Dealer
Stilo Q&A with Tom Boardman
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Tom Boardman is back in the BTCC this year after a seven year break, driving an AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6.
He’s a well-known tin-top driver, and was SEAT Cupra Champion in 2005 and Spanish Supercopa Champion in 2008. He’s raced in the BTCC and WTCC in a family-run Special Tuning SEAT Leon and scored Ford’s only TCR points in 2014 by finishing ninth at Monza in a Focus. He was a pretty good rally driver before all that too, finishing 35th overall on the 2004 Wales Rally GB in a Peugeot 206 S1600.
What crash helmet do you wear and what makes it your number one choice? “I’ve got a Stilo ST4. I had it serviced and new padding fitted for the start of this season and even though the helmet’s a few years old now it still feels as good as new. I like everything about Stilo – the design, the look, the feel – but most importantly of all for me is the comfort. It fits perfectly and you can’t tell you’re wearing it most of the time.”
What have been the most significant helmet changes during your career? “I’ve tried all the big helmet manufacturers over the years, but the comfortable fit of the Stilo is the biggest change for me. I went one year to the Autosport Show at the NEC and tried on all different types of helmets, and trying the Stilo ST4 on was a game changer for me. The newer ST5 is lighter still, but I do like the one I have. I love it!”
What incident springs to mind, where you were thankful you were wearing a good quality helmet? “Thankfully, I haven’t had any big accidents where I’ve been knocked around too much. I hurt my feet in an accident in Macau once, but other than that I’ve been pretty lucky. And touch wood I hope it continues, and that question hasn’t jinxed me!”
What advice would you give someone starting out in motorsport, as regards helmet and safety equipment in general? “Using good quality safety equipment is essential. I remember when I started racing as a ten year old, I used to wear foam padding around my neck – some people didn’t like the HANS device when it came in, but I’ve always tried to protect my neck and would never dream of getting into a race car without a HANS device on. And for me safety equipment has to be comfortable. If you can put something like a Stilo helmet on and forget that it’s there, then there are no distractions and it allows you to concentrate one hundred per cent on driving, which in any form of motorsport is incredibly important.”
