Is it time to replace your race suit? Let’s get you track-ready. The Alpinestars GP Tech V4 set: what three layers from Alpinestars actually buys
Alpinestars makes three FIA 8856-2018 suits. The GP Race V3 has two layers. The Hypertech V3 has two layers. The GP Tech V4, which sits between them on price, has three.
That third layer is a structured 3D Nomex panel across the torso, sides and underarms. It is not insulation. It is an airflow layer, designed to move heat away from your body during longer stints. The GP Race V3 and Hypertech V3 both do without it. On the GP Tech V4, it is the defining feature.
Paired here with the Alpinestars Tech 1-Z V3 boots and Tech 1-ZX V4 gloves, both FIA 8856-2018 approved, both covered in detail in the GP Race V3 set guide. The accessories are the same, so this guide concentrates on the suit and on what the extra construction actually means.
Total set: £1,774.80 inc VAT, no bundle discount.
The set at a glance
- Set total
- £1,774.80Inc VAT, no bundle discount
- Suit
- GP Tech V4£1,245.60 inc VAT, 3 colourways
- Boots
- Tech 1-Z V3£346.80 inc VAT, 7 colourways
- Gloves
- Tech 1-ZX V4£182.40 inc VAT, 6 colourways
- Approval
- FIA 8856-2018All three pieces
- Bundle
- NoneNo bundle discount available
The only 3-layer suit in Alpinestars’ FIA 8856-2018 range
The GP Tech V4 sits in an unusual position. It costs £349.40 more than the GP Race V3 and £650.40 less than the Hypertech V3. Both of those suits have two construction layers. The GP Tech V4 has three. So you are paying more than the entry suit for extra construction, and less than the flagship for premium materials. If breathability over a full sprint or endurance run matters to you, that is the right trade. If you want the lightest possible suit, the Hypertech V3 is where that goes.
The only 3-layer suit in the range
Alpinestars makes three FIA 8856-2018 suits. The GP Race V3 and Hypertech V3 both have two construction layers. The GP Tech V4 has three. At any price, from Alpinestars, it is the only option with the extra layer.
What that third layer does
The third layer is a 3D Nomex panel across the torso, sides and underarms. Alpinestars describes it as an airflow layer: the structured mesh holds a small gap between shell and liner so heat can move during longer stints. It does not change the FIA rating.
Where it sits on price
The GP Tech V4 suit costs £349.40 more than the GP Race V3 and £650.40 less than the Hypertech V3. Both alternatives have two layers. If breathability over run duration matters, this is the gap the GP Tech V4 fills.
| Suit | Layers | Third layer | Stretch panels | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP Race V3 | 2 | None | Lower back, crotch | £547.20 |
| GP Tech V4 | 3 | 3D Nomex (torso, sides, underarms) | Lumbar, elbows, knees, crotch | £1,245.60 |
| Hypertech V3 | 2 | None | Not listed | £1,896.00 |
Data read from our own product pages. Prices inc VAT at 20%.
The suit
The GP Tech V4 shell is a twill outer with a knitted aramid liner. Between them sits the 3D Nomex panel across the chest, torso sides and underarms. Alpinestars describes it as an airflow layer: the 3D structure holds a small gap between shell and liner so heat can move rather than build up. That is the whole point of the suit, and it is the one thing neither the GP Race V3 nor the Hypertech V3 does.
Stretch coverage is broader than the GP Race V3. Four panels: lumbar, elbows, knees and crotch. The GP Race V3 covers lower back and crotch. In practice, both feel free in most seat positions, but the elbow and knee stretch on the GP Tech V4 make a difference on a circuit where you are working the wheel for a long time.
Pre-curved arms and legs come standard, so the suit does not fight you when you are in a driving position. The F1-style extraction handle at the collar is there for marshals in an emergency. Both features carry across from the GP Race V3.
Three colourways: White, Black & Red; Black & White; Navy Blue, Black & Red. All three are FIA 8856-2018 approved.
