Safety: Drivers Seat

The world governing body for motorsport FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE L’AUTOMOBILE (FIA) have defined the regulations and standards for racing seat that must be used when competing. The standards are defined under: Standard 8855-1999, FIA STANDARD FOR COMPETITION SEATS

The harness must also have 1 label sown on the side of the seat at the torso level, stating the primarily standard the harness complies with and the expiry date (harness has a maximum 5 year life before it has to be replaced).

The standards define the loads and directions the seat is to be tested at:

• Rearward impact: 20g;
• Side impact: 15g;

There are 2 types of racing harness, these being:

• With head supports; and
• Without head supports.

The head supports work in conjunction with the FHR (Frontal Head Restraint) / HANS (Head And Neck Support) device to prevent head and neck injury in the event of an accident. The seat has reinforced slots for the shoulder, lap and crotch belts.

The seats are mounted to the car via specific seat mounts. As the teams drivers vary in height, the base of the mounts are fitted to a race specification sliding rail (exactly the same principle as in a normal road car). The holes in the side of the mounts allow the seat to mounted at required height and angle.. This is detailed in the following diagram.

 

The teams original seat would have expired prior to the 2015 Dubai 24hr event. So the team paid a visit Motorsport Wheels (http://www.msw-me.com/ authorised provider of Corbeau seats) owned and run by the vastly knowledgeable and ever helpful Jon Simmonds. He soon sorted out the team with a Corbeau Revenge. And here is a picture of the seat installed in the car.

The team thanks Jon and Motorsport Wheels for their service and hope they never have to test the quality of the seat.

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