Manta (UK)

''This article is about the British robot that attempted to qualify for Robot Wars 2016. For the American entrant in Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors, see Manta.''

Manta is a heavyweight robot, armed with a full-pressure flipper. Although the team did not participate in the original run of Robot Wars, an application for Manta to enter the 2016 series of Robot Wars was submitted, alongside their other robots, Maelstrom and Shockwave. Ultimately, Shockwave was chosen to compete, and thus, Manta failed to qualify.

Prior to this, Manta had success at Robot Wars Live Events, and other live robotic events, including a win at the 2013 Winter Tour, and second place at the 2013 UK Championship.

Official Team Manta merchandise is sold at the Robot Wars live tours, in the form of a Team Manta cap.

Robot Wars Live Events
Manta debuted on the live circuit in 2013, where it earned second place in the UK Championship and European Championship that year, as well as first place at the Winter Tour. Manta followed this up with third place in the 2014 UK Championship.

Manta's greatest achievement in 2015 was reaching the semi-finals of the Robot Wars World Championships in Colchester. Manta won its first round in impressive fashion, first throwing DTK out of the arena, and followed this up by flipping Titan and Apex out as well. In the second round, Manta flipped Dystopia out of the arena, allowing it to win the resulting Judges’ decision over Iron-Awe 7. Manta promptly flipped Tough As Nails out in the quarter-finals, but eventually fell to the same method against the eventual champion Toxic 2 in the semi-final.

Manta is one of the two main mascots of Robot Wars live tours, as there is a regular part of the show where half of the audience will be told to cheer for Team Ripper, while the other half cheer for Team Manta. Audience members on Team Manta have the opportunity to win a Team Manta cap, or any audience member can purchase one from the merchandise stall.

Series Record

 * Series 1-7: Did not enter
 * 2016 series: Failed to qualify, Entered with Shockwave, Failed to qualify with Maelstrom