In 2019, negotiations were concluded for the purchase of Bell Racing Helmets by OMP, the famous Italian brand that is among the leaders in the production of racewear and performance parts. Bell Racing and OMP have the same mission, to provide protection for racing drivers, but in a complementary way. The agreement created a giant, the world’s largest group in the motorsport safety industry. Together, OMP and Bell Racing become capable of equipping drivers from head to toe, and even beyond. An ambitious project, which might have seemed like just a dream, turned into an exciting reality.
OMP and Bell both started their journeys from a small garage, and their union was perhaps written in fate from the beginning, with the 500 number in common. The 500, as you know, was the first helmet produced by Bell in 1954. 19 years later, in 1973, OMP started its activity by manufacturing rollcages for the Fiat 500, the iconic car that motorized Italy.
Production of all Bell Racing helmets since 2015 has been carried out at a cutting-edge factory in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where a technology hub has been established around the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, the venue hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix as well as several other top motorsport competitions.
The factory in Sakhir, with a surface of more than seven thousand square meters, represents the absolute benchmark in the manufacturing of racing helmets, housing the entire process. Everything starts from research and development right up to the painting of the liveries of the most famous drivers, through the processing of raw materials and assembly, relying on a team of brilliant engineers, highly qualified personnel and advanced technological tools. Thanks also to the presence of Bell Racing, the Kingdom of Bahrain is establishing itself as a hub for motorsport enthusiasts and professionals. At the same time, the country’s government has always provided huge and continuous support, being instrumental in the consolidation of Bell Racing.
All this confirms Bell’s status as a truly global-scale brand while not losing its American roots. The U.S. market remains the largest for Bell helmets, accompanied, however, by steady growth in Europe and other continents, particularly Asia.
On September 13th, 2021, the unification of OMP and Bell came to full fruition with the creation of the new holding company Racing Force Group, also including the emerging brands Zeronoise and Racing Spirit, specializing in communication systems and technical apparel respectively.