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The boots
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The Tech 1-Z V3 boots are the same as those in the GP Race V3 set guide. FIA 8856-2018 approved, seven colourways, microfibre upper, lateral anti-twist insert. Full spec and colourway breakdown in that guide.
£346.80 inc VAT.
The gloves
The Tech 1-ZX V4 gloves are the same as those in the GP Race V3 set guide. FIA 8856-2018 approved, six colourways, pre-curved for wheel grip. Full spec and colourway breakdown in that guide.
£182.40 inc VAT.
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Which colours go together
Three suit colourways, seven boot options, six glove options. The matrix below shows the combinations that work visually. Red connections run through two of the three suits, so those pairings transfer directly. The Black & White suit needs a different logic.
Combinations are suggestions, not rules. Boot and glove colourway hexes sampled from our own product pages and matched to Alpinestars colour names.
If you already own a pair of boots from another Alpinestars set, check the GP Race V3 guide for the full colourway spec on the boots and gloves.
All 3 colourways, worn
Each suit colourway generated at 4K portrait (3:4). Boots and gloves appear plain and unbranded in the images. The recommended boot and glove pairings for each suit are shown on the card.
White, Black & Red
White body, black yokes and collar, red on the outer arms and lower legs. The traditional colourway and the one shown in the hero image above. Red transfers directly to the boot upper and glove back on the recommended pairings.
Black & White
Black body, white at the shoulder yokes and arm panels. The neutral option. Black and Silver or White and Black boots are the cleaner pairings. Fluorescent Yellow is available if you want contrast with any black-body suit.
Navy Blue, Black & Red
Deep navy body, black yokes, red accents. There is no navy boot or glove in the Tech 1-Z V3 and Tech 1-ZX V4 ranges. Black and Red is the closest match on contrast. Light Teal with White and Black is an alternative if you prefer a cooler tone on the accessories.
Fit and sizing
| Size | Chest (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hip (cm) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 88 | 72 | 88 | 165 |
| 48 | 92 | 76 | 92 | 168 |
| 50 | 96 | 80 | 96 | 170 |
| 52 | 100 | 84 | 100 | 173 |
| 54 | 104 | 88 | 104 | 175 |
| 56 | 108 | 92 | 108 | 178 |
| 58 | 112 | 96 | 112 | 180 |
| 60 | 116 | 100 | 116 | 183 |
Source: Alpinestars GB sizing chart. Verify against the current gb.alpinestars.com product page before advising a customer.
What else sits at this money
At £1,245.60 for the suit, the GP Tech V4 sits in a gap where there are not many direct alternatives. The OMP One S (£1,116 inc VAT) is worth a look for anyone who wants a well-constructed two-layer suit at slightly less money. The Alpinestars Hypertech V3 (£1,896 inc VAT) is the next step up, with premium lightweight materials but only two layers. The Sparco X-Light (£841.20 inc VAT) and GP Race V3 (£547.20 inc VAT) are both below it, both two-layer.
If the three-layer construction is the specific reason you are looking at the GP Tech V4, there is no Alpinestars alternative at any price. The GP Tech V4 is the only option.
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From £841.20 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £1,896.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £1,116.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
What I would actually buy
If I were competing in circuit racing with stints over 30 minutes, the GP Tech V4. The three-layer construction is there for a reason and you feel the difference in heat build-up on longer runs. For sprints and hillclimbs where heat management is less of an issue, the GP Race V3 is a long way cheaper and the suit construction holds up fine.
The Tech 1-Z V3 boots and Tech 1-ZX V4 gloves are good accessories for both. They do not change between the two guides.
Final thoughts
The GP Tech V4’s position in the Alpinestars range is straightforward when you look at the layer count. The GP Race V3 and Hypertech V3 are both two-layer. The GP Tech V4 is three. You are paying for the 3D Nomex airflow construction, and that is all you are paying for. No other FIA 8856-2018 suit from Alpinestars has it.
Three colourways, seven boot options, six glove options. The pairings table in the colour matrix covers the combinations that work.
