Motorsport Teamwear Guide 2026: How to Choose Custom Racing Apparel
Everything you need to know about ordering custom motorsport teamwear and racing apparel for your team. From fabric choices and printing methods to sizing, branding, and bulk ordering tips.
By Elite Tent Solutions Team
Why Motorsport Teamwear Matters More Than You Think
Your motorsport teamwear is the most visible part of your racing brand. It's what photographers capture in parc ferme, what sponsors see on social media, and what creates a unified, professional identity across your entire team — from drivers and mechanics to hospitality staff and supporters.
Yet many teams still order generic sportswear with iron-on logos that crack after two washes. Professional custom racing apparel is a different league entirely.
What Is Custom Motorsport Teamwear?
Custom motorsport teamwear refers to racing team clothing that is designed and manufactured specifically for your team. Unlike off-the-shelf sportswear with added logos, true custom racing apparel is built from scratch — your colours, your design, your branding on every panel.
This includes:
- Polo shirts — the paddock staple for team members and guests
- Softshell and lightweight jackets — for cooler track days and evening events
- Quarter-zip and full-zip fleeces — essential for winter testing and early-season races
- Technical trousers and bermuda shorts — professional workwear for mechanics and crew
- Padded gilets and parka jackets — heavy-duty warmth for endurance races and cold circuits
- Accessories — bobble hats, ice vests, caps, and bags
Printing Methods: Sublimation vs Embroidery
The printing method you choose determines how your motorsport teamwear looks, feels, and lasts.
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation is the gold standard for custom racing apparel:
- How it works: Ink is heat-transferred directly into the fabric fibres, not printed on top
- Colour range: Unlimited colours with photographic-quality reproduction
- Durability: The design becomes part of the fabric — it cannot crack, peel, or fade
- Coverage: Edge-to-edge, all-over printing on every panel
- Best for: Polo shirts, jackets, and any garment where bold, full-coverage branding is needed
Embroidery
Embroidery adds a premium, tactile finish:
- How it works: Thread is stitched directly into the fabric
- Best for: Logos on fleeces, jackets, and caps where a raised, textured look is desired
- Durability: Extremely hard-wearing — outlasts the garment itself
- Limitations: Not suitable for complex multi-colour designs or photographic images
Our Approach
We combine both methods on a single garment when needed — sublimation for the main body design and embroidery for premium logo placement. This gives your motorsport teamwear the best of both worlds.
Fabric Choices for Racing Apparel
The fabric you choose affects comfort, durability, and performance in the paddock:
GarmentRecommended FabricKey Properties|---------|-------------------|----------------|
Polo shirtsPique polyester blendBreathable, moisture-wicking, sublimation-ready Softshell jackets3-layer bonded softshellWindproof, water-resistant, stretchy FleecesMicro-fleece polyesterLightweight warmth, quick-drying Technical trousersRipstop polyester-cottonDurable, comfortable, stain-resistant Parka jacketsPadded nylon shellWaterproof, insulated, heavyweight warmth GiletsQuilted or padded polyesterCore warmth without restricting arm movementAll our fabrics are selected specifically for the demands of motorsport — long hours on your feet, exposure to oil and grease, rapid temperature changes between garage and track, and frequent washing.
Colour Matching: Why Pantone Matters
One of the biggest frustrations teams face with generic teamwear suppliers is colour accuracy. Your team red looks orange. Your sponsor's blue is too dark. The grey doesn't match your car livery.
We use exact Pantone colour matching on every order:
- You provide your Pantone references (or we match from your existing branding)
- We produce a digital proof for approval before manufacturing
- Every batch is matched to the same Pantone reference for consistency
- Colours remain accurate across different garment types and fabrics
This means your polo shirts, jackets, and trousers all match perfectly — and they match your car, your canopy tent, and your sponsor branding.
Sizing and Fit
Motorsport teamwear needs to fit a diverse range of body types — from slim racing drivers to broad-shouldered mechanics. We offer:
- Unisex sizing from XS to 5XL on most garments
- Women's cut options for polo shirts and jackets
- Relaxed fit on workwear items for freedom of movement
- Slim fit on driver and hospitality garments for a sharp look
- Size guides with detailed measurements for every garment
We recommend ordering a size set for your team to try before committing to a bulk order.
How to Order Custom Motorsport Teamwear
Step 1: Choose Your Garments
Select from our range of polo shirts, jackets, fleeces, trousers, and accessories. Most teams start with 2-3 core items and expand their range over time.
Step 2: Share Your Branding
Send us your team logo, sponsor logos, and colour references. If you have existing design files, we can work from those. If not, our design team will create a custom layout for you.
Step 3: Approve the Design
We produce a full digital mockup showing every panel, logo placement, and colour. You approve or request changes before we manufacture.
Step 4: Production
Manufacturing takes 4-6 weeks for custom sublimated motorsport teamwear. We handle everything from fabric sourcing to printing, cutting, and quality control.
Step 5: Delivery
Your custom racing apparel is delivered worldwide, packaged by size and garment type for easy distribution to your team.
Minimum Order Quantities
We understand that motorsport teams range from 2-person karting outfits to 50-person GT operations. Our minimum order quantities reflect this:
- Sublimated garments: From 10 pieces per design (mix of sizes)
- Embroidered garments: From 10 pieces per design
- Combined orders: Mix different garment types in one order to meet minimums
Motorsport Teamwear for Every Discipline
Our custom racing apparel is designed for teams across every motorsport category:
- Formula racing — F1, F2, F3, F4, and regional formula series
- GT and touring car — GT3, GT4, TCR, BTCC, and club GT
- Karting — From cadet to senior, national to international championships
- Rally and rallycross — WRC, ERC, national rally championships
- Endurance racing — Le Mans, WEC, and national endurance series
- Motorcycle racing — MotoGP, BSB, World Superbike, and club racing
- Sim racing — Professional esports teams with physical merchandise
What Sets Our Motorsport Teamwear Apart
1. Motorsport-specific design — we understand racing team branding, sponsor placement, and the paddock environment
2. Exact Pantone matching — your colours, not "close enough"
3. Fade-proof sublimation — designs that last multiple racing seasons
4. Performance fabrics — breathable, durable, and comfortable for long race days
5. Complete range — from lightweight polos to heavy-duty parkas, all in one coordinated collection
6. Global delivery — we supply teams in 30+ countries across every continent
Ready to Kit Out Your Team?
Browse our full motorsport teamwear range or contact us with your team details for a custom quote. We'll help you create custom racing apparel that looks as professional as your team performs.