Key Takeaways
- Car racing suits protect against fire; karting suits protect against abrasion when a driver slides along the track.
- Our karting suits are not fire resistant and must never be used where an SFI-rated suit is required.
- Kart suits are often sublimated, so any design, names and sponsor logos cost the same as a plain suit.
- Karting championships run under CIK-FIA rules may require homologated suits — check your rulebook.
Different sports, different risks
In a car, the biggest danger to a driver's body is fire: there is fuel on board, and a driver may need precious seconds to get out of the cockpit. A racing suit for cars is therefore built and tested for fire protection.
In a kart there is far less fuel and the driver is not enclosed — the main risk is being thrown from the kart and sliding along the asphalt. A karting suit is therefore built for abrasion resistance, comfort and freedom of movement.
How car racing suits are built
Car racing suits are made from fire-resistant materials such as Nomex® or Proban® FR cotton, and certified suits are rated to a standard such as SFI 3.2A. Everything on the suit — thread, zips, collars, cuffs and badges — has to be chosen so it does not compromise that protection.
Our auto racing suits are made to SFI 3.2A/1 and SFI 3.2A/5. Read what those ratings mean.
How karting suits are built
Our karting suits use a premium shiny sublimation-ready performance fabric with a breathable mesh lining. Because the design is printed into the fabric by sublimation, stripes, gradients, sponsor logos, driver names and fluorescent colours all cost the same as a plain suit — and they do not crack or peel.
Karting suits are cut for the driving position in a kart, with comfort over long sessions in mind. They are made in one-piece and two-piece styles and in youth and junior sizes for the youngest classes.
Never swap one for the other
This is the most important point in this article: a karting suit is not a fire suit. Our karting suits are not fire resistant and must not be used in a car series that requires an SFI-rated suit.
The opposite swap is less dangerous but still not ideal: a car racing suit is not designed for the sliding abrasion of a kart accident, and it will be hotter and heavier than a kart suit in a kart seat.
What about kart racing rules?
Club and rental karting usually only asks for a suitable suit, gloves, boots and helmet. Championships run under CIK-FIA rules — and many national karting championships that follow them — may require a CIK-FIA homologated suit, which carries its own label after testing.
Always read the regulations for your championship before you order. If you need a homologated suit, mention it in your enquiry so we can confirm what is possible for your order.
The rest of the kit
The same split applies to the rest of a driver's gear:
- Gloves: auto racing gloves are fire-resistant Nomex® (SFI 3.3/5); karting gloves use a light, sublimated stretch blend with a silicone palm grip.
- Shoes: auto racing shoes have fire-retardant linings; karting shoes are built for grip, feel and comfort.
- Under the suit: fire-resistant base layers and balaclavas are essential in a car; in a kart, a comfortable base layer and balaclava keep the driver cool and the helmet hygienic.
See the full kart racing range and the auto racing range.
Ordering for a team or a track
Teams often need both: SFI suits for a car programme and sublimated suits for their karting drivers, all in matching colours. We reference colours to Pantone so the two ranges match. Rental tracks need something different again — read our rental kart suit buying guide.
Design your suit online with Design Your Suit or request a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are karting suits fire resistant?+
Our karting suits are not. They are built for abrasion resistance and comfort. If your series requires an SFI-rated suit, choose an auto racing suit instead.
Can I use a karting suit for a track day in a car?+
Only if the event does not require a fire-resistant suit. Most car track days and every SFI-rated series require a certified fire suit, so check the event rules.
Do you make kart suits for children?+
Yes. We have a dedicated youth and junior size chart so suits fit drivers from the youngest classes upwards.
Have a project in mind?
Talk to our manufacturing team about your racewear — stock, private label or fully custom.