Customer Question: Can a FIA Suit Be Used For Karting And in Karting Championships?
Customer Question: “Can an FIA suit be used for karting and in karting championships?” This is something we get asked a lot, especially by drivers who already own an FIA-homologated race suit for car racing. It’s a sensible question. After all, FIA suits are high-quality, fireproof, and trusted at the very top levels of motorsport. So on the surface, it seems like they should be suitable for karting too.
But karting brings a different set of challenges compared to car racing, and the suits used are designed with that in mind. The type of approval stamped on the suit is crucial, as scrutineers at karting events won’t just check that you’re wearing a “racing suit,” they’ll check that it carries the correct karting homologation.
Understanding the difference matters for two key reasons. First, safety: karting suits are built for abrasion resistance, while FIA race suits focus on fire protection. Second, eligibility: Motorsport UK and other organisers in the UK require specific karting-approved suits for entry into championships. Turning up in the wrong suit could see you stopped before you even get on track.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between FIA car racing suits and karting suits, the regulations for karting attire in the UK (especially under Motorsport UK championships), and why it’s important to use the right suit for the right discipline. We’ll keep it casual but professional, so grab a cup of tea and let’s get into it!
FIA Car Racing Suits vs. Karting Suits: What’s the Difference?
At first glance, all racing overalls might look similar – they’re often flashy, covered in logos, and built to protect drivers. However, FIA-approved car racing suits and karting suits are designed with very different hazards in mind. Here’s a quick rundown of how they differ:
- Fire Protection vs. Abrasion Protection: An FIA car racing suit (homologated to standards like FIA 8856-2000 or 8856-2018) is primarily designed to protect the driver from fire in auto racing. These suits are made with layers of flame-retardant material (Nomex is common) to withstand intense heat for a critical amount of time. In karting, fire risk is much lower; instead, the bigger danger is abrasion from sliding on tarmac in an open kart. Karting suits are made of abrasion-resistant fabrics (often Cordura or similar) to prevent “road rash” if you come out of the kart. In fact, a typical Nomex car suit can shred very easily against asphalt – one experienced karter noted that a Nomex suit would protect you about as well as a t-shirt if you slide off in a kart! In short, car suits prioritize fire safety, whereas kart suits focus on abrasion protection.
- Layering and Weight: FIA car suits are usually multi-layer (two or three layers of material) to achieve that fire protection. This makes them heavier and often hotter to wear. Karting suits, on the other hand, are typically a single thick layer (or lighter layers) of abrasion-resistant material. They are generally lighter and cooler, since kart drivers exert a lot of physical effort and don’t have a cozy car cockpit – you’re out in the elements and working up a sweat. The lighter weight and added ventilation of kart suits help drivers stay comfortable and focused during races.
- Flexibility and Fit: In karting, you’re moving your arms and upper body a lot more (leaning in seats, active steering, etc.), so kart suits often include stretch panels in key areas for flexibility. Car racing suits also allow movement but can afford a slightly tighter fit since the driver is strapped in with harnesses. Kart suits tend to be a bit roomier around the shoulders and arms to accommodate the active motion of kart driving. Comfort is key – a kart suit needs to let you contort and lean without binding you up.
- Fire Resistance in Kart Suits: You might wonder, are karting suits fireproof at all? Kart suits are not generally fire-resistant like FIA car suits. They might have a minimal level of fire retardancy in the fabric (so they don’t easily catch a spark), but they are not rated for surviving a full race car fire. Conversely, FIA car suits are not built to handle abrasion – which is why you wouldn’t swap them. Each is purpose-built for its own domain of safety. So, wearing a kart suit in a car race is a no-go (not fire-safe), and wearing a car suit in a kart race is equally a bad idea (not abrasion-safe).
What Do UK Karting Championship Rules Say?
Let’s talk about the rules – especially since we’re focusing on UK-based karting championships, which are typically run under Motorsport UK regulations (the governing body for motorsport in the UK). If you plan to race in an official karting championship or club event in Britain, you’ll need to meet their safety requirements for driver apparel.
According to Motorsport UK’s rulebook, for short-circuit karting (the most common format on go-kart circuits), drivers must wear either:
A karting suit homologated to a CIK-FIA standard (the international karting suit standards), Level 1 or Level 2, or
A leather racing suit (similar to a motorbike racing suit), which is generally used in Superkart or long-circuit karting.
No other types of suits are listed as acceptable. In fact, the rule states “for Short Circuits, only leather suits, or suits of a recognised CIK homologation standard, are acceptable.” This means an FIA car racing overall (Nomex suit), which is not CIK-FIA karting homologated and is not leather, would not pass scrutineering at a Motorsport UK karting event. Scrutineers at race meetings typically check the label on your suit to ensure it’s an approved karting suit. All CIK-FIA-approved kart suits have a homologation label (often on the inside of the collar or along the zipper) that indicates the standard (e.g. CIK-FIA N2013-1 Level 2) and validity dates. If that label isn’t there, you’re likely to be turned away or excluded from the event for non-compliant safety gear.
