Aftermarket Seats

[wulfgang]

If you're in a race event, you'll probably need either FIA seats/brackets or else the seat back must be supported by a brace. But then you'd probably also have a full roll cage, fire suppression, etc.

However, that's not at all true for most DEs. I've never been to a DE (including PCA) where FIA seats (or seat back braces) were required. So for daily driving and DE, no, you don't need the FIA sticker or the brace.

Someone will inevitably post on here implying that you're taking your life in your hands if you don't get a FIA homologated seat. Unfortunately, FIA does not certify the process (like ISO does, for example), and it is not difficult to find FIA stickers on seats that have obvious manufacturing defects (Sparco, Cobra, etc.). Maybe some day that FIA sticker will be meaningful, but for now, it just means that *some* examples of a particular seat model are able to pass FIA tests. A FIA sticker coupled with a quality name like Recaro is certainly meaningful, but a FIA sticker on a Cobra seat may or may not mean it is safe due to poor quality control, in my opinion.

If you are on a budget, you might also want to check out grey-market seats from FIA manufacturers like Recaro and Sparco. They are cheap, they are real (they are not replicas), and they are probably safe, even though they may not come with a valid FIA sticker.

Corbeau does not make FIA certified products.

[Topless]

Competition seat and harness rules vary quite a bit between different sanctioning organizations. Some require FIA seats & belts, some only require entry fee payment and safety is entirely up to you. The first step is to figure out who you plan to run with and what they require... then go shopping.

If you want to run DEs and keep your stock seats, consider a CG lock. I use them with students and it really helps to keep you in place while still running a stock car and street legal belts.

Lots of different opinions on FIA certification. FIA rated seats are not necessarily stronger, faster, or better. The sticker just means this seat model has been independently tested and meets FIA standards. Having seats tested is expensive and FIA seats always cost more. Ultimately it's your butt in the bucket so you gotta decide how important spending the extra $$ for a seat that has been tested is to you.
About FIA testing and regulations:
FIA Standards Regulations

Personally I wear Snell helmets, SFI shoes and clothing, and sit in an FIA seat. YMMV.