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The kit you need

The safety kit each UK motorsport discipline requires, from karting rib protectors to FHRs and fireproof overalls for circuit racing, from the governing bodies' own lists.

Guides · Updated 29 September 2026 · Sources at the end

The short answer

A helmet in every discipline. Beyond that it scales with speed: karting adds a race suit, gloves, boots and a rib protector; circuit racing adds a frontal head restraint (FHR), fireproof overalls, balaclava, gloves, boots and underwear. The 750 Motor Club puts a full circuit racing kit from £950.

Kit by discipline

Karting

  • Helmet — Must meet Motorsport UK regulations. Under-15s may only use a Snell CMR-type helmet (e.g. CMR2016) or the CMS equivalent. Motorcycle helmets are not permitted.
  • Race suit — Overalls that are CIK-homologated, or a leather suit (Motorsport UK). ABKC says correct suits show Level 1 or 2 on the collar with the CIK/FIA date range.
  • Gloves and boots — Listed as required personal safety equipment meeting Motorsport UK regulations.
  • Rib protector — Recommended by Motorsport UK. Club100 strongly recommends one for all drivers.

Circuit racing

  • Helmet — Must meet Motorsport UK regulations and carry the correct 'Standard' label. The exact standards are in the Motorsport UK Yearbook and championship regulations.
  • Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) — Mandatory across circuit racing, except for competitors in certain Period Defined Vehicles.
  • Fireproof overalls, balaclava and gloves — Listed by Motorsport UK as required and meeting its regulations.
  • Boots and fireproof underwear — Strongly recommended by Motorsport UK's circuit racing guide.

Rally

  • Helmet, fireproof overalls, FHR and balaclava (stage rallying) — Mandatory and must meet Motorsport UK regulations, for both drivers and co-drivers.
  • Fireproof gloves, boots and fireproof underwear (stage rallying) — Strongly recommended.
  • Road rally navigation kit — Working odometer, pencil, rubber, sharpener, stopwatch(es) and a cardboard writing board. Some events need Ordnance Survey maps or a smartphone app with a dash mount and charger.

Hillclimb & sprint

  • Helmet — Mandatory for all drivers and must meet Motorsport UK regulations.
  • Fireproof overalls and gloves — Sprint guide: mandatory for competition cars and strongly encouraged for standard cars. Harewood: race suit and gloves required except in road classes. Motorsport UK's hill climb guide lists overalls, balaclava, FHR and gloves as mandatory without a road-car exception.
  • Balaclava and Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) — Listed on Motorsport UK's hill climb guide as mandatory. The sprint guide lists them without saying which classes they apply to.
  • Boots and fireproof underwear — Recommended.

Historic

  • Helmet, overalls, gloves, balaclava — The same circuit racing requirements as modern racing, meeting Motorsport UK regulations.
  • Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) — Mandatory across circuit racing except for competitors in certain Period Defined Vehicles. Check your class regulations.

Drifting

  • Helmet — Practice days: 'suitable motorsport helmet' (Driftland) or 'approved helmet' (Teesside). Drift League GB accepts standards including FIA 8859-2015, Snell SA2015 and Snell SA2020, and helmets must be no more than 5 years old.
  • Clothing — Long sleeves and long trousers (Driftland); no exposed skin and closed-toe shoes (Teesside). In Drift League GB competition a fire-retardant suit, gloves and boots are mandatory.
  • Car safety (practice day) — Fixed-back bucket seat, minimum 3-point harness, front and rear tow points, 2L AFFF extinguisher (Driftland).
  • Roll cage — Needed for twinning at Teesside, and a minimum 6-point cage is required at Drift Matsuri and Drift League GB.

Drag racing

  • Helmet (RWYB) — 'A safety helmet that is fit for purpose is mandatory for ALL participants.'
  • Arm restraints (RWYB) — Mandatory for open-top or windowless cars.
  • Roll cage (RWYB, faster cars) — Strongly recommended for cars faster than 12 seconds. Mandatory (minimum roll bar) for cars faster than 9.00 seconds.
  • Race kit (permitted events) — Motorsport UK's drag racing guide lists a helmet, fireproof overalls and FHR as mandatory. SPRC's 2020 guide says requirements depend on class: a Snell helmet, SFI/FIA-rated clothing, a neck brace if faster than 10.99 seconds, and arm restraints for open-top cars.

