Bell Racing Europe announced on September 3 2008 that it had completed certification of the Bell KC3, the first helmet in the world to meet the new Childrens' Motorsports Helmet (CMH) Standard, developed jointly by the FIA Institute and the Snell Memorial Foundation.

Until now, driver helmets were made for adults only and the standards used to approve them were tested on adults. But the FIA Institute's research team found that a young drivers' helmet should not be just a smaller version of an adult one.

The new CMH standard has been scientifically developed to create helmets designed for all young racing drivers. To create this standard, researchers examined and measured the growth rate and development of the human head from age six onwards, including Snell's supported research on children's neck strength and head and neck anthropometry.

Following this research Bell Racing Europe's Research and Development unit was able to quickly develop the Bell KC3. The KC3 is inspired from the Bell HP3 Advanced Helmet, which is by far the most sold F1-approved helmet (FIA8860 standard) around the world.

The KC3 shell is entirely hand laminated by highly skilled technicians, using advanced composite materials, including carbon fibre and Kevlar and is combined with a specific energy-absorbing liner in multiple densities. The radical and innovative HP3 inspired aerodynamic design includes a front chin spoiler (duck bill) and a very effective ventilation, even at the lower speeds reached by go-karts, on both the chin bar and the top area.

Professor Sid Watkins, FIA Institute President, said: “The Youth Helmet project demonstrates the FIA Institute's commitment to rapid progress. Not only has it broken new ground but it has done so in record time.”