Racing Force Group continues to establish itself as a prime example of Italian excellence at the absolute pinnacle of motorsport. The Genoa-based company, which specializes in the manufacturing of technical apparel and safety components for racing drivers, is currently enjoying a period of immense global visibility thanks to its deep-rooted ties with Formula 1 and the sport’s brightest emerging stars.
The company, listed on both the Milan and Paris stock exchanges, is headquartered in Ronco Scrivia in the Genoese hinterland, with additional operational hubs located in Sakhir, Bahrain, and Mooresville, USA. Speaking to La Stampa, CEO Paolo Delprato highlighted a historic connection shared by some of the sport’s greatest icons:
“Senna, Schumacher, and Antonelli are the only drivers in F1 history to have secured their first three career pole positions in a row. All three did it using our products.”
The corporate culture blends motorsport passion, technological innovation, and fine tailoring. Race suits for F1 drivers are entirely custom-made, as are their boots and gloves. Marketing Director Luigi Rossi recalled some highly specific requests from the paddock:
“Senna wanted the outer seams of his gloves turned inside out.”
Michael Schumacher, meanwhile, constantly pushed the company to absolute extremes in terms of weight reduction and fabric softness:
“Year after year, we lightened the race suit to the absolute limit. To make it as soft as possible, we would put it through the washing machine before delivery.”
The roll call of drivers who have worn the group’s gear is extensive, even including MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi during his various sports car racing endeavors.
Safety at the core of excellence
The trajectory of OMP, one of the group’s flagship brands, was forever altered by a pivotal moment in motorsport history. Following Gerhard Berger’s fiery crash at Imola in 1989—where the Ferrari driver survived inside the flames for 23 seconds while sustaining only minor burns—the industry took notice. From that moment on, top-tier drivers actively chose OMP protection, starting with Ayrton Senna. The group later acquired market leader Bell Helmets, and today, 70% of the F1 grid uses its helmets. Inside the company’s specialized laboratories, technicians rigorously test fire resistance and other extreme performance metrics. Hollywood star Brad Pitt even wore an OMP race suit for his role in the movie “F1.”
The product catalog extends far beyond race suits to include gloves, boots, fireproof underwear, helmets, racing seats, safety harnesses, and fire extinguisher systems. Essentially, they manufacture anything capable of boosting safety in F1, junior single-seater formulas, rallying, and karting. Under the Zeronoise brand, the company produces the innovative Driver’s Eye micro-cameras, which transmit real-time point-of-view footage from inside the driver’s helmet. Other sub-brands like HPS serve the defense sector, while Racing Spirit integrates graphene into technical apparel and has carved out a niche in high-end competitive sailing. A recent partnership with Adidas sees the company supplying the Mercedes and Audi factory squads.
The story of an Italian miracle
OMP’s original core was founded back in 1973 by three Genoese brothers, the Percivales, who were passionate about local slalom racing. They started out making roll cages by bending steel tubes over railway sleepers. In 2008, Alberto and Paolo Delprato acquired a minority stake through their family holding company, Saye, with the goal of restructuring the business. They eventually assumed 100% control, backed by partners like MPS Venture and former Ducati CEO Federico Minoli. Today, Paolo Delprato guides the group, with Saye retaining 50% of the capital and the remainder split between management and public float. Consequently, revenue has skyrocketed from 14 million euros to the current 73 million euros.
Delprato looks ahead to 2026 with immense optimism:
“We will grow in 2026 as well: analysts project 78 million, but I expect us to go over 80 million euros.”
The company now employs 500 people representing 34 different nationalities, operates across three continents, and distributes its products to 85 countries. As it supplies top-tier operations and generational talents like Kimi Antonelli, the company’s leadership in motorsport is undeniable, cementing its status as a global benchmark in hi-tech safety infrastructure for racing.
The remarkable rise of Racing Force Group from a passionate local workshop into an indispensable pillar of the Formula 1 paddock highlights the enduring value of specialized craftsmanship combined with relentless technological innovation. By consistently prioritizing driver safety while accommodating the highly meticulous, individual demands of world champions, the Italian firm has secured a legacy that spans generations of motorsport history. As the sport enters a highly anticipated new era, the group’s ability to protect the stars of today and tomorrow ensures that Italian engineering will remain at the absolute forefront of global racing safety.
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