Find out why Polycarbonate is the clear winner

If you're building a track car or upgrading your race setup, you've probably come across both polycarbonate and Perspex as window options. They look similar, but they’re not the same.

So, why do serious race teams in the US almost always go with polycarbonate? In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences, what really matters in motorsport use, and why polycarbonate comes out on top.

Why Polycarbonate?

Here’s why polycarbonate is chosen for race car windows:

  • Lightweight:

    Polycarbonate is significantly lighter than glass, which helps reduce the overall weight of the race car. A lighter car can accelerate faster, handle better, and achieve higher speeds, all of which are crucial in racing.

  • Impact Resistance:

    In the high-speed, high-risk environment of racing, debris, gravel, and even other cars’ debris can hit the windows at high velocities. Polycarbonate’s ability to withstand impact minimizes the risk of shattering and helps protect the driver from flying debris or collisions.

  • Flexibility:

    Polycarbonate has a degree of flexibility that glass lacks. This property enables it to absorb and distribute the force of impacts, reducing the likelihood of shattering. This is particularly important in motorsports, where crashes and collisions are not uncommon.

  • Transparency and Clarity:

    High-quality polycarbonate can be manufactured with excellent optical clarity and transparency, ensuring that drivers have clear visibility on the track. This is crucial for maintaining situational awareness and making split-second decisions at high speeds.

  • Moldability:

    Polycarbonate can be easily molded into complex shapes and curves, which is important for fitting windows to the contours of race car bodies. This flexibility in design helps improve aerodynamics and overall vehicle performance.

  • UV Resistance:

    Polycarbonate can be formulated with UV-resistant coatings or additives, protecting the material from yellowing, hazing, or other forms of degradation when exposed to sunlight over extended periods. This is essential for maintaining optimal visibility during races.

  • Thermal Resistance: 

    Polycarbonate has good thermal stability and can withstand a range of temperatures without warping or deforming. Race cars can experience extreme temperature variations due to track conditions, engine heat, and weather changes, making thermal stability important for maintaining the integrity of the windows.

  • Easy Replacement:

    In the event that a polycarbonate window gets scratched or damaged, it can often be replaced more easily than traditional glass. This is beneficial for race teams that need to make quick repairs and get the car back on the track as soon as possible.

  • Customisation:

    Polycarbonate can be tinted, coated, or treated to meet specific requirements. Race cars often have unique design elements, and using polycarbonate windows allows for greater customization while still maintaining safety and performance.

Polycarbonate is the go-to material for race car windows in the US because it combines lightweight performance with exceptional strength and flexibility. Its ability to withstand heavy impact without shattering makes it a safer choice than glass or Perspex, especially in high-speed environments. With excellent thermal stability, UV resistance, and optical clarity, it holds up under extreme track conditions. It’s also easy to mould and replace—making it ideal for frequent upgrades or custom fitouts in competitive setups.

Why you shouldn't use perspex?

Before you settle on acrylic, it's worth knowing the risks. Let’s take a quick look at why it’s not the best choice for race car windows.

  • Reduced Impact Resistance:

    Acrylic is less impact-resistant than polycarbonate, increasing the risk of shattering and causing injury to drivers upon impact.

  • Limited Forming Options: 

    Acrylic’s molding capabilities are more limited compared to polycarbonate, making it less adaptable to the complex shapes and contours of race car bodies.

  • Heavier Weight: 

    Acrylic is generally heavier than polycarbonate, negatively affecting the race car’s overall performance by reducing acceleration, handling, and speed.

  • Limited Flexibility:

    Acrylic’s rigidity makes it less able to absorb and distribute impact forces, potentially leading to more severe damage to the window and the race car’s structure.

  • Higher Wear & Tear: 

    Acrylic’s lower durability compared to polycarbonate may result in more frequent replacements, increasing maintenance costs and downtime for race cars.

  • Inferior Optical Clarity:

    While acrylic can offer good clarity, it may not match the optical quality of polycarbonate, affecting driver visibility and decision-making during races.

  • Lower Temperature Resistance:

    Acrylic may warp, deform, or become brittle under extreme temperature variations, compromising the integrity of the window and impairing driver visibility.

  • Higher Likelihood of Shattering: 

    Acrylic is more prone to cracking and breaking under high-speed impacts or collisions, creating dangerous shards that can pose a risk to drivers and spectators.

  • Risk of Inconsistent Performance:

    Acrylic’s properties might vary depending on the manufacturer or formulation, leading to potential inconsistencies in impact resistance and overall performance.

In summary, opting for acrylic windows in race cars can seriously compromise driver safety and vehicle performance—especially on US tracks where high speeds and demanding conditions are the norm. Acrylic lacks the impact strength, heat resistance, and durability needed for motorsport, making it a risky choice for serious racers looking for consistency and confidence behind the wheel.

Let customers speak for us

from 6 reviews
Great product

Nicely finished, very well packed, arrived on time and great value. Thanks!

Steve Adams
BMW E30 2dr 3 Series Coupe Polycarbonate Windows
Great weight saving windows

Windows are easy to fit and look good

Ewan McKay
Lancia Fulvia Polycarbonate Windows
Mini Polycarbonate windows and slider kit

Would highly recommend Race plastics. I have used them now on 3 occasions, their products and their customer service are the best I have used, Thank you R.P....

Gerry Windett
Mini Classic MK3 Polycarbonate Windows
Polycarbobate Lada

Perfekt fitting, fast delivery.
Thank You.

Jürgen Schmidt
Lada Riva Polycarbonate Windows

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