To put it simply: In UK karting championships, you cannot use a standard FIA car race suit because it’s not an approved karting suit. The only exception might be if you’re doing long-circuit karting (racing karts on car circuits like Silverstone or Thruxton, often in Superkart categories). For those events, many drivers opt for thick leather suits due to the very high speeds, and the rules actually mandate leather or a very high-grade kart suit (EN17092-AAA rated or the new Grade 2 standard). But an FIA fireproof suit still wouldn’t meet that leather requirement either.
What about other UK karting scenes? Almost all competitive karting in the UK, from the British Kart Championships to local club series, runs under Motorsport UK and requires CIK-FIA homologated suits. Outside of that, in independent (IKR) or rental karting, rules can be more relaxed, and an FIA car suit might technically be allowed. Still, it’s not recommended you risk damaging an expensive Nomex suit and you won’t have the abrasion protection a karting suit provides.
Why an FIA Car Suit Isn’t Suitable for Karting (Safety & Comfort)
Aside from the strict rules, there are solid reasons why you wouldn’t want to use your FIA car racing suit for karting anyway:
- Abrasion, Abrasion, Abrasion: We touched on this already, but it’s worth emphasizing. In karting, if you go off track or collide and get thrown from the kart, you may end up sliding along the ground or across curbs. Karting suits are built to withstand this kind of punishment, greatly reducing scrapes or bruises. Car suits, being made of Nomex (a soft aramid fiber), can tear almost immediately upon contact with rough tarmac. One karting veteran bluntly compared a Nomex car suit to “a t-shirt and shorts” in terms of abrasion protection – in other words, almost useless if you go skidding across the track. The last thing you want is to discover a large hole in your nice FIA suit – or worse, a hole in your skin because the suit failed to protect you.
- Lack of Homologation = No Insurance/Compliance: Motorsport UK’s safety rules aren’t just for show; they are often tied to insurance and liability. If you show up to a kart race in an unapproved kit (like a non-homologated suit), organizers can’t let you race because it puts you (and them) at risk. It’s similar to how you wouldn’t be allowed on track without the proper helmet standard. Rules ensure everyone has a baseline level of protection. So even if you personally feel okay wearing your car suit in a kart, the officials won’t feel okay about it – it’s simply not worth the risk or rule breach.
- Heat and Comfort: Karting is a very physical activity. You’re driving in the open air, often during summer heat, and working your body hard. An FIA suit’s extra layers can make you overheat quickly in a kart. Kart suits tend to breathe a bit better and feel less bulky. If you wear a thick triple-layer car suit while pushing a kart to its limits, you might feel like you’re in a sauna suit – not great for concentration or enjoyment. Plus, all that sweat can degrade a Nomex suit over time (sweat and Nomex aren’t best friends in terms of maintaining fire resistance). It’s wiser to keep your pricey FIA suit in good condition for car events, rather than soaking it in sweat and dirt at the kart track.
- Freedom of Movement: As mentioned, kart suits have strategic stretch panels and a cut that allows more movement. Car suits are getting better in flexibility these days, but if yours is a bit restrictive in the shoulders, you’ll notice it when trying to wrestle a kart around. Karts have no power steering, no suspension – you’re muscling the wheel and absorbing every bump. Wearing gear that grants you maximum mobility is a plus, and kart suits are optimized for that. You don’t want your attire to be the reason you couldn’t nail that overtake because your arms were constrained!
- Cost and Wear: FIA-approved racing suits are not cheap – and neither are CIK-FIA kart suits, to be fair. But using the wrong suit for the wrong job can shorten its lifespan. A car suit used in karting might get torn or abraded, meaning you’ve just ruined a £800+ piece of kit outside of its intended purpose. Conversely, a kart suit used in car racing could get oil or fuel soaked and won’t protect you in a fire (and would be disallowed in that context anyway). It’s more economical in the long run to have the right tool for each job.
- Cost and Wear: FIA-approved racing suits are not cheap – and neither are CIK-FIA kart suits, to be fair. But using the wrong suit for the wrong job can shorten its lifespan. A car suit used in karting might get torn or abraded, meaning you’ve just ruined a £800+ piece of kit outside of its intended purpose. Conversely, a kart suit used in car racing could get oil or fuel soaked and won’t protect you in a fire (and would be disallowed in that context anyway). It’s more economical in the long run to have the right tool for each job.
The Bottom Line: Choose the Right Suit for the Right Sport
A Note on Evolving Standards
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, an FIA car racing suit cannot be used for karting championships – and it’s in your best interest to use the proper CIK-FIA approved karting suit for any kart racing activity, especially in the UK’s Motorsport UK-sanctioned events. It might mean owning separate suits for different forms of motorsport, but that’s just part of staying safe and compliant. Always check the labeling on your suit and ensure it’s meant for karting before you hit the grid.
If you’re unsure what gear you need for your next race, or you want advice on picking the right homologated kart suit, feel free to reach out to us at GSM Performance. We’re racers and enthusiasts too, so we’re happy to help guide you. Remember, wearing the right safety equipment is not just about following rules – it’s about protecting yourself so you can race again tomorrow. Stay safe and see you at the track (in the correct suit, of course)!