TAKATA seatbelts

When the first Japanese Grand Prix was held at the Suzuka Circuit in 1963, only half of the racecars were equipped with seat belts, and it was commonplace to see ambulances rushing from the scene of each crash. As unbelievable as this may seem based on today’s safety standards, this situation reflected life on public roads at the time, where ordinary cars were rarely equipped with any form of restraining device.

But this was soon to change. In 1964, Takata developed Japan’s first full-harness motor sports seat belt, which was installed in a Subaru 360 that participated in the second Japanese Grand Prix.

In 1996, Takata developed the Multi Point Buckle (MPB), a full harness designed for the DOME CO., LTD. F1 racing car made exclusively of parts produced in Japan.

In 2005, Takata started supplying the MPB-020 F1 racing harness, bringing the latest advances in technology to the ultimate expression of motor sports. The following year, Takata introduced the MPH-341 full harness. This sophisticated system incorporated state-of-the-art F1 racing technology into a product available to the public. Features included a smaller, lightweight buckle and significantly improved ease of operation and durability, while retaining the lightweight adjuster and tough, flexible 3-inch-wide twill webbing of its predecessor. The MPH-341 full harness crystallized Takata’s motor sports experience and has earned a reputation among drivers for outstanding safety and race-winning performance.

In 2011, Takata became the official supplier of full harness seat belts to the Sauber F1 team. Being selected by this racing team was a proud moment for Takata, demonstrating industry confidence in the quality, performance, and security associated with the Takata brand - from driver protection and ease of use to technical sophistication and weight savings.

Today, our constant search for improvement continues. Takata’s harnesses protect professional drivers at racing venues on every continent, and the feedback we gain from this tough competition is a key factor in the safety innovations we are bringing to motor sports in Japan and around the world.