Racing harnesses and seat belts are some of the most important pieces of safety equipment in a race car. No matter how tight the turn, how steep the bank, or how fast the spinout, a quality harness will keep you locked into position through it all. But with so many styles to choose from, it can be frustrating to figure out which style is best for your needs. A harness from a top racing brand, including Impact, RaceQuip, and Simpson, will play a large part in driver safety and security on the track. Before you choose your next racing harness, explore our comprehensive buying guide to learn more about points, locks, latches, mounting, and safety ratings.

A Brief Overview of the Racing Harness System

A harness designed for racing is so much more than a seat belt—it’s a restraint system that secures the midsection and keeps it in place to prevent the upper body from moving in the seat and car. Harnesses come with multiple sturdy, wide straps, typically five or six, designed to spread the force of speed or impact across the shoulders, chest, and hips to minimize pressure in one particular area. A harness must be used with a racing seat that features the proper openings and headrests, then mounted to a bar or roll cage to keep it secured.

When combined with a head and neck restraint, helmet, and a fire-retardant suit, a racing harness becomes an essential piece of a protection puzzle that can make the difference between life and death. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the one that makes the most sense in your race car based on the track and speeds you run.

Racing Harnesses Points, Latches, Adjustments & Widths

When it comes to racing harnesses, you’ll find many options to choose from: 4-, 5-, 6-, and even 8-point styles; pull-up or down; latch-and-link or cam-lock. The easiest way to get the right one is to choose the style that works best with your racing seat and interior setup. As long as it meets the requirements of the sanctioning body, you can focus on comfort, ease of use, and compatibility with your car to ensure the best fit and performance.

5-Point vs 6-Point Harness

The number of points on a harness refers to the number of belts and straps involved. Though point-styles range anywhere from 3- to 8-points, most drivers will benefit from a 4-, 5- or 6-point racing harness for optimal security and protection. Some notable differences:

• 4-point harness: Has two shoulder straps and two lap straps that join together and connect in a central hub. There is no sub-strap in the groin area
• 5-point harness: Features two lap belts, two shoulder belts, and a single belt that extends up from the groin area to meet with the other 4 belts to form a Y pattern
• 6-point harness: Comes with two lap belts, two shoulder belts, and two sub-belts that rest on the inner thighs and extend up to meet in the middle to form more of an X shape

Latch-and-Link vs. Camlock Harnesses

Both latch-and-link and camlock harnesses lock all straps and belts together in a central spot, but there are subtle differences between them, including connection style, ease of use, and comfort.

Latch-and-link harnesses are the most common. They use a hook-and-loop style connection. The shoulder, lap, and sub belts end in metal loops that slide onto a metal hook in a central hub where each belt links individually into the center hub. When it's time to get out of the harness, each belt must be unlatched individually. Latch-and-lock systems are known for their security and comfort.

In a camlock harness, the shoulder, lap, and sub belts each have a tongue-style latch at the end. These belts come together in one central hub where they all click into place, much like the seat belt in a street car. Upon exit, the belts all release at once, either by pulling or twisting a lever, making it easier to get out of a car quicker. Camlocks are known for their ease of use.

What Types of Belt Adjustments Are Available?

Adjustments are used to tighten the belts for added security in the seat. The three main adjustment types are:

• Pull-up harness. This style is the easiest for a driver to adjust, especially in the close confines of a race car. Simply pull upward on the tabs to tighten.
• Pull-down harness. These adjustments are easier to maneuver in a car that offers more room to move, or if a pit crew member is belting you in. Tabs must be pulled downward to tighten.
• Ratchet harness. A device on the left lap belt can be ratcheted up to tighten the harness. Ratchets can be pulled tighter than tabs but they require plenty of clearance on the left side of the seat to maneuver.

Racing Harness Belt Widths: 2-Inch vs 3-Inch

The most common racing harness belt widths are 2- and 3-inch. The right belt width depends on the car you drive, the device you use, and your size. As always, check with the track or series for further size specifications.

• 2-inch belts are lightweight and easier to adjust, ideal for smaller drivers. Choose a 2-inch racing harness belt in a smaller car such as a midget, junior sprint, or cage car.
• 3-inch lap belts provide more support for large drivers. 3-inch belts are wider and bulkier, appropriate in modified, hobby stock, or sprint cars.

