Of all the safety equipment in a race car, a racing harness and seat belts are some of the most important. No matter how tight the turn, how steep the bank, how fast the spinout, or how hard the hit, a quality racing harness will keep you locked into position through it all. But with so many styles to choose from, it can be downright frustrating to figure out the best one for your needs. Before you pick the piece of equipment that's going to play a large part in on-track security, explore our buying guide to learn more about points, locks, latches, and safety ratings of racing harnesses.

A Brief Overview of the Auto Racing Harness System

A harness 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. The sturdy, wide straps are 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 the car.

Auto Racing Harness Points, Latches, Adjustments & Widths

There are many options in racing harnesses; 5 or 6-points, pull-up or down, latch-and-link or cam-lock. Choose the style that works best with your racing seat and interior setup, and meets the requirements of the sanctioning body.

5-Point vs. 6-Point Harnesses

The number of points on a harness refers to the number of belts and straps involved. Though point-style harnesses come in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-point styles, most drivers will benefit from a 5 or 6-point racing harness for optimal security and protection.

• 4-point harness. A 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. The 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. The 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. Cam Lock Harnesses

Both latch-and-link and cam lock racing harnesses lock all straps and belts together in a central spot, but there are subtle differences between them.

Latch-and-link racing 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. Each belt links individually into the center hub where they are locked into place by a latch on the left shoulder belt. When it's time to get out of the harness, each belt must be unlatched individually.

In a cam lock 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.

What Types of Belt Adjustments Are Available?

Racing harnesses include adjustments that are used to tighten the belts for added security in the seat. The three main adjustment types are pull-up, pull-down, and ratchet:

• 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 Belt Widths: 2-Inch vs. 3-Inch

The most common racing 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.

• Choose a slender 2-inch racing belt in a smaller car such as a midget, junior sprint, or cage car. 3-inch belts are wider and bulkier, appropriate in modified, hobby stock, or sprint cars.
• When using a HANS device, opt for a 2-inch belt width; 3-inch shoulder belts are too wide for most HANS systems. Some 3-inch harnesses offer an option to swap in the narrower 2-inch shoulder belts.
• 3-inch lap belts are bulky, but provide more support for large drivers; 2-inch belts are lightweight and easier to adjust, ideal for smaller drivers.

Best Racing Belt Length

If the belt attachment points are not directly behind the seat, choose a longer racing belt. The extra length will easily reach the mounting bars in cars like quarter midgets. Choose the length that best suits the race car interior and mounting setup.

SFI & FIA Safety Ratings for Auto Racing 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).

The FIA is the sanctioning autosport authority that promotes safety standards across all motorsports around the world. The FIA performs strict testing on all new equipment to ensure safety.

The SFI is a non-profit, American organization that sets race equipment standards that apply to oval racing organizations including NASCAR, ARCA, and NHRA. Both organizations have high standards for quality products and are widely accepted throughout sanctioning bodies; some racing 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 racing 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, cam lock, 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 racing 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

For a 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.

For a 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

If you race on a weekly basis, 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 racing 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 racing 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 Resource Center for more auto racing gear tips, equipment buying guides, and safety information.