A major change in the helmet regulations for rally drivers is to come into force for the 2010 season, when the world rally championship is included within the list of championships where the top Grand Prix specification "8860-2004" helmets must be worn. Furthermore, current permitted specifications of helmets for all rallying will expire at the end of 2013. The Stilo company, one of the specialist competition helmet manufacturers, were showing their new line of products at their tenth anniversary celebrations at Bergamo, where Managing Director Ludovico Fassitelli explained the challenges the regulation changes bring about. "Rallying presents many different demands compared with circuit racing, principally because rally drivers often prefer to use open face helmets. Currently our latest helmets feature intercom systems and noise cancelling facilities. And all the time we are trying to be able to produce individual helmets which are suitable for all competition uses. And for rally use, we are anxiously waiting for the FIA to specify exactly which drivers in the world championship must use the 8860-2004 design helmets from the start of next season". Stilo helmets have been popular in world championship rallying for the past seven years, drivers including Sebastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz and Dani Sordo. Stilo’’s full face helmet is already fully homologated with the latest specification and the company is currently working to homologate the open face version. Basic prices are expected to be around Euros 2100 for full face and 1900 for open face, all electronics included.

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