Pro Tip:When using a HANS device, opt for a 2-inch belt as 3-inch belts are too wide for most systems.

SFI & FIA Safety Ratings for Harnesses

There are two official organizations that set the standards for racing harnesses across the field of motorsports: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and SFI Foundation, Inc. (SFI). Both organizations have high standards for quality products and are widely accepted throughout sanctioning bodies. Some harnesses carry certifications for one, the other, or both. Every racing harness carries a tag that denotes FIA or SFI certification. The current SFI specification is 16.5 and the FIA standard is 8853/16.

How Long Are Racing Harnesses Good For?

All certified racing harnesses are clearly tagged with an expiration date. FIA harnesses are typically good for 5 years, while SFI-certified belts expire after 2 years. Belts must be replaced after the expiration dates or prior if they degrade due to stress or exposure.

Maintain the integrity and safety of a harness by keeping it clean, dry, and out of the sunlight as much as possible. Perform routine inspections to check for damage or wear that calls for replacement prior to the expiration date, including:

• Cracks or rust around the seat anchors
• Fraying or deep scratches in the material
• Stiffness or lagging when releasing the latch

How To Install a Racing Harness

Whether you choose a 5-point, 6-point, latch-and-link, camlock, or 3-inch strap racing harness, proper installation and mounting are imperative. The most common types of mounts are wrap-around, which are installed on the harness bar or roll cage by wrapping it tightly behind the seat, and bolt-in, which connects to the bar or roll cage with screws, tabs, and clips.

When mounting your racing harness with bolts, you must weld in an insert for each attachment point on the bar or roll cage and shell or chassis; a steel reinforcement plate of 6 square inches by 1/8 inch thickness is required.

Regardless of which you choose for your race car, the anchor points of a harness must follow SFI seat belt guidelines, FIA 253-61 diagram on seat belt mounting angles, or the manufacturer’s instructions.

Shoulder Belts

Mount shoulder belts to the harness bar or roll cage at an angle between 0 and -20 degrees below your shoulders; -10 degrees is optimal. Belts should pass through the seat back holes cleanly without hindrance from any part of the car. Secure the belts tight in a fixed position so they cannot slide on the bar or roll cage and keep them as short as possible from the front to the mounting points.

If using a double shoulder belt:

• Angle the upper belt between 0 and -10 degrees (-10 degrees optimal).
• Position the body belt between -10 and -30 degrees (-20 degrees optimal).
• Keep a separation of 1 to 2 inches between the upper and lower belts.
• Mount the upper belt in line with the inside edge of the body belt.

Lap Belts

Angle the lap belt between -45 and -80 degrees from the horizontal. The lap belt should lay flat and stretch across the pelvic bone. Ensure the belt has a clear passage through the seat opening to the mounting point without obstruction, rubbing, or binding. Mount the belts beside the seat, never behind, and keep them as short as possible.

Pro tip: Never anchor lap belts to the seat or its supports.

Sub Belts

5-point racing harness. Center mount the single sub belt through the sub strap hole at 20 degrees forward of the inside seat back. Never wrap the belt around the front of the seat; always use the pass-through.

6-point racing harness. Mount the dual sub straps to separate anchors approximately 4 to 6 inches apart and 2 to 3 inches right and left of center. Angle the belt at -20 degrees rearward through the sub-strap hole in the seat.

Pro tip: Center the cam lock or latch-and-link hub 1 to 2 inches below the belly button.

How To Install a Racing Harness Without a Bar or Roll Cage

Install a bar or roll cage in your competition car to get the best protection and security on the track. But if you want to trick out your non-competition sports car with a harness because it just looks so cool, here’s how to install one without a bar or roll cage.

• Clear out the back seat and pull out any seat belt clips that are stuffed between the seats.
• Thread the shoulder straps of the harness through the hole in the driver's seat and insert the clip ends into the backseat seat belt sockets. Make sure clips are securely locked in.
• Adjust the recline angle of the seat between 40 and 45 degrees for best results and safety.

Pro tip: Do not mount the racing harness to baby seat mounts or the backseat floor.

Lock it in and keep yourself safe with a quality racing harness from a manufacturer you trust. Explore Behrent’s Performance Warehouse for more auto racing gear tips, equipment buying guides, and safety information.