McLaren and Sparco Create World’s Lightest Race Suit

McLaren spends countless hours making their cars as light as possible. Now, they’ve managed to shave weight off you, too.

In the world of performance, pounds matter. It’s why manufacturers like McLaren work overtime to make their cars as light as possible. But while engineers pour over every little detail and shave every conceivable ounce off their creations, they rarely look to factors outside of the car itself. Things like, well, the racing suit drivers must wear to stay safe. Except McLaren, that is. The automaker famous for its incredible attention to detail has turned over yet another stone that’s thus far remained unturned.

And they’ve done so by teaming up with Sparco to develop this – the world lightest FIA-certified racing suit. Weighing in at a mere 1.3 pounds (size 52), this hand-crafted garment takes a whopping 12 hours to stitch together. But all of that work creates something that weighs roughly 10 percent less than any other comparable product.

Sure, it sounds pretty crazy. You could probably just skip lunch and cut more weight from your drive than with this suit. But it’s just another incredible creation from the company that prides itself in its continuous pursuit of lightweight technology. As has Sparco, a company synonymous with motorsports safety equipment.

McLaren F1 drivers have worn these suits since 2016, but now the automaker is offering them to their loyal customers for purchase. Each of which is made to order in Italy. There are load of options available, from colors to pockets and even a built-in belt. Heck, if you want, they can even match it up with your current racing livery.

So what’s the price for this intriguing piece of weight-saving technology? The suits start at $2,997, with bespoke options beginning at around $320 each, plus tax. And if you want to go all-out McLaren in your livery, you can do that too. The automaker is offering up everything from a matching helmet to undergarments. And you can bet that every single piece is as light as it can possibly be!

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.