5 December 2012
Chicane Racewear releases new, super lightweight race suit for 2013
Auckland-based motorsport clothing specialists Chicane Racewear have developed a new, super lightweight two-layer race
suit, called the M-6, specifically for New Zealand and Australian racing conditions.
Having received confirmation of the suit’s homologation to meet the necessary safety standards from the world governing
body of motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Chicane Racewear is now busy manufacturing the
comfortable, lightweight race suits in its Auckland premises and promoting them to competitors on both sides of the
Tasman and across Asia.
The new Chicane M-6 suits feature new holographic ‘destruct on removal’ labels which carry a unique serial number for
each suit, a system introduced by the FIA for 2013 to help prevent counterfeit suits being sold as FIA-approved on the
global market.
Chicane Racewear’s director and triple New Zealand motor racing champion Shane Drake explains the development process of
the new two-layer fabric technology used in the M-6 suit.
“For the past two years we have kept up with world trends, manufacturing lightweight three-layer suits which utilised
extremely breathable, lighter fabrics. The fabric technology and its use of air gaps help keep heat away from the
driver’s body, an understandably important characteristic in a race suit given the often high temperatures inside a
racecar cabin or cockpit,” says Drake.
“In 2011 Chicane was the first in the world to use a newly-developed intermediate layer in our three-layer suits, a very
thin layer which comprised hundreds of thousands of small apertures to further aid driver cooling.
“Now in 2012, the Chicane M-6 suit features the very latest in two-layer technology from France. The outer layer is a
flame-resistant Nomex® fabric, extremely breathable with a sheen finish. It’s designed for the conditions competitors
typically face in Australia, New Zealand and numerous Asian countries – we tend to be more hands-on race drivers
down-under so durability and wear is extremely important, as well as looking good and keeping cool.”
Champion Kiwi speedway race driver Michael Pickens has trialled the new Chicane M-6 suit at a recent race meeting and
says: “Tthe new look M-6 suit from Chicane Racewear is by far the lightest and most comfortable suit I have ever raced
with.”
Drake continues: “The all-important inner layer is a three-dimensional knit, more breathable and very light, but at the
same time thick enough to adhere to the very stringent FIA standards for race suits. Our French partner, Chamatex,
invests considerable sums every year to continue their industry-leading development of race suit fabrics and we are the
first manufacturer to have developed a FIA-approved suit with this new three-dimensional knit. Having spent many years
travelling the world talking with specialist fabric manufacturers and competitors about what they want, I believe this
is the ultimate in race suit lining technology.”
The M-6 two-layer race suits, approved to FIA standard 8856-2000, are now available in any size from XXS to 3XL as well
as custom sizes, and in any colour combination and design. The Chicane Racewear website, www.chicaneracewear.co.nz has a free-to-use online suit designer which allows competitors to customise their own race suit and submit the design
for a quote to be provided.
Now into their 23rd year of operation, Chicane Racewear is a well-established supplier of New Zealand-made Chicane and
Flamecrusher race suits worn by many well-known Kiwi competitors such as 2011 FIA Production World Rally Champion Hayden
Paddon, GP3 Champion Mitch Evans, recently-retired V8 Supercar star Shane Van Gisbergen and speedway hero Michael
Pickens. Having purchased the manufacturing rights and intellectual property of the Flamecrusher brand earlier this
year, Chicane exports its New Zealand-made suits to Australia, around the Asia Pacific region, the US and the UK. The
company also stocks a range of the highly-regarded Italian-made Alpinestars race suits and protective race gear to
complement the locally-manufactured garments.
“Chicane Racewear is the only New Zealand manufacturer of FIA-approved race suits and competitors can be assured of our
ongoing dedication to source new technology fabrics to be utilised in suits which suit their specific racing conditions,
be it club sport or professional level racing on circuits, drag strips, speedway, power boats, jet sprints or rallies,”
adds Drake.
Experienced personnel at the company’s upmarket showroom and manufacturing facility in Penrose, Auckland, help
competitors with a complete suit design service and also offer a personalised on-site embroidery service for suits and
team clothing, as well as repairs and alterations.
Chicane Racewear also makes their products available through a number of New Zealand and Australian distributors and
online, or call toll-free on 0800 CHICANE.
ENDS/