Robot Wars: The Third Wars/Heat O

Heat O
The Robot Wars logo from the introduction titles
Series	The Third Wars
Winner(s)	Fire Storm
Special Event	Pinball
First Broadcast	24 March 2000
Original channel	BBC Two
TV Ratings	4.84 million
Preceded by	Heat N
Succeeded by	Heat P

"You know, people harp on about the great outdoors, but what’s so great about it? To my mind, the only decent smell a cow makes is when it’s under the grill. And sheep dips are something you put on kebabs. The thing is: I like my house; it’s got carpets and a low pollen count. It’s also got a fridge, which is better than anything God invented. OK, so apple trees give us apples, but something that gives you beer, ice cream and pork pies, now that’s creatin’! But the best thing about the indoors is: it’s got a television, and where better to watch another eight robots fight it out for a place in our series semi-finals. So, stay in, sit back and enjoy the carnage!"

— Craig Charles' introduction

Heat O of Robot Wars: The Third Wars (also referred to in recaps as Heat 15) was the fifteenth of sixteen heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Third Wars. The episode featuring Heat O was originally broadcast on 24 March 2000 on BBC Two. The episode managed to attract 4.84 million viewers, a decrease of 370,000 viewers when compared with the previous episode. According to BARB, this meant it ranked second in the top thirty highest rated BBC 2 broadcasts during 20-26 March, behind only Journeys to the Bottom of the Sea.

Competing Robots

Newcomers

	Crasha Gnasha
	Weight	77.8kg
	Dimensions	0.88 x 0.94 x 1.05m
	Clearance	Variable
	Power	2 x Motors
	Weapons	Hammer & Circular Saw
	Notes	Cost £250
From: Hertford
Team Members: Jack Pickup, Mike Pickup & Tom Duggan

	Terminal Ferocity
	Weight	71.0kg
	Dimensions	0.43 x 1.08 x 0.66m
	Clearance	0.25m
	Power	2 x 240V Wheelchair Motors
	Weapons	Lifting Blade & Chainsaw
	Notes	Honey Applied for Extra Grip
From: Hampshire
Team Members: John Ryland & Fiona Ryland

	The Steel Avenger
	Weight	79.3kg
	Dimensions	0.79 x 1.26 x 0.72m
	Clearance	0.43m
	Power	2 x 750W Motors
	Weapons	Pneumatic Axe
	Notes	Interchangeable Weapons
From: Suffolk & Essex
Team Members: John Willoughby, Kevin Cockerill & Tony Bates

Veterans

	Diotoir
	Weight	79.0kg
	Dimensions	0.66 x 1.00m
	Clearance	0.02m
	Power	2 x Wheelchair Motors
	Weapons	Hydraulic Spring Lifting Arm
	Notes	Pressure 1,200PSI
From: Dublin
Team Members: Peter Redmond, Joe Gavin & Ciaron Byrne (Zulu)

	Facet
	Weight	79.6kg
	Dimensions	0.46 x 1.25 x 0.80m
	Clearance	0.05m
	Power	2 x 24V Motors
	Weapons	Pneumatic Flipper
	Notes	On Board Camera
From: Kent
Team Members: Mike Rickard, Mike Smith & Charles Lavery

	Fire Storm
	Weight	67.9kg
	Dimensions	0.29 x 0.97 x 0.82m
	Clearance	0.06m
	Power	3 x 12V 9AH Batteries
	Weapons	Flipping Arm, Rear Spike
	Notes	Main Motor from Lawnmower
From: Durham
Team Members: Graham Bone & Alex Mordue

	Schumey Too
	Weight	79.0kg
	Dimensions	0.41 x 1.12 x 0.91m
	Clearance	0.45m
	Power	2 x 24V Motors
	Weapons	Lifter, Centre Spike
	Notes	Cost £300
From: Wigan & Preston
Team Members: John Pocock & John Turnbull

	Sting 2
	Weight	79.7kg
	Dimensions	0.50 x 1.80 x 0.72m
	Clearance	0.06m
	Power	2 x Wheelchair Motors
	Weapons	Ramming Spikes, Whipping Tail
	Notes	Whip Action Tail at Back
From: Derbyshire
Team Members: Dave Barker, Pete Allsopp & Ian Pritchard

Round 1

Schumey Too vs The Steel Avenger

"...25 miles an hour of top speed on The Steel Avenger, you've got that trident pick on top as well, and the spikes. Schumey Too has far less weaponry, round about the same top speed..."

