Racing Seat Fitment Guide: How to Choose the Right Seat for Street or Track

When it comes to racing seats, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. But the truth is, it's not about brand loyalty or price. But it IS about fit. At OG Racing, we carry top-tier options from Sparco, OMP, and Sabelt, and we're here to help you find the right seat for your size, your car and your racing goals. 

Start with Fit: Measure Yourself and Your Car 

Almost every seat we sell is accompanied by an overwhelming sizing chart, so for the sake of your sanity, I will do my best to simplify it down to waist size. Please remember this is only one metric, and all of these seats fit differently. However, this should quickly narrow down your options. Getting this wrong leads to discomfort at best, and serious safety risks at worst. Before anything else, measure your waist and check your car’s interior width where the seat will be mounted. Check out the product listing for each to dive deeper into the measurement before purchasing.

Should You Choose a Containment Seat?

If you are driving competitively with a harness and head/neck restraint, the answer is yes. Containment seats — also called halo seats — provide critical lateral head protection, which traditional devices like HANS cannot offer during a side impact. Containment seats are ideal for:

• Wheek-to-wheel racing and Time Trial.

• Endurance and rally competition.

• HPDE events with proper harness setups.

For serious racing, a containment seat is a no-brainer.

Bonus, A Hybrid Option: The Simpson Hybrid S Head and Neck Restraint

If you need your car to pull double duty between street and track, consider the Simpson Hybrid S, the only head/neck device offering side impact protection that is FIA and SFI-approved for competition use with racing harnesses AND is also compatible with standard 3-point DOT seatbelts found in street vehicles.

Non-Containment Seats: Better for Street-Driven Track Cars

Non-containment seats are lighter, more comfortable for daily use, and easier to get in and out of. If your car sees more street miles than track days, start here, but be honest about your usage. If you’re quickly progressing through the HPDE and driving hard on track , don’t sacrifice safety for comfort.

Sparco Non-Containment Seats

Evo S – Small (up to 32” waist)

Evo – Medium (up to 34” waist)

Evo L – Large (up to 36” waist)

Evo XL – X-Large (up to 38” waist)

QRT-R – Large (up to 36” waist)

Pro2000 – Medium (up to 34” waist)

Sprint – Medium (up to 34” waist)

Sprint L – X-Large (up to 40” waist)

Grid QRT – Medium/Large (up to 36” waist)

Sparco Containment Seats

Circuit  – Small/Narrow (up to 32” waist)

Circuit II  – Large (up to 36” waist)

ProADV  – Medium/Large (up to 35” waist)

Sparco Seat Highlights:

The Evo line is best for dual-purpose cars (easy entry/exit).

QRT-R is a top pick for lumbar comfort.

The ProAdv offers the most shoulder support of every seat on this list.

 

OMP Non-Containment Seats

WRC-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)

WRC-R XL – X-Large (up to 38” waist)

TRS-E – Medium (up to 34” waist)

TRS-E XL – X-Large (up to 40” waist)

First-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)

Champ-R – Small (up to 32” waist)

ARS-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)

 

OMP Containment Seats

HTE-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)

HTE-R 400 – Medium (up to 34” waist)

HTE EVO – Small/Narrow (up to 32” waist)

HTE-R XL – X-Large (up to 38” waist)

RS-PT2 – Large (up to 36” waist)

HRC-R – Medium (up to 34” waist)

HRC-R XL – Large (up to 36” waist)

OMP Seat Highlights:

The HTE-R 400 fits very similarly to the base HTE-R, but the 400 model has a narrow halo, allowing for better fitment in tight driver cockpits like Miata's. 

Several OMP seats offer airknit covers, allowing ample airflow and keeping you cooler.

 

Sabelt Non-Containment Seats

GT3 – Medium (up to 34” waist)

Titan – Small/Narrow (up to 32” waist)

Titan Max – Large (up to 36” waist)

Sabelt Containment Seats

X-Pad – Medium (up to 34” waist)

GT-Pad S – Medium (up to 34” waist)

GT-Pad M – Large (up to 36” waist)

GT-Pad L – X-Large (up to 38” waist)

Tauras – Medium (up to 34” waist)

Tauras Medium – Large (up to 36” waist)

Tauras Max – X-Large (up to 38” waist)

Sabelt Seat Highlights:

GT-Pad’s modular padding system is perfect for teams or shared cars.

The X-Pad is one of the best seats for a Miata. Its small frame makes it an excellent option.

Final Advice

If you’re unsure where to begin, ask yourself:

• Is the car street or track-focused?

• Do I use harnesses and a HANS?

• Will multiple drivers use this seat?

• Do I care more about comfort or performance?

Still not sure? That’s what we are here for.

Call us, email us, or drop by the showroom in Sterling, Virginia. We have been helping drivers find thier perfect seat since 1990, and we’ll make sure you get the right one! Stay safe out there, and thanks for reading! - TJ Huston