Bell Racing Helmets introduced a new safety feature for its full-face driver helmets with the help of Fernando Alonso of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team’s Fernando Alonso at the 2024 Formula One season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Spaniard introduced the SmartLock™ visor locking system.
All Bell Racing helmets are certified to exact safety standards within the FIA and Snell approval programs, reflecting the brand’s unwavering commitment to driver protection and performance. The SmartLock™ system builds on this foundation, paving the way for the next generation of helmet technology.
The benefits of a side-mounted system include greater strength and stability in the event of a high-speed impact. The field of vision is also free from any obstruction caused by a component placed in the center of the visor, whether fully closed or open. Paying careful attention to Bell Racing’s demanding requirements, the SmartLock™ system has been designed to engage in use. Its one-handed operation for locking and unlocking while wearing racing gloves streamlines functionality for drivers, minimizing distractions and enhancing focus. The unlocking mechanism also allows for rescue team parties to actuate quickly during intervention scenarios.
The new device will be introduced to all Bell Racing driver helmets this year and used in all motorsports they compete in, such as Formula One and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Andy Mellor, Chief Technical Officer of Racing Force, the owner of Bell Racing, commented:
“Bell Racing Helmets has delivered a solution that once again sets a new benchmark for helmet performance and function in motorsport. The launch of SmartLock™ is a testament to our commitment to advancing designs whilst persevering the legacy of our brand. It was important to preserve many core features of the Bell Racing full-face models, including the side positioning of the visor lock mechanism, and to ensure an optimal solution in compliance with the new FIA safety standards. Fernando Alonso debuting the SmartLock™ system on his Bell Racing helmet during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend demonstrates the confidence this system is gaining at the top levels of motorsport. Much credit is deserved by everyone at the Bell factory in Sakhir for demonstrating their ability to deliver this new iconic design matched by exacting production technologies.”