— Jonathan Pearce on the competitors in the opening moments of the battle

Schumey Too lifts The Steel Avenger close to the pit

Both robots got away quickly, with The Steel Avenger charging at Schumey Too, whilst Schumey Too drove around to the side of The Steel Avenger, trying to get its forks underneath, but The Steel Avenger turned away and reversed. Both robots turned to face each other, and The Steel Avenger tried to axe Schumey Too, but turned too far and missed. Schumey Too got the forks under the side of The Steel Avenger, and pushed it down the arena, nearly pushing it into the pit, but Schumey Too turned at the wrong moment, pulling it away from the pit.

"How many robots has the pit caught in this series of Robot Wars? It's big, it's open, it's black; everyone in the world can see it, apart from the Robot Wars drivers!"

— Jonathan Pearce as The Steel Avenger nearly falls into the pit

Schumey Too gets underneath The Steel Avenger

The Steel Avenger turned off the forks, then turned around, getting behind Schumey Too, then reversed away, turning as it did so. However, it swerved into the front of Shunt, but it managed to reverse away, dodging the axe. Schumey Too drove by the flame pit, and The Steel Avenger drove up the arena after it, pushing past Shunt's axe. However, The Steel Avenger charged past Schumey Too, straight into the wall. It reversed and turned, and Schumey Too drove into the front of The Steel Avenger, getting underneath. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but the axe could not reach it. As Schumey Too pushed, The Steel Avenger fell over the side, falling back on its wheels.

"Underneath The Steel Avenger goes Schumey Too! The Avenger turns, to come in on the attack again."

— Jonathan Pearce

The Steel Avenger takes off a small panel from Schumey Too

The Steel Avenger drove into the arena centre, and Schumey Too drove after it, getting the forks under the front. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but missed. It reversed, then drove past Schumey Too as it tried to get the forks underneath. The Steel Avenger drove near the flame pit, and Schumey Too drove towards it. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but fired too early before it was close enough, so missed. Schumey Too drove at the front of The Steel Avenger, but The Steel Avenger drove past it. The two robots turned around, and Schumey Too drove at The Steel Avenger. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, hitting the top, but it failed to puncture. Schumey Too got its forks under The Steel Avenger, but The Steel Avenger reversed as it tried lifting it. Schumey Too drove into The Steel Avenger, pushing against the front. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but missed because it too far. The Steel Avenger reversed, and Schumey Too turned and drove after it. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, hitting the top of Schumey Too, knocking a small piece of bodywork to come loose.

"And was that a flap flying at the top of Schumey Too? No great damage sustained."

— Jonathan Pearce

Schumey Too teetering on the edge of the pit after a shove from The Steel Avenger

Schumey Too drove past, and turned around. The Steel Avenger turned as Schumey Too drove at it, and The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but narrowly missed because it turned too far. Schumey Too tried to push The Steel Avenger, but The Steel Avenger turned away. Schumey Too turned around, and The Steel Avenger tried to hit Schumey Too with the axe, but missed as it turned too far. Schumey Too got its forks under the front of The Steel Avenger, and The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but narrowly missed. Schumey Too lifted The Steel Avenger, but The Steel Avenger fell off as it tried pushing, and The Steel Avenger reversed away up the arena. Schumey Too drove down the arena, but as it tried turning, it was lifted up by an arena spike a couple of times. It turned around, and The Steel Avenger charged at it as Schumey Too tried driving by the pit. The Steel Avenger rammed into the side of Schumey Too, hitting the top with the axe, and pushing it so its back wheels over the edge of the pit, and Schumey Too fell in, eliminating it.

"The old arena spike came out and nearly caught it out! So did the pit! It's going in! It's going in! It's gone in! Oh, Schumey Too, beaten by the Steel Avenger team, and disappointment for John Pocock and John Turnbull!"

— Jonathan Pearce after Schumey Too went into the pit

Winner: The Steel Avenger

Terminal Ferocity vs Facet

"That giant flipper, I think is going to be key."

— Jonathan Pearce's prediction before the battle starts

Facet engages Terminal Ferocity

Both robots started by charging, but drove past each other instead of driving into each other. Both robots turned around, with Facet turning faster, driving under the side of Terminal Ferocity and flipping it over.

"There is the flipper, straight away! And up and over, Terminal Ferocity."

— Jonathan Pearce

Facet flips Matilda

Terminal Ferocity couldn't self-right, and Facet rammed into it a couple of times, pushing it towards Dead Metal's CPZ. Terminal Ferocity was lifted by an arena spike, and Dead Metal pushed it away from the CPZ. Meanwhile, Matilda drove up the arena as the House Robots closed in on Terminal Ferocity, and Facet drove in behind her and flipped her over.

