Headset Services, based at Shoreham Airport, has more than a passing interest in the 2002 Formula One season, which began on Sunday.
The company, founded in 1994 by managing director Mark Panton, supplies headsets to two Formula One teams.
The company, which employs 15 staff and has a more than £1 million turnover, also does a lot of business with the aviation industry.
It supplies, maintains and upgrades protective aviation helmets to the UK's search and rescue services and Police Air Support Units and is recommended to them by the Home Office.
It also supplies many UK airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Monarch, and air traffic control facilities nationwide.
It won a repair contract for the recently-opened National Air Traffic Services centre at Swanick, near Southampton.
Mr Panton said: "With the September 11 attacks and the impact of a recession in the aviation industry, we have experienced a slight drop-off in business.
"Although it has been a bit of problem, we are expecting a gradual pick-up by the end of the year and, luckily, we have spread our business across various sectors.
"We have more exposure in niche markets and can give customers expert advice to suit their needs, which is important because they often want something very specific."
"We are straddling the professional and retail markets but for retailers cost can be far more of an issue than our products' build and sound quality."
The company had stumbled into Formula One racing after getting involved with the Jordan team three years ago.
Most business comes by word-of-mouth but the firm is developing its web site to provide information about every aspect of the headset and helmet business.
The company, which is exhibiting at next month's search and rescue conference and exhibition at the Hilton Metropole in Brighton, is diversifying into bigger products, including a scout helmet tracking system.
This combines a helmet-mounted display system, which moves an onboard camera wherever the user looks.
It can be used by the police, in civil aviation and for search-and-rescue missions.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article