Le-Mansar

Overview:

LE-MANSAR is an event organised by RoboSapiens (Robotics Club), IIT JAMMU which is very analogous to the Le Mans Race event. The real difference is that the cars are RC Cars, and the time which tests the endurance of the cars- 24 minutes for us.

What do I have to do?:

- You have to create an RC car which can endure for 24 minutes on our track which can cover more distance than your opponents in the given time interval- just like the Le Mans Race event.

Who can Participate?:

- All those who are currently pursuing bachelors or masters, or PhD in any college are eligible to participate in teams of 5.

The Spirit of the Event:

Le Mansar is a premier endurance RC racing event designed to test engineering, manufacturing, and driving skill. It features a continuous 24-minute endurance format, combined with dedicated speed and lap-time events. The primary objective is to race a custom-built, electrically powered vehicle on a cemented road circuit.

Original Manufacturing Requirement:

This is an engineering competition. All competing vehicles must feature a custom-built chassis. Competitors may utilize off-the-shelf components for electronics, bearings, rod ends, and hardware. However, the core structural elements — including the main chassis plate, suspension arms, shock towers, and motor mounts — must be designed and fabricated (e.g., 3D printed, CNC machined, or hand-cut) by the team.

Purchasing a complete, off-the-shelf RC car chassis (e.g., Traxxas, Tamiya, Arrma) and modifying it is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.

Host & Venue:

Le Mansar is organized and run by the Robo-Sapiens Robotics Club. The event will be held at the Mansar Building, IIT JAMMU.

Event Dates:

1st November

Team Composition:

Each competing team must consist of exactly five (5) members. Teams are strongly encouraged to delegate roles to ensure mechanical, electronic, and strategic responsibilities are efficiently covered during the race. A suggested (non-mandatory) role split is:

• 1 × Driver
• 1 × Spotter / Strategist
• 3 × Pit Mechanics

Fees:

Teams are required to pay a registration fee to enter the competition. Teams travelling from outside the local area may additionally be charged an accommodation fee.

Registration Fee: 1500 INR,

Accomodation Charges:

Mess: 200/- INR per day,

Hostel(Double Occupancy room): 375/- INR per day

Contact & Rule Clarifications:

TBA: An official contact email / point of contact for rule clarifications will be published in a future revision of this document.

Event Format & Scoring:

Le Mansar is scored as a three-part championship (a "triathlon" format). A team's final ranking is determined by a weighted combination of results from all three events:

Event

Format

Weight

A — 24-Minute Endurance

Continuous endurance race, most laps wins 70%

B — Flying Lap

One car on track, 3 laps, fastest single lap 15%

C — Speed Trap

Straight-line radar run, verified top speed 15%

The 24-Minute Endurance:

The primary event. A continuous 24-minute endurance race in which the winner is the team that completes the highest number of recorded laps within the time limit. Full regulations governing this event are in the Endurance Race Regulations section.

Flying Lap:

Cars run individually (one car on track at a time). Each car is given 3 laps to set the fastest single lap time; the best of the three laps counts.

The Speed Trap:

A straight-line radar run used to verify each car's top speed.

Lap Counting:

Laps are counted manually. One dedicated volunteer marshal is assigned to watch exactly one car and record a tally each time that car crosses the finish line. Marshals are not assigned to count multiple cars simultaneously.

Tiebreaker:

If two or more teams complete the same number of laps in the 24-Minute Endurance event, the team whose car crossed the finish line first on that final lap is ranked ahead.

Dimensional & Weight Constraints:

Failure to meet these dimensions at technical scrutiny will prevent the car from taking the starting grid.

Dimensional Limits:

Parameter

Limit

Maximum Track Width

200 mm (outside edge of left tire to outside edge of right tire)

Wheelbase

250 mm to 300 mm (center of front axle to center of rear axle)

Maximum Overall Length

460 mm, including body shell and bumpers

Minimum Ground Clearance

5.0 mm, measured fully loaded with batteries, at rest on a flat surface

Weight Constraints:

Minimum Weight: 1300 grams, Ready-To-Run, including the battery and body shell.

There is no maximum weight limit. In RC racing, excess weight is inherently self-penalizing.

Powertrain & Electronics:

Propulsion Type:

All vehicles must be strictly electrically powered. Internal combustion engines, gas turbines, or any chemical propellants are strictly forbidden.

Motor Limits:

• A maximum of two (2) electric motors may be used for propulsion.
• Teams may choose to use a single motor or a dual-motor setup.
• There is no restriction on motor KV or physical can size, provided thermal limits are managed by the team.

Energy Storage (Batteries):

• Only Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are permitted.
• Maximum cell count: 6S (6 cells in series). Higher voltage configurations are not permitted.
• Safety Rule: All batteries must be hard-cased or securely mounted within a rigid protective structure on the chassis to prevent puncture during a crash.

