licence.
and how long are they valid for? 5 years? and what about belts???

[jakesae101]

unless your really serious in competition there isnt really a need for a fia seat i dont think there are many comps in nz that a fia seat is needed for (someone correct me here ) fia belts a now valid for 10 years sfi belts are valid for 2 years

[postfach]

I'm pretty certain everything is in Schedule A

http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Pdf/LiveMM34%20Book1%20App2%20SchA.pdf

[CelicaGT8]

well, id like to do nactional events... but on the track, no targa atm, only have race licence not rally.

im not to sure how to describe what id like to be doing, i use to race with the commy car club.. but iv had a kid since then and am sort of out of the loop.

[postfach]

unless your really serious in competition there isnt really a need for a fia seat i dont think there are many comps in nz that a fia seat is needed for (someone correct me here ) fia belts a now valid for 10 years sfi belts are valid for 2 years

Seats that don't meet any kind of standard are worthless IMO. Even if it wasn't required, I would never put a seat in my car that wasn't OEM or FIA (or meeting any other equally recognised standard). In an accident, if your seat breaks, your seatbelt isn't going to do anything.

[jakesae101]

well not all racetech seats are fia certified? does that mean the non fia ones are crap ??

[CelicaGT8]

Well does anyone no where i can get some cheap fia seats?
Ill prob only get one and put a cheaper seat in beside it, its not like anyone alse will be in the car while im racing

[Boosted_162]

unless your really serious in competition there isnt really a need for a fia seat i dont think there are many comps in nz that a fia seat is needed for (someone correct me here ) fia belts a now valid for 10 years sfi belts are valid for 2 years

Seats that don't meet any kind of standard are worthless IMO. Even if it wasn't required, I would never put a seat in my car that wasn't OEM or FIA (or meeting any other equally recognised standard). In an accident, if your seat breaks, your seatbelt isn't going to do anything.

I agree with this comment 110%. I originally bought a Autosport carbon kevlar seat, notorious for breaking in crashes. Before using it i saw the light, and now own a set of FIA approved Bride Zeta IIIs. Dont use them for racing, but its nice to know they are made of the quality as whats required in top motorsport...

[jakesae101]

this is where i heard what i said

Your doing international rally? ... I think thats the only thing in NZ that needs FIA seats. The 4000 is made the same as the 4000W but there arnt too may skinny bastards so they didnt pay to get it tested..

[postfach]

well not all racetech seats are fia certified? does that mean the non fia ones are crap ??

Ok, obviously what I said was a sweeping generalisation, and not *all* seats that aren't FIA/whatever other standard you like, are crap. Brands like Racetech, Sparco, Bride etc etc that are well known and respected are likely to maintain the same high standards across their entire range of seats, whether they are FIA certified or not. What I meant (and didn't get across very well at all in my original post) was not every seat is created equal, and at least if it's got an FIA sticker on it, you know it's met a proper standard and isn't going to disintegrate on you the first time you smack a wall.

FIRST decide what series/class you want to race in. THEN build your car to suit that. Building a car first and then trying to find a series to fit into is always going to cost more in the long run.

You may find that the series you want to race in does not require an FIA seat, thats a bonus, because the non-FIA seats are almost always cheaper. A Racetech would be a good starting point, I bought a Sparco EVO (which is FIA) for around $800, from 41's container sale a year or so ago. If you're after a bargain, shop around, some places charge up to a few hundred more than others for the same seat.

[postfach]

Chicane sell the Racetech RT1000 for $619, its FIA Approved. Pretty basic seat but will still do the job.

[CelicaGT8]

this is where i heard what i said

Your doing international rally? ... I think thats the only thing in NZ that needs FIA seats. The 4000 is made the same as the 4000W but there arnt too may skinny bastards so they didnt pay to get it tested..

quote
... I think thats the only thing in NZ that needs FIA seats.

is that right? its race, not rally that im doing. so do i need fia?

[postfach]

Like I said before, read Schedule A (I gave you the link in my original post) and check with the regulations for the series you want to run in. Without giving that information, noone is going to be able to give you a definite answer, and it won't hurt you to do a bit of homework yourself....

http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Regs/regulations.htm
http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Regs/manual.htm#Live

If you can't find what you need there, then phone or email the series organiser.

[matt dunn]

I run in a national race series, it's a motorsport NZ sanctioned series,
which is probably about as serious as most people here will get,
unless you want to run a NZV8 or similar,

and there is no requirement for FIA rated seats at the level I run.

[strx7]

this is where i heard what i said

Your doing international rally? ... I think thats the only thing in NZ that needs FIA seats. The 4000 is made the same as the 4000W but there arnt too may skinny bastards so they didnt pay to get it tested..

Wrong.
4000W is FIA Homologated
http://racetech.co.nz/products.php?name ... RT4000.htm

with seats you pay for what you get, how long do you plan on spending in it, cheap seats feel like cheap seats, pay more, and you get more comfort level

[Leon]

Actually, you're suffering a reading failure there.

Neo is stating

4000W is FIA.

4000 (skinny bastard version) is not FIA.

[BigDon]

I run Sparco evo XLs FIA, but I only do clubsport/intermarque stuff so not required technically. However, your seats are as important as your harnesses. Think about the load the seat needs to handle on impact. Remember these all form part of a safety cell designed to protect you.

While I agree that non fia seats from known brands are probably as safe as the FIA ones, UNLESS they have been tested then there is no way to tell this for certain. Therefore, this introduces an additional level of risk.

If you are prepared to except this then go for the cheaper option. That being said you also run a risk buying second hand (Fia or Non) that the seats have been in an impact (track or street).

I personally buy all my safety gear new, whether it be for my race car or or my other semi risky hobby of scuba diving. I'd rather lessen the chance of an epic fail costing me much more than just a few dollars.