P1 DEFENDER, THE TILLETT RIB PROTECTOR - SUPER THIN - FIA APPROVED THAT IS BASED ON COMFORT

P1 Defender is the new (and first) FIA 8870-2018 approved rib protector (you can learn more about the regulations in our article "Technique - FIA 88070-2018 approval for kart rib protectors”) from the Tillet range. Many of its characterising features are the result of the evolution of various solutions adopted over the years (since 1997, the year of the launch of the first rigid rib protector by Tillett, the Ribtec) by the company to make its rib protectors as safe and as comfortable as possible. The P1 Defender project took its first steps in 2018 and Tillett's goal was immediately to take as its reference points the structure and the extreme fit and adaptability to the different builds of drivers that used the Tillett P1 rib protector, the top of the range product of the company until that moment, as well as one of the best known and most widespread chest protection devices on the entire international karting scene. In fact, according to the company, during the test phase conducted by Archie Tillett (son of the owner and international kart driver), the main difficulties were not encountered in the relation to the new crash tests, but rather in obtaining a product capable of being, like its predecessor, as thin and minimal as possible, almost imperceptible when worn, while providing additional (and mandatory, by regulation) elements such as the parasternal and the backrest. All the prototypes that followed, although the initial design has always been reasonably similar to the final one, have undergone many changes in terms of fit. The P1 Defender rib protector, placed on the market by Tillett in 2022, is available in nine standard sizes as well as two for children and has an average weight of about 0.9 kg (which of course varies from size to size). Its price is around 478.00 Euros (excluding VAT) and you can choose among one of the four colours: blue, orange, yellow or black. In addition, upon request and for an extra fee based on customer needs, Tillett allows the customisation of the product’s graphics.