Budget and Bill of Materials (BOM):

There is no maximum budget cap for the vehicle. However, all teams must submit a complete Bill of Materials (BOM) during technical scrutiny, listing all purchased components, their cost, and the manufacturing method used for custom parts.

Chassis & Suspension:

Suspension Design:

Teams are free to design any suspension geometry they choose.

Tires:

Teams must use rubber or foam tires designed for on-road use. Hard drift tires (PVC/PE) or aggressive off-road spike tires that may damage the cemented racing surface are prohibited.

Body Shells:

All vehicles must run a protective body shell that covers the internal electronics. Open-wheel designs are permitted provided the central chassis tub is fully enclosed.

Radio & Failsafe Systems:

Radio Frequency:

2.4 GHz radio systems are strictly mandatory for all competitors. Older AM/FM crystal-band radios are not permitted: with multiple cars on track simultaneously, they cause severe interference and present a safety hazard.

Failsafe Requirement:

All electronic speed controllers (ESC) or receivers must feature an active failsafe. In the event of a loss of radio signal, the vehicle must immediately cut throttle and apply brakes.

Technical Scrutiny & Documentation:

Pre-Race Inspection:

Before hitting the track, every vehicle must pass Technical Scrutiny. Scrutineers will verify:

• Chassis originality (checking for off-the-shelf chassis plates).
• Dimensional and weight compliance.
• Safe battery mounting.
• Radio system compliance (2.4 GHz) and active failsafe function.

CAD Design Report:

Each team must submit a CAD Design Report — including screenshots of their 3D models and their completed Bill of Materials — no later than one (1) week before race day. This is required to demonstrate that the chassis and structural components were genuinely designed by the team, rather than sourced as a complete off-the-shelf chassis.

Race Procedure:

Qualifying:

A 10-minute open qualifying session is held immediately before the race to determine grid order. The fastest qualifying lap earns the highest starting position.

Grid & Start:

The race uses a staggered standing start, with cars positioned on the grid according to their qualifying results.

Endurance Race Regulations:

The 24-Minute Endurance Format:

The primary event is a continuous 24-minute endurance race. The winner is the team that completes the highest number of recorded laps within the time limit.

Mechanical Breakdowns on Track:

• Immobilization: The driver must safely pull the broken vehicle to the edge of the track, out of the racing line.
• Retrieval: Only one designated team member (the "Mechanic") may step onto the track to retrieve the vehicle, and only after receiving clearance from a track marshal.
• No On-Track Repairs: Absolutely no repairs may be performed on the racing surface. If the car requires tools, parts, or a battery swap, it must be carried back to the designated Pit Lane.

Pit Lane Repairs & Penalties:

The penalty for a breakdown is the time lost during repairs.

• The Pit Lane: All repairs, adjustments, and battery swaps must take place in the Pit Lane area.
• Active Clock: The 24-minute race clock does not stop for any team experiencing a breakdown.
• Replacement Parts: Teams may replace any broken component during the race, provided the replacement parts comply with the original technical regulations.

Chassis Replacement Ban:

A team may not swap all of their electronics onto an entirely new, pre-assembled backup chassis. The original main chassis plate that passed Technical Scrutiny must cross the finish line.

The main chassis plate is the soul of the vehicle. If the main chassis plate snaps, cracks, or fails, the team may attempt to repair it in the Pit Lane using tape, glue, or splints. However, they may NOT replace it with a fresh chassis plate. If the original chassis cannot be patched, the vehicle is retired (DNF).

Battery Swaps:

• Battery swaps are permitted at any time but must be done exclusively in the Pit Lane.
• Batteries must be securely strapped down before the car is allowed to re-enter the track. A track marshal must confirm the battery is secure before deployment.

The "Did Not Finish" (DNF) Rule:

If a vehicle suffers catastrophic damage and cannot be repaired before the 24-minute clock expires, the team will be classified as a DNF. Completed laps will still be recorded and ranked against other DNF teams.

Marshal Signals & Flags:

Flag

Meaning

Yellow

Caution — a car has flipped or is stationary on track. No passing in the affected section.

Red

Race suspended. All cars must stop immediately where they are. The race clock stops.

Checkered

Race over.

Penalties:

Infraction

Penalty

Track Cutting / Cornering off-line 10-second Stop-and-Go penalty, served in the Pit Lane

Aggressive Ramming

1-lap deduction

Working on car outside the Pit Lane 1-lap deduction

Unsafe / smoking battery

Immediate Black Flag (Disqualification)

Protests & Appeals:

The Head Scrutineer holds absolute and final authority over all rule interpretations and penalty decisions.

Protests regarding results or penalties must be filed within 15 minutes of the checkered flag.