Bikes

  • Helmet — Must carry the current ACU gold stamp, be in sound condition and properly fitted.
  • Leather suit — One-piece leathers at least 1.2mm thick (two-piece suits zipped at the waist are not permitted), padded at shoulders, elbows, torso sides and hips, back and knees.
  • Boots — Leather or approved material, at least 200mm high, with no skin exposed between suit and boot.
  • Gloves — Leather protective gloves, with no skin exposed between suit wrist and glove.
  • Orange Novice vest — Compulsory for Novice and Intermediate Novice licence holders; obtained from the ACU licence department.
  • Identification disc — Worn around the neck during practice and racing, marked with your full name and date of birth.

Motocross

  • Helmet — ACU-approved motocross helmet.
  • Chest and back protection — Required by the ACU.
  • Motocross boots — Mandatory.
  • Optional protection — Kidney belt, knee braces and neck brace are listed as optional.
  • Transponder — A transponder subscription is required for electronic timing at AMCA events.

Enduro

  • Helmet — Bearing a valid ACU gold or silver stamp and correctly fitted. Helmet-mounted cameras are prohibited unless built into the helmet.
  • Clothing — Suitable strong clothing covering legs, arms and body.
  • Boots and gloves — Knee-length boots and gloves in leather or other approved material.
  • Goggles — Tear-off lenses on goggles are prohibited under the ACU enduro regulations.

Trials

  • Helmet (motorcycle trials) — Required.
  • Sturdy leather boots (motorcycle trials) — Required.
  • Gloves (motorcycle trials) — Suitable gloves required.
  • Car trials — No specific personal protective equipment is required; specialist cars need items such as a fire extinguisher. A passenger is mandatory.

Oval & speedway

  • Helmet (oval racing) — To an ORCi-permitted standard (e.g. FIA 8859-2015, Snell SA2020, ECE R22.05/R22.06) and displaying the green 'ORCi 20 Approved' sticker.
  • Goggles or visor — Shatterproof goggles or visor must be worn with the helmet at all times.
  • Race suit — Flame-resistant race suit or overalls made from Proban or a higher-spec material such as Nomex, marked with the relevant standard.
  • Gloves and balaclava — Flame-resistant gloves and a flame-resistant balaclava are both compulsory.
  • Head and neck restraint — Compulsory for all junior formulas (FHR device or full-circle neck brace; horseshoe braces not permitted); permitted for adults subject to formula rules.
  • Harness — Minimum 4-point harness in banger formulas, 5-point in other formulas, with a quick-release buckle.
  • Speedway kit — At Scunthorpe's £99 experience package, club bikes and all safety equipment (including steel shoes) are provided.

Autograss

  • Helmet — Marked to ECE 22.05, ECE 22.06, FIA 8860-2010 (valid to end of 2028), FIA 8859-2015, FIA 8860-2018, Snell SA2015 (valid to end of 2026) or Snell SA2020. Open-face helmets are prohibited from 2026.
  • Goggles or visor — Motorcycle goggles or a visor must be worn and in position on the start line.
  • Overalls — Protective overalls covering all limbs; flame-retardant overalls strongly recommended; nylon overalls, waterproofs and gloves prohibited.
  • Gloves and footwear — Gloves are mandatory and must be fit for purpose; appropriate footwear must be worn.
  • Harness — Minimum 5-point full harness to BSI standards with one quick-release buckle.
  • Neck brace or FHR — Mandatory for junior drivers; strongly recommended for adults.
  • Arm protection — A NASA-permitted method of arm restraint (e.g. arm restraints or window nets).

Rallycross

  • Helmet — To Motorsport UK regulations.
  • Fireproof overalls — To Motorsport UK regulations.
  • Frontal head restraint (FHR) — Required.
  • Gloves — Required; fireproof recommended.
  • Recommended extras — Balaclava, fireproof underwear and regulation shoes are strongly recommended.

Before you buy

Approved helmet and safety standards change, so check the current requirements with the governing body before you buy, and try a helmet on so it fits. For what the rest of a first season costs, see the cheapest ways into motorsport.

Questions

What kit do I need for karting?

For racing: helmet, race suit, gloves and boots, rib protector.

What safety kit is needed for circuit racing?

Helmet, Frontal Head Restraint (FHR), Fireproof overalls, balaclava and gloves, Boots and fireproof underwear. The 750 Motor Club estimates the kit from £950.

Sources