Helmet manufacturer Arai has met the Snell-FIA CM2007 youth helmet standard and received approval to begin production and sale of the helmets. Bell Racing Europe and B2 were the first companies to receive certification, and Arai is the next manufacturer to follow suit.

The helmets being developed follow several years of research by the FIA Institute in partnership with Snell Memorial Foundation to produce crash helmets specifically designed for youth aged seven to 18. This groundbreaking project marked the first time safety equipment was developed specifically for young drivers, recognising that a young driver’s helmet should not simply be a smaller version of an adult helmet.

The need for such change was promoted by FIA Institute Fellows Dr. Steve Olvey, the former CART medical director, and Dr. Terry Trammell, a motor sport specialist and orthopaedic surgeon. A huge amount of children’s head mass and geometry data was used to create 3D models representing the average size, shape and mass of a child’s head. The 3D forms were sent to OSBE to produce prototype helmets.

Andy Mellor, FIA Institute head of technical affairs, said: “Young heads are lighter than adults so their helmets must account for this. Relative to their bodies, kids’ heads are big but their necks are thinner and weaker so their helmets need to be lighter.”

The CM2007 standard was released in December 2007 and can be viewed at www.smf.org. The Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK-FIA) will recommend in 2009 and mandate in 2010 that all drivers aged 15 and below are equipped with a certified youth helmet. Drivers over the age of 16 will have the choice between youth or adult helmets.