Martini Racing Seats: Legend, Pro 2000 and R100 Compared
Three seats wear the Martini stripes. They cost $479, $1,099 and $1,950, and the price gap is not about how good they look — all three look superb. It is about what they are structurally, and whether a scrutineer will accept one.
At a Glance
| Seat | What it is | Rated | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legend Kevlar | Carbon-kevlar replica of the 1980s rally seat | FIA 8855-1999 | $1,950 |
| Pro 2000 QRT | Fibreglass competition shell, deep bolsters | competition shell | $1,099 |
| R100 v2 | Reclining sport seat | not homologated | $479 |
The Legend: Buying the Actual 1980s Seat
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This is the one people want and then have to justify. Sparco took the seat that was in the leading rally cars of the 1980s and rebuilt it to a modern standard — a carbon-kevlar shell that mimics the original silhouette, homologated to FIA 8855-1999, with the quilted cover in Sparco's self-extinguishing fabric.
So it is a genuine competition seat that happens to look forty years old. At $1,950 it is the most expensive way to sit down in this range, and if the period look is the reason you are building the car, it is the only one that gets you there without compromise.
The Pro 2000 QRT: The Working Race Seat
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If the Legend is the heart choice, the Pro 2000 is the head one. Fibreglass shell, famously stiff, with the deep side bolsters Sparco is known for — the current version reshaped them so getting in and out is less of a contortion without losing the lateral hold.
Practical details that matter more than they sound: it now fits waists up to 34 inches, the shoulder guide holes moved for taller drivers, and a low-profile bottom cushion keeps your hip point down. There are movable kidney cushions, and high-wear material on the seat edges where everyone drags themselves across.
$851 less than the Legend, and for a car that actually gets driven hard on weekends, arguably the better seat.
The R100 v2: The One That Reclines
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Be clear about what this is: Sparco's entry-level reclining sport seat, updated with reshaped bolsters and better padding, in the Martini livery. Recline levers on both sides, high-wear fabric, several colour configurations.
It is not homologated for competition. That is not a criticism — it is a road seat, and a road seat that reclines is worth a great deal on a long drive that a fixed-back bucket cannot offer. But it will not pass a tech inspection that requires an FIA seat, and it is not designed to work with a six-point harness.
The harness question. A reclining seat and a competition harness are a bad combination — the shoulder belts need a proper guide at the right height, which a road seat does not provide. If you are running a 6-point, you want a fixed-back seat. See Racing Harnesses Explained.
Which One Belongs in Your Car?
- Period-correct rally or historic build: the Legend. Nothing else gets the look with a current homologation behind it.
- Regular track work in a modern car: the Pro 2000 QRT. Stiffer where it counts, cheaper, and shaped for real drivers.
- Road car you want to look and feel special: the R100 v2, and enjoy the recline.
- Running a 6-point harness: fixed-back only — Legend or Pro 2000.
- Tall, or over a 34-inch waist: talk to us before ordering the Pro 2000. Fit is the whole point of a bucket and the numbers are tighter than people expect.
Whichever you choose, the seat is only half the job — it needs the right brackets and side mounts for your chassis. Our seat installation guide covers that, and Racing Seats 101 covers the wider range from bolt-in buckets to full containment.
Browse all Martini Racing Seats.
Part of our Martini Racing series. For the whole Heritage Collection — and what else in it is race-rated — see the complete Martini Racing guide.