"I just wonder, if it goes later on in the competition, whether or not the lifting ramp on Facet yawns too wide, and a House Robot could get in... as they take on a House Robot! Matilda is turned topsy-turvy by Mike Rickard!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Facet flips Matilda over

Dead Metal slices into the underbelly of Terminal Ferocity

Dead Metal and Sgt. Bash attacked Terminal Ferocity, and Facet drove at Terminal Ferocity, lifting it a little. Shunt flipped Matilda back over with his scoop. Dead Metal grabbed Terminal Ferocity and cut into the base. Facet drove across the arena, and Sgt. Bash drove at it, blasting it with his flamethrower. Facet tried to flip Sgt. Bash, but failed as the flipper was not properly under the House Robot, so it reversed. Sgt. Bash drove forwards, Facet charged into his side and tried flipping him over, but only managed to lift him a little.

"Facet again, this time taking on Bash, trying to flick bashup and over! The weight of the House Robot just keeping him on the floor!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Facet tries and fails to flip Sgt. Bash

Sergeant Bash crumples part of Facet

Shunt and Sgt. Bash pinned Facet against the wall, with Sgt. Bash grabbing the side with his claw, holding the flipper closed. Dead Metal pushed Terminal Ferocity down the arena to the edge of the pit, and cease was called.

"The House Robots cutting and clipping and taking on Facet as well, causing damage late on, but Facet the winner. Poor old Terminal Ferocity, upset right at the start!"

— Jonathan Pearce in the last moments of the battle

Winner: Facet

Crasha Gnasha vs Fire Storm

Fire Storm crashes into and immobilises Crasha Gnasha straight away

Fire Storm immediately charged across the arena at Crasha Gnasha, which drove away from the wall and turned, trying to use its hammer, but Fire Storm merely charged straight into it, ramming it into the side wall, getting under one wheel and turning Crasha Gnasha over, immobilising it.

"Hardly a minnow, Fire Storm, but you wouldn't expect this sort of damage against a shark! Oh, against the arena wall, a great cloud of smoke from somewhere, look at this power and pace - bang! The shark is bitten and bitten badly!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Fire Storm turns Crasha Gnasha over

Dead Metal destroys the wheel of Crasha Gnasha

The House Robots came in to attack; Sgt. Bash clawed at Crasha Gnasha's head and pulled it up the arena. Meanwhile, Dead Metal grabbed the tail and cut into it with his saw. Fire Storm rammed into Crasha Gnasha, and Matilda attacked one of the wheels with her chainsaw.

"Crasha Gnasha, gnashed up, I should think. Bashed up, certainly."

— Jonathan Pearce as the House Robots attack

Dead Metal cut into the back wheel of Crasha Gnasha, easily slicing through it. He lifted his saw, and as he went in to cut it again, the wheel suddenly flew off completely on contact with the saw, and cease was called. This remains one of the quickest immobilisations in the history of Robot Wars. After Cease, some of the audience began booing.

"Looks like fish is off the menu! Fire Storm turn up the heat!"

— Craig Charles after the battle

Winner: Fire Storm

Diotoir vs Sting 2

Philippa Forrester: "Have you had time to think about tactics?"

Peter Redmond: "I hope it goes into a hole, so I can just go home!"

Philippa Forrester: "Oh no! Don't you dare, after all this work, don't you dare!"

— As Team Nemesis finish preparing Diotoir

Sting rips away Diotoir's smile

Both robots came together in the middle of the arena, and Diotoir pushed against Sting 2, trying to get its lifting arm underneath the side, but it failed to get under the ground clearance of its opponent, with some fur also falling off.

"Was a little bit of fur already ripped away? It was. The smile's a bit lopsided, isn't it?"

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir sheds some fur

Diotoir uses its lifter to pin Sting 2 down

As Sting 2 turned away, Diotoir fired the flipper, which had no effect as it was not under Sting 2. Sting 2 tried to drive away down the arena, but Diotoir kept close behind in pursuit. Sting 2 flicked away with its tail, but this had no effect on Diotoir. Sting 2 turned around, and Diotoir reversed to line up an attack, but had steering problems, turning back and forth erratically. Sting 2 drove up the arena, close to Sgt. Bash's CPZ, and Diotoir followed it, getting the flipper under the side, but was only able to lift it up slightly.

