Kart Body Protector Buying Guide 2026

Kart Body Protector Buying Guide 2026

By IC Kartstore · Reviewed by Andrew Platt · Last reviewed: 31 July 2026

Quick answer: racing at an FIA Karting Championship, Cup or Trophy, at any event on the FIA International Sporting Calendar, or at FIA-licensed private testing? You must wear an FIA 8870-2018 homologated protector. Racing UK club, national or most championship events (Super One, UKC, NKC)? A conventional rib protector is fine. 8870 isn't mandated.

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In this guide

Route A or Route B — where you race decides which protector

IC Kartstore liveried kart and driver in racewear on track
Racewear context — check the protection type your events require before you buy

Route A — FIA / IAME / FIA-sanctioned events

FIA 8870-2018 is mandatory at:

At those events the scrutineer will check the FIA label on the inside of the protector against the current FIA Technical List 87.

Route B — UK national, club and most championship events

FIA 8870-2018 is not mandatory under:

If Route B is where you race, a conventional rib protector is legal. It won't have an FIA 8870-2018 label but it will still meet the racewear expectations of a UK club scrutineer.

Our recommendation: if you might step up to international racing in the future (an FIA Karting Championship, the IAME Euro Series, Champions of the Future, Rotax Grand Finals, or FIA private testing), buy FIA 8870-2018 now rather than buy twice.

What FIA 8870-2018 actually certifies

FIA Standard 8870-2018 covers one product type only: an integrated chest-plus-360° rib protector. There is no rib-only or chest-only variant of the standard. Anyone marketing a "rib protector" as FIA 8870-approved either has the integrated product or is over-claiming.

Test criteria (FIA Standard 8870-2018):

Impact area Energy attenuation Maximum transmitted force
Chest ≥ 60 J ≤ 1 kN
Ribs (360°) ≥ 100 J ≤ 1 kN

Homologation is model-specific. The FIA Technical List 87 (current version 28.10.2025) records every certified product. If a protector isn't on TL87, it isn't FIA 8870-2018 approved for FIA-sanctioned use, regardless of what the marketing claims.

IC Kartstore's homologated range: Tillett P1 Defender plus Bengio AB7, AB7 LADY, AB1 and AB1 LADY. See the full FIA Technical List 87 for every homologated model.

We stock Tillett and Bengio from the homologated list, plus a range of conventional rib protectors. Whether you're racing international, national or club, we'll kit you out from Tillett or Bengio.

The seated-fit rule — the one scrutineers actually check

Tillett P1 Defender FIA-approved combined chest and rib protector
Example of FIA-approved combined chest and rib protection (FIA Standard 8870-2018)

An FIA 8870-2018 protector is only valid if it's worn correctly. The FIA 8870-2018 wearing instructions state:

With the driver seated in racing position, the top of the chest protection element must sit no more than 25 mm below the top of the sternum.

That's not a preference. At scrutineering at an FIA-sanctioned event the official will sit the driver in the kart, place a finger on top of the sternum and check the gap. Too low = protector rejected.

Bengio, Tillett and every other homologated maker publish size charts that will normally get you within the 25 mm rule if you follow them — but the driver's seat position, seat shape and body shape all matter. Try before you buy where possible.

Sizing — measure both height and chest

Bengio Standard Kart Rib Protector product example
Example conventional rib protector — use when your events accept this type

Every homologated manufacturer publishes a two-axis chart (height + chest circumference). Brand sizes are not interchangeable. As one example:

Brand / model "Medium" nominal height range "Medium" nominal chest range
Bengio AB7 M 155–170 cm 86–96 cm
Tillett P1 Defender M Manufacturer chart Manufacturer chart

Order by the specific model's chart, not by "shell M". If a driver is at the top of one bracket and the bottom of the next up, order both and try in the kart seated — most manufacturers ship in reusable packaging that permits a swap if unworn.

Ladies' variants (Bengio AB7 LADY and AB1 LADY) are cut for a lower ribcage and higher chest curvature. They aren't cosmetic. They hold the 25 mm rule better on a female body shape and pass FIA 8870-2018 with the same criteria as the unisex variants.

Junior variants (juvenile sizes across the Bengio and Tillett ranges) are dimensioned for drivers roughly 8–14 years old. Confirm the chart against the driver's actual measurements. A Junior racer who's growing may need the next size up part-way through the season.

What to send us to specify the right protector

What we need Why
Event or championship Determines Route A (FIA 8870-2018 required) or Route B (conventional acceptable)
Driver height (cm) Sizing
Driver chest circumference (cm, measured across nipples with tape level) Sizing
Driver age and typical racing seat Junior vs adult cut, and seat clearance
Any existing protector make/model and how it fits Baseline for the swap
Preferred colour/pattern We match where possible from the stocked range

Send us these details →

Homologation cycle — what happens to FIA 8870-2018

The FIA is transitioning from 8870-2018 to a next-generation standard, but 8870-2018 is the standard in force for 2026 and appears in the current FIA Karting Sporting Regulations. Any 8870-2018 protector bought during 2026 remains valid for 2026, and — under FIA precedent for kart safety equipment — will remain valid at FIA-sanctioned events through the standard's usual grace period. Check TL87 at the time of each event for the current list.

If you're a UK-only club racer, homologation cycles don't affect you: your conventional rib protector doesn't carry an expiry date beyond wear-and-condition inspection.

When to replace a protector

  • After any significant impact (crash, hard kerb strike)
  • If the outer shell shows cracks, delamination, or the padding is compressed and no longer springs back
  • If the strap fixings are frayed, worn or no longer hold tension
  • Junior racers whose height or chest has moved outside the size band
  • FIA 8870-2018 users: if the protector was bought used with unknown impact history — replace, as with helmets

The reasoning parallels helmet retirement: a used protector's impact history isn't documented, and a compromised protector isn't visible from the outside.

Ready to order?

Tell us your event, height, chest measurement and driver age and we'll size a Bengio or Tillett protector to the seated-fit rule. If you race under FIA regulations we'll confirm the model appears on the current TL87 before shipping.

Ask IC Kartstore → | Browse Bengio → | Browse Tillett → | Browse rib protectors →

Need help choosing?

Send us your class, event and the specifics from this guide's checklist. We'll shortlist two or three options from what we stock, flag any homologation or fitment risk before you commit, and answer follow-up questions before you order.

Ask IC Kartstore →

Sources cited in this guide

Byline: IC Kartstore · Last reviewed 31 July 2026

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