Aside from safety, Reph Bangsil says the right gear can significantly impact any driver’s performance
Photos by Kurt Babas
The autocross scene in the Philippines has seen its rise in the past few years. Thanks to festivities like the Toyota Vios Racing Festival and the Philippine Autocross Championship Series, the country has been more exposed to the sport. Its rise has also given local enthusiasts like Reph Bangsil a chance to practice the sport more often.
Bangsil, the first place finisher at this year’s Vios Racing Festival at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds, says it’s important for every driver to have the right gear in order to ensure safety on the track. Besides safety, Bangsil also says that the right gear can significantly impact a driver’s performance.
“In racing, every little thing matters from mid-shifts or late brakes since they affect time. You also have to be really comfortable in your gear to make sure there are zero errors,” says Bangsil. If you’re looking to get into the sport, here’s a rundown of the five most essential autocross gear:
Snell M2015 or SA2015 helmet
Bangsil stresses the importance of wearing a full helmet in order to protect yourself from serious injuries. Helmets provide an additional protective layer for the head to keep the driver safe from serious impacts. According to Sports Car Club of America rules, the required autocross helmets are those with the safety rating of Snell M2015 or Snell SA2015.
Fire-retardant racing suit
This specific suit is crucial for racers because the sport is susceptible to fire incidents. A flame-retardant racing suit is designed to cover the entire body and protect the driver from potential fires. These suits can come in one, two, or three layers—the more layers a race suit has, the greater the protection it can provide.
Reph Bangsil, first place finisher at this year’s Vios Racing Festival
Race shoes
According to Bangsil, it’s important to select the most comfortable driving shoes because they play an important role in performance, especially when you switch between pedals and gears. The proper race shoes should have thinner soles to allow you to get a feel of the pedals while the laces should be short and tucked under the velcro strap. Moreover, the perfect race shoes have high tops to provide padding protection to the ankle bone.
“You have to be really comfortable in your gear to make sure there are zero errors,” says Reph Bangsil
Sunglasses
Aside from providing better visibility, sunglasses also shield the eyes from debris, dust, and wind that may cause injuries or irritation.
Gloves
The right race gloves for autocross are long enough to cover the entire wrist and the lower half of the forearm. The gloves should feel comfortable on the hands and fingers and must provide enough room where a driver can move their fingers. It’s a must for race gloves to go over the sleeves of a race suit so that the entire arm of the driver is protected while driving.