First Ever Purpose-Engineered RECARO® Off-Road Racing Shell Receives FIA Approval

Detroit, MI (February 2, 2021) – Creating safety for drivers in all conditions is at the core of racing shell development at Recaro Automotive. With this long-standing commitment to safety, it was imperative to design and engineer an off-road racing shell that withstands the extreme conditions endured by the sports participants, including the ambitious and challenging off-road and vertical impact standards regulated by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The RECARO® Pro Racer XL-ORV seat successfully passed the test, gaining certification to FIA standard 8855-1999 on January 20th, 2021. (CS.468.21)

“Off-road racing is a growing market. Recaro Automotive made the natural decision to assume a leadership role through the FIA certification of our newest shell. Doing so demonstrates our unending commitment to drivers safety in our race products,” said Emil Kreycik, President and COO Recaro Automotive.

At SEMA 2019, Recaro Automotive unveiled two brand-new, cutting-edge products for the ORV (off-road vehicle) segment: one for street-legal off-road cars, and the other for off-road race cars. Funhaver off-road team owners and drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr., a Formula Drift and Ultra4 champion and 2x King of The Hammers winner and Ultra4 champion Loren Healy were  among the professional drivers involved in the collaborative design process to bring real world experience and unserved safety to the market space.

This week Bronco®, Ford Motor Company’s outdoor brand outdoor brand of Built Wild™ 4x4 SUVs that continue to innovate the off-road landscape, highlighted how their involvement with Recaro enabled the world’s first application of the RECARO® Pro Racer XL-ORV seat to debut in all three of their custom-built Bronco 4400 race trucks.

The Bronco brand debuted the Ultra4 4400 series race trucks at the 2021 King of the Hammers off-road event in Johnson Valley, Calif. yesterday with its all-star lineup of off-road racing veterans, including Vaughn Gittin Jr. and teammate, three-time King of the Hammers champion, Loren Healy.

“Recaro’s constant innovation is something I am grateful for. That commitment to keep racers and enthusiasts safe and comfortable – no matter our choice of fun from behind the wheel – is why I’m proud to work with them,” said Vaughn Gittin Jr. “There is no question that Recaro’s effort and passion has saved me from serious injury on more than one occasion, both on and off-road.”

“Being part of the development team for the Recaro off-road vehicle seats has been an incredible journey,” said Loren Healy. “Recaro’s commitment to safety, technology and design is second to none. After the more than two years of development and testing that went into the Cross Sportster ORV and the Pro Racer ORV, my mind is blown at how much safer and more comfortable these seats are for the demanding nature of off-road driving.”

The RECARO® Pro Racer-XL ORV addresses off-road race-vehicle requirements. It is ergonomically designed to provide outstanding support, while offering protection for the back and neck against all the forces of a dirt track. The specially designed head surround for better visibility, the friction grip surface around the shoulders, and the highly-effective energy-absorbing ENRg+™ Performance* cushion foam are all essential when pushing off-road race vehciles to the limit. The seat is suitable for 4-, 5- or 6-point belts as well as HANS/FHR systems. Its particularly robust cover materials are both weather and abrasion resistant. 

The RECARO® Pro Racer SPG XL-ORV, is available now at an MSRP of $1,945 USD.