Teijin Aramid, Netherlands-based leading producer of aramids and a subsidiary of Japan-based Teijin Group, has collaborated with OMP Racing, a market-leading producer of premium motorsport safety equipment, to engineer a new protective motor racing suit that will be worn for the first time at the Berlin Formula E ‘E-Prix’ on August 14.

The new suit uses Teijin Aramid’s Teijinconex neo fibres and has been custom-made for Envision Virgin Racing, one of 12 teams competing in the Formula E World Championship. The protective garment will be worn by Envision Virgin Racing Formula E Team drivers Robin Frijns and Nick Cassidy at the Berlin E-Prix, the company said in a media release.

The suit contains innovative features designed to maximise the safety and comfort of drivers during competition. The outer layer of the garment consists of an ultra-light fabric made with Teijinconex, that can resist temperatures of up to 400°C (750°F) and does not burn or melt when exposed to extreme heat.

The suit contains just two layers, one less than most standard racing suits. This allows the wearer greater flexibility and a more tailored, comfortable fit. The suit is also up to 10 per cent lighter than the previous racing wear worn by the Envision Virgin Racing Formula E Team, further enabling the movement and performance of drivers.

As Teijinconex is produced in line with leading chemical industry environmental standards, including REACH, it aligns with the Formula E team’s strong sustainability ethos, including Envision Virgin Racing Formula E Team’s Race Against Climate Change campaign.

“By incorporating Teijinconex neo aramid fibres into the suit design, we are putting down a marker for comfort, lightness, flexibility and colour options in protective racing wear. This innovative design will hopefully help Envision Virgin Racing’s drivers reach new levels of performance on the track. But, of course, our top priority remains driver safety, and the new suit has been rigorously tested in line with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) standards,” said Otto Pomiano, research & development consultant at OMP Racing.

“This innovative lightweight racing suit shows how effective research and development collaborations can enable dynamic breakthroughs in protective clothing. Our close partnership with OMP Racing has brought together the technologies and innovative capabilities of both companies. Together, we are harnessing the high-performance properties of our aramids to drive safety and performance in professional motor racing,” said Daisuke Ozaki, director of research & technology at Teijin Aramid.