The groundbreaking Bell Racing and Zeronoise Wired-Wireless communication system for rally drivers and co-drivers
Bell Racing and Zeronoise wanted to surprise the motorsport industry once again. The 2023 Racing Force World Meeting, which took place at the Bahrain International Circuit in October, was the opportunity to preview the groundbreaking Wired-Wireless helmet and intercom system. Rally and rally-raid drivers and co-drivers are now able to communicate even without cables, both inside and outside their car. The system is set to make its competitive debut in the 2024 season as the choice of some high-profile rally drivers.
Over 300 guests attended the Racing Force World Meeting, reacting with huge enthusiasm to the product unveiling. After a surprise video at the end of the keynote, over 75 dealers and distributors' representatives could immediately test the system's performance and reliability during the hot laps they took around the Sakhir track. All the experts were impressed by the outstanding sound quality in both cable and no cable mode.
"We are aware pilots and co-pilots may need some time to be ready for this revolution. This is the reason we worked for a progressive transition”
"We developed a system that is able to guarantee the communication in any condition", Alex Haristos, Chief Operating Officer of Racing Force Group, says. "Compared to previous solutions already on the market, however, we didn't add any external element to our helmets. The electronics and the battery are seamlessly integrated, with more than five hours of life on a single charge, and up to 30 meter communication range from the car. Furthermore, the military-grade solution we implemented ensures encrypted communication in any environment, and is more secure and reliable than a standard Bluetooth protocol”.
The Wired-Wireless system is included in the top of the range open face MAG-10 Rally Carbon and HP10 Rally helmets, combined with the new Fearless Wireless control unit that manages all the communication. The Fearless Wireless can work either in Wireless or Wired mode, automatically switching to the most efficient way to manage the interaction between driver and co-driver, inside and outside the car. Fearless Wireless intercom has a display that shows all the relevant info, such as battery level, connection status, sound settings, and more.
"Let's imagine a typical situation: a flat tyre that needs to be changed during the rally, or another problem which requires quick intervention. The driver and co-driver can get out of the cockpit without having to disconnect their helmets, continuing to talk to each other. Once the fix is complete, they can start again without having to plug the cable back in. During a rally, even a single minute saved can make a big difference between winning and losing".
The Wired-Wireless project represents a new milestone in the synergy between the Bell Racing and Zeronoise brands. Zeronoise, the electronics division of Racing Force Group, was established in 2019, and supported Bell's return in the rally market in 2020. Now, half of the Rally1 entries in the World Rally Championship use our helmets and intercoms, such as Thierry Neuville and the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team drivers, while, starting 2023, 9-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb opted to use the Bell and Zeronoise products between his various racing commitments, including the famous Dakar rally.
