Suits & Fire-Resistant Underwear

Racing Suits & Fire-Resistant Base Layers

A racing suit is mandatory equipment in most motorsport disciplines — the layer of fire-resistant protection that provides the critical seconds of protection in a fire event that allow the driver to escape safely. But beyond this fundamental safety function, a quality racing suit is a carefully engineered garment that provides comfort over long race stints, correct fit that allows free movement without bunching or restricting the driver's range of motion, and the layering system that works with fire-resistant underwear to achieve the required overall protection rating.

With 46 suit and base layer products from Simpson Racing and RaceQuip, our racing suit range covers entry-level SFI-rated single-layer suits through to multi-layer FIA-rated garments for the most demanding racing applications.

SFI and FIA Rating — Understanding the Difference

Racing suits are rated under two main certification systems — SFI (Society of Fire Protection Engineers) predominantly used in American motorsport, and FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) used in FIA-sanctioned international motorsport. SFI ratings (SFI 3.2A/1, 3.2A/5, 3.2A/10, 3.2A/15, 3.2A/20) represent increasing levels of protection measured in seconds of exposure before the onset of second-degree burns. FIA ratings (8856-2000, 8856-2018) represent the FIA's own testing standard that all FIA-sanctioned events require. Check the specific requirements of your class and sanctioning body before selecting a suit — using a suit that doesn't meet the required specification can result in exclusion from competition.

Fire-Resistant Underwear and Socks — The Foundation of Fire Protection

Fire-resistant underwear and socks — worn beneath the racing suit — provide the additional thermal protection layer that allows a multi-layer system to achieve higher overall ratings than a suit alone can provide. More importantly, they extend the time a driver has to exit the vehicle in a fire event. Quality underwear in Nomex or equivalent fire-resistant materials is lightweight, moisture-wicking, and comfortable over extended race periods — the characteristic discomfort associated with early fire-resistant garments has largely been eliminated in modern materials.