The Most Popular Helmet We Sell Is Not the One You'd Expect
Buyers Guide: Motorsport Helmets
The question at the counter about helmets comes up in the same way most weeks: does someone need FIA approval for a trackday? The answer depends on the event, and for the majority of open trackdays the answer is no. Our year-to-date sales data puts a number on it: the top two best-selling helmets are both ECE 22-06, both under £100, and not one FIA motorsport helmet appears anywhere in the top 50 products sold. The figures come from our live WooCommerce reports, pulled today.
That does not mean FIA helmets are wrong for everyone, it means the trackday and karting market is much larger than the licensed racing market. Each part of the range exists for a reason. The data just tells you which one most people actually need.
- Top two helmets YTD: Sparco X-Pro and OMP Star, 26 units each
- Both are ECE 22-06. Neither is FIA motorsport homologated
- No FIA motorsport helmet appears in the top 50 sellers
- Helmets are zero-rated for VAT in the UK: the prices shown are what you pay
- Data source: WooCommerce year-to-date report, pulled 19 October 2026
What the data shows
| Helmet | Units sold YTD | Price | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparco X-Pro Helmet | 26 | £90.87 | ECE 22-06 |
| OMP Star Helmet - Matt Black | 26 | £70.21 | ECE 22-06 |
| No FIA motorsport helmet appeared in the top 50 sellers | |||
Year-to-date units from WooCommerce reports, pulled 19 October 2026. Both prices zero-rated for VAT. The top 50 excludes the free gift box, customer colouring book, RC drift car and drawstring helmet bag (novelty and giveaway items).
The two helmets at the top are separated by £20.66 and share the same ECE 22-06 standard. Between them they account for more helmet units in the year to date than everything else in the category combined. The Drawstring Helmet Bag sits at 184 units in the raw data, but that is a giveaway item rather than a helmet purchase. Removing accessories and novelties, the X-Pro and the OMP Star are clearly the standout sellers.
The absence of FIA helmets from the top 50 is not a gap in the range. We stock FIA 8859-2015 and FIA 8860-2018 helmets from Bell, OMP and Sparco, including the Bell HP77 Evo IV Carbon at £5,318.40. They do not appear in the top 50 because the pool of licensed circuit racers who need them is small against the trackday and karting market. The data reflects who is actually buying helmets, not who the marketing is aimed at.
Who buys ECE 22-06 helmets
Open trackdays at circuits such as Silverstone, Bedford Autodrome and Snetterton typically require a full-face helmet to ECE 22-06 or equivalent as their minimum. ARDS tests for a competition licence require a helmet on track. Karting at most UK clubs requires a helmet to CIK/FIA or ECE 22-06 minimum for casual sessions. None of these require FIA 8860 motorsport approval, and most do not require FIA 8859-2015 either.
The result is a very large pool of buyers who need a decent full-face helmet, do not need FIA approval, and are price-sensitive because the helmet is one item in a wider kit spend that also covers suit, gloves, harness and HANS device. The X-Pro at £90.87 and the OMP Star at £70.21 sit exactly in that pocket.
Cameron’s note on sizing: ECE helmets do not size the same way as FIA race helmets from the same brand. A driver who measures 58cm at the widest point of the head could be a Medium in the X-Pro and a Large in the OMP Star, because each brand sets its own size progression independently. If you are ordering online without trying first, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will confirm the right size from the brand’s current chart before the order goes out.
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Full Face Karting Helmets, Full Face Track Day Helmets, Sparco Helmets
£90.87 (No Tax)PayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Amazing valueTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
£70.21 (No Tax)PayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Amazing valueTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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Full Face Track Day Helmets, Full Face Karting Helmets, Sparco Helmets
£145.00 (No Tax)PayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Amazing valueTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
When you do need FIA motorsport approval
Licensed UK club racing through the MSA or Motorsport UK typically specifies a minimum helmet standard for each class. Single-seater formulae, sports and GT cars running in Motorsport UK-permitted events generally mandate FIA 8859-2015 as the entry point. Some series have moved to FIA 8859-2024 or FIA 8860-2018 for newer classes. Your specific series supplementary regulations are the authoritative source.
Garreth’s view: the price gap between an ECE helmet and a proper FIA race helmet is real and it reflects what the standards require. An FIA 8859-2015 helmet like the OMP GP-R at £405.60 costs roughly four times the OMP Star. That is not a margin exercise on our part, it is a different product made to a different specification under different testing conditions. If your series mandates FIA, you need it. If it does not, spending £400 on an FIA helmet solves a problem you do not have.
At the top end, the Bell HP77 Evo IV Carbon at £5,318.40 holds FIA 8860-2018-ABP, the current highest level of motorsport helmet certification. It is built for GT and single-seater drivers in higher-tier events where that level is mandated or preferred. It is an extraordinary piece of engineering, but it is not the right call for a Caterham club season or an occasional trackday.
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From £405.60 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadyTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £498.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £5,318.40 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Which helmet is right for you
The straightforward answer is: read your event regulations first. If they specify ECE 22-06 or just “full-face helmet”, the X-Pro and the OMP Star both meet that. If they specify FIA 8859-2015 or above, you need the FIA range. Mixing up the two categories is the main mistake, and it usually costs someone a helmet return.
Beyond the approval, Cameron’s guidance from handling the range is to try before you buy where possible. A helmet needs to fit snugly at the cheekbones and crown without any pressure points, stay level on the head without tilting, and give a full field of view through the visor. None of that can be confirmed from a size chart alone. If you are near Nottingham, the showroom carries stock you can try on, though you will need to book a slot.
For those ordering remotely: the returns process on an unworn, unlabelled helmet is straightforward, and we have dealt with enough size swaps that we know which brands run large and which run small. Drop us an email or click to open a chat with the make, model and your head measurement and we will narrow it down before you order.
Ask us before you order
If you want to confirm your event regulations require ECE or FIA approval before committing to a helmet, or you are not sure which size to order, call us on 0115 9893488 or drop us an email. We see enough helmets in and out of the store to have a view on how each brand and model runs, and we can usually save you a swap. Garreth and Cameron are both here most weekdays and the phone is open Monday to Friday.
Do I need FIA approval for a trackday?
Most open trackday events require a full-face helmet to ECE 22-06 as a minimum. Some specialist or closed events specify FIA 8859-2015 or above. Check your specific event’s regulations before ordering. If you are unsure, call us on 0115 9893488 and we can confirm what your event requires.
Are motorsport helmets zero-rated for VAT?
Yes. Helmets approved to ECE 22-06, CIK/FIA and most motorsport standards are zero-rated for VAT in the UK. The prices shown in the listings are the prices you pay, with no VAT added at checkout. The Sparco X-Pro at £90.87 and the OMP Star at £70.21 are both zero-rated.
What is the difference between FIA 8859-2015 and FIA 8860-2018?
Both are FIA motorsport helmet standards. FIA 8859-2015 is the current entry-level FIA standard, mandatory in many Motorsport UK club racing series. FIA 8860-2018 is the premium standard with advanced penetration resistance, mandated in FIA Formula 1 and some higher-tier events. The Bell HP77 Evo IV Carbon holds FIA 8860-2018-ABP (Advanced Ballistic Protection). For most UK club racing, FIA 8859-2015 is what the regulations specify.
How do I know which size to order?
Measure your head at the widest point, typically just above the eyebrows and around the back of the skull. Compare that measurement to the brand’s size chart, as each brand sets its own size progression independently. If you are between sizes, Cameron’s guidance is to go smaller: a snug fit at the cheekbones is correct and will loosen slightly with use. A helmet that moves on your head in use is too large.