"There's Diotoir, just nudging, with Sting 2 trying to flick Diotoir away. It's a little bit nervy and tentative."

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir pushes Sting 2 towards the wall

Diotoir takes the sting out of Sting 2's tail

Sting 2 turned and pushed against Diotoir, but couldn't push it, so Diotoir reversed. Sting 2 started reversing, but Diotoir drove into it, but had problems resetting its flipper, giving Sting 2 a chance to reverse away. Diotoir drove into it, and Sting 2 tried to drive around the front, but Diotoir got at the side and pushed Sting 2 towards the arena side wall. Diotoir tried to use its flipper to hold Sting 2 still, but the springs caused the flipper to fire, and Sting 2 turned to face Diotoir, which reversed. Sting 2 drove at the front of Diotoir, which reversed, and as Sting 2 tried driving at it, Diotoir drove into the side and started pushing it towards Sgt. Bash. However, Diotoir stopped pushing before Sting 2 was in Sgt. Bash's CPZ, and reversed, allowing Sting 2 to turn away from the CPZ. As Sting 2 turned, Diotoir drove into the side and pushed, but Sting 2 turned against Diotoir. Sting 2 turned to get its whipping tail facing Diotoir and fired, but Diotoir was able to push Sting 2, and gradually forced it down the arena and into the pit.

"...Peter Redmond, built a dune buggy in his time, a robot vacuum cleaner as well. He's not trying to suck, he's trying to push Sting 2 towards the pit, and down goes the scorpion! That's a very, very popular victory in the arena."

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir pits Sting 2

Winner: Diotoir

Round 2

Diotoir vs The Steel Avenger

"Of Arthurian legend, The Steel Avenger perhaps, with the feather duster on the back. And Diotoir, a great roar goes up every time they do anything!"

— Jonathan Pearce in the opening moments of the battle as the crowd cheer on Diotoir

Diotoir lifts The Steel Avenger onto the wall

Sgt. Bash knocks The Steel Avenger off the wall

The two competitors started slowly, tentatively driving forwards, then stopping, before The Steel Avenger tried to drive around the side of Diotoir as their opponent sat idle. As it got close, Diotoir turned, trying to get the flipper under the side of The Steel Avenger, which turned, but Diotoir kept pushing at the side, so The Steel Avenger reversed. The Steel Avenger drove away, but carelessly charged straight into the claws of Dead Metal. The Steel Avenger fired the axe and quickly reversed away before the claws could close, but as it turned it lost control briefly, spinning then crashing into an arena wall.

"The Steel Avenger slamming into Dead Metal! Working its way away from danger, but Dead Metal has a long memory."

— Jonathan Pearce as The Steel Avenger escapes Dead Metal

Diotoir flips over The Steel Avenger

The House Robots attack The Steel Avenger

As Diotoir closed in, The Steel Avenger reversed, driving over the end of Diotoir's lifting arm, but was quick enough to get off before its opponent could fire. Diotoir drove close to Dead Metal's CPZ as The Steel Avenger reversed away, but managed to stop and turn away before it drove into the House Robot. Meanwhile, The Steel Avenger turned, reversing into an arena wall. It turned away from the wall, driving onto the flame pit, before reversing straight back into the arena wall. Diotoir drove towards it, and The Steel Avenger turned to face it, but turned too far, driving into the arena wall and missing with the axe. Diotoir got its flipper under the front of The Steel Avenger and flipped it against the wall, where The Steel Avenger was left stuck. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but could not get down from the wall. Diotoir reversed and turned away, so Sgt. Bash came out of his CPZ to push The Steel Avenger off the wall. As The Steel Avenger drove away, Diotoir got behind Sgt. Bash and pushed him against the wall. However, as The Steel Avenger turned towards it, Diotoir reversed and turned to face The Steel Avenger, but fired too early as it tried getting under the front, missing its flip. The Steel Avenger fired the axe, but it merely hit the flipping arm and bounced off. Diotoir pushed The Steel Avenger into Dead Metal, with an eye and an eyebrow falling off Diotoir in the process as The Steel Avenger themselves were caught temporarily by Dead Metal.

"So now they just can stare blankly from the one eye. Cyclops, now, from the Republic of Ireland, in the shape of Diotoir."

