Louis Perrot
Courtesy of Louis Perrot, 2021 season in a 991 GT3 Cup ( good luck for your season ;-) ! )

  • Intro
  • FFSA directive reminder
  • Helmet
  • HANS
  • Race suit
  • Gloves
  • Boots
  • Underwear

Intro

With the new regulations on the gear to be worn in trackday cars, we thought a little shopping list and a pre-selection would be useful to help when it's time to choose.

Our selection ranges from amateur level up to the entry point of competition, where the equipment is much more specialised, and therefore more expensive.

So what will you need:

  • Helmet, if you haven't already bought one, or if yours isn't HANS-compatible
  • HANS
  • Race suit
  • Gloves
  • Boots (optional, recommended)
  • Underwear (optional, recommended)

In our shop you'll mostly find Sparco, because the range is consistent and the value for money is good.

FFSA directive reminder

For all trackdays from 2022.

Cars considered as competition vehicles are:

  • Any vehicle with a 6-point or more roll cage
  • Any vehicle that has or has had an FFSA technical passport

For all these vehicles, FIA-type equipment will be MANDATORY for both driver and passenger:

  • Fireproof race suit mandatory
  • Fire-resistant gloves mandatory
  • Helmet with HANS attachment system mandatory
  • FIA HANS system

All to FIA standards; balaclava and fireproof underwear only recommended.

The small upside is that vehicles with a factory roll cage, a registration document and a valid MOT are not affected:

  • M2 M3 M4 Competition
  • GT3 GT4 Clubsport or RS
  • Half cage

Helmet

Finding the right helmet is very important, and with such a huge range on offer it's an obstacle course.

The first point is to take your measurements properly so you choose the right size.

If you're planning to wear a balaclava, a helmet with a little play can be considered; otherwise it needs to be slightly snug to ensure good protection.

The second point is the type of helmet. If you're in a convertible / roadster / open prototype, there's no choice: it absolutely has to be a full-face.

If you're in a closed car, then there's the question of an open-face Jet / rally helmet, to save weight at a lower cost, or just to be less hot and talk to your passengers.

To make life easier, here's a small selection of the 2 types of helmet, open-face and full-face:

open-face jet helmet selection
best full-face helmet

HANS

The HANS system is designed to hold your head in place in the event of an impact. You need to pick a HANS from the multitude on offer.

Things to consider are the harness type, 2 or 3 inches wide, the material and therefore the weight, the size, and finally the weight with materials such as reinforced plastic or carbon.

Some HANS devices allow a greater range of movement, up to 30°, but generally what's on offer is 20°. The 30° is reserved for more reclined seating positions.

This means that if you're used to turning your head a lot, you'll be limited by your HANS, and probably a little bothered in the end by this limited mobility (but there are mirrors, right?).

Our selection:

which HANS to choose?

Race suit

It's usually the 2nd purchase after the helmet when kitting yourself out, but at the very least you'll want it to meet your needs in terms of size, ease of movement, breathability and, finally, style!

Here again the choice is huge, and prices quickly go from 1 to 20 if you start customising your suit like the pros.

Our selection:

which race suit

Gloves

Driving is often a matter of feel, so not cutting yourself off from what the steering wheel is telling you is essential, and your lap times will thank you in advance for considering the following criteria:

  • External seams: it seems ridiculous, but this type of seam helps grip on the wheel and overall feel.

  • Grip area: the highest-end gloves have printed grip areas, which significantly improve grip

  • Colour: "'Cause red goes faster!" If you're going to buy gear, it might as well look good, right?

  • Size: we've included a size chart so they fit you… like a glove!

best driving gloves

which glove size?

Boots

Just like with gloves, part of the feel comes through the pedals. You probably already have that nice little pair of Sparcos or Pumas, right? So no need for a sales pitch: what matters here is FIA approval, price, colours and size.

which shoes for driving?

Underwear

Underwear adds an extra layer of fire protection, which is critical in that situation. If you're buying underwear to complete your gear, we recommend getting the full set with balaclava, top and bottoms.

And it makes a lot of sense to get everything from the same brand.

No big comparisons here: we recommend AlpineStars and Walero for the quality and price of their products.

CONCLUSION:

If you have no gear at all, the total for all this equipment adds up very quickly. Price shouldn't be your only criterion; we recommend splitting your budget between more serious equipment and entry-level items if needed.

If race suits and the like don't apply to you, at least think about getting a HANS-compatible helmet, because that's probably the next tightening of the rules, so plan ahead and avoid buying twice!

And as for the suit, bear in mind that a suit will let you go for a passenger ride in a caged car... personally, I'd kick myself if I bumped into Louis with his GT3 and missed the chance to go for a ride as passenger!

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