The Stilo ST5 GT Zero 8860-2018 helmet was worn by Tony Kanaan for the first time in history at the 2019 St. Petersburg IndyCar race in March.
While many top helmet manufacturers have struggled to introduce new helmets built to the FIA 8860-2018 standard, Stilo proudly received the first new standard approvals and is leading the way forward.
All FIA 8860-2018 helmets will contain advancements in safety for the following:
- Increased side protection areas to make sure the helmet can better absorb the energy released on impact from closed-car seat-side head protection systems.
- The helmet shell construction will require the use of more advanced, technical composite material, because it not only has to be tough, but must be resistant to greater crushing and penetration.
- The helmet will now be subject to greater G forces, different crash angles, more variable G forces and deal with different head forms.
- The new FIA 8860-2018 testing standards are the most stringent requirements ever put in place, all designed to keep racers safe when things don’t go according to plan.
Here is a breakdown of those requirements:
- Standard impact: Helmet impact at 9.5m/s. Peak deceleration on ‘driver’s head’ shall not exceed 275 G.
- Low velocity impact: Helmet impact at 6m/s. Peak deceleration shall not exceed 200 G with a maximum average of 180g.
- Low lateral impact: Helmet impact at 8.5m/s. Peak deceleration shall not exceed 275 G.
- Crush: A 10 kg weight falling 5.1 meters onto helmet. Lateral and longitudinal tests. The transmitted force should not exceed 10 kN.
- Shell penetration: A 4 kg impactor dropped onto helmet at 7.7 m/s.
- Visor penetration: Air rifle fires 1.2g pellet at visor. Pellet must not penetrate the interior of the helmet.
- Visor coating: Transmitter test to ensure coloration and vision is not significantly changed or distorted.
- Retention system: Roll-off test and dynamic test to ensure strength of chin strap and its attachments.
- Chin guard linear impact: Impact test with full headform at 5.5m/s. The peak deceleration shall not exceed 275G.
- Chin guard crush: Hammer hits chin guard and measures ability to keep impact away from the head.
- FHR mechanical strength: Test to ensure high strength of attachment points for frontal head restraints.
- Projection and surface friction: Test to ensure helmet surface uniformity and that friction is minimized. Shell surface also subjected to BARCOL hardness test for resistance to penetration.
- Flammability: Helmet exposed to 790 Centigrade/ 1454 Fahrenheit flame; it must self-extinguish once flame is removed.