— Jonathan Pearce

Diotoir flips Sgt. Bash, only to be lit on fire

Diotoir burns

Dead Metal pushed The Steel Avenger away from the CPZ, and it rammed into the side of Diotoir, but glanced off the side. Diotoir turned away, and The Steel Avenger drove around it. Diotoir drove into The Steel Avenger's side, but The Steel Avenger charged away before it could get the flipper under the side. The Steel Avenger crashed into the arena wall, and as it turned away, Diotoir drove straight into it, getting underneath and using its wedge shape to turn it onto its side, immobilising it.

"...and that was their only viable tactic, and it's paid off! What a run here for Diotoir!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir tips The Steel Avenger over

Matilda and Sgt. Bash came out to attack The Steel Avenger, but because Diotoir was close by, Sgt. Bash set Diotoir's fur on fire with his flamethrower. Diotoir drove under Sgt. Bash and lifted him up a little with the flipper, while Shunt and Dead Metal attacked The Steel Avenger, with Dead Metal pushing it onto the flame pit and Shunt axing it. Diotoir kept driving, despite most of the fur being burnt off.

"They're on fire, oh, great! I'd pay my admission fee just to see this!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Sgt. Bash lights up the Irish robot

Winner: Diotoir

Facet vs Fire Storm

Mike Rickard: "50-50. Two machines, very close together, they're quite quick, they've got a flipper as well, so... I don't know! You just have to wait and see!"

Charles Lavery: "We're very evenly matched!"

— Pre-battle interview with Team On-The-Edge

Facet flips Fire Storm

Firestorm skims over the wedge of Facet

Both robots charged straight at each other, with Fire Storm driving into the side of Facet, but it tipped upwards, pushing against the armour instead of getting under the ground clearance. Fire Storm reversed and Facet turned, and Fire Storm missed a charge at Facet, driving past the side. Fire Storm reversed as Facet tried to get under it, and Facet drove at it as it turned, but Fire Storm drove away before Facet could flip, causing it to miss. Fire Storm turned and drove at the front of Facet, but couldn't get under the front, so turned to try and get and the side. Facet drove away down the arena, and Fire Storm chased after it, getting under the back, but drove too far, with Facet rolling over the top.

"...Fire Storm, in underneath Facet there, two very speedy robots. But Facet, up to 48 miles an hour. We simply have never seen anything as quick as this."

— Jonathan Pearce as Fire Storm drives under Facet

Fire Storm turned, avoiding Facet as it drove at it. Fire Storm drove around Facet, driving into the side, but Facet reversed, and Fire Storm kept driving, to the edge of Matilda's CPZ. It turned away before Matilda could attack, and Facet drove at it, but missed its charge, driving into Matilda. Matilda reversed and Facet turned away, getting underneath the front of Fire Storm and flipping it over. After a pause, Fire Storm was able to right itself.

"And there the great lifting ramp, but Fire Storm has a srimech - it can self-right itself."

— Jonathan Pearce

Fire Storm employs tactics and immobilises Facet

Matilda attacks Fire Storm

Fire Storm charged forwards, driving over the front of Facet as it tried driving at it, then turned around. It charged down the arena, straight at Facet, but it hit the wedge, bouncing up as Facet turned away. However, Facet turned onto an arena spike, which lifted it, allowing Fir Storm to get underneath. Fire Storm tried to flip, but merely flicked Facet off the flipper as it was not underneath properly. Facet reversed, driving next to Matilda's CPZ and turning around, and Fire Storm drove in underneath it. However, due to the angle Fire Storm drove at, and an incorrect turn, Facet merely slid off the flipper again when Fire Storm tried to flip it. Facet slid off Fire Storm's wedge, but before it could get away, Fire Storm pushed it against the arena wall, getting underneath the ground clearance and flipping it onto its side against the fence, where it could not right itself with the flipper.

"And I think Facet have been done here, by Fire Storm."

— Jonathan Pearce

Sir Killalot lifts Facet up with its lance

Fire Storm drove away up the arena, then decided to attack Matilda, charging into her CPZ, but as it swerved around to Matilda's side, Matilda turned and got her lifting tusks under Fire Storm's side, lifting it up. Matilda held it up as she reversed into Facet, attacking it with her chainsaw, whilst Sir Killalot got his drill lance into Facet's gaping mouth, spinning his drill around and lifting Facet up, before the inside of Facet caught fire.

"Oh, and there's the damage I thought might happen! The great yawning mouth of Facet, too wide! And in comes Killalot, with that penetrating lance, it's on fire! And Facet beaten!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Sir Killalot carries Facet around

Winner: Fire Storm

Heat Final

Diotoir vs Fire Storm

Fire Storm flips Diotoir

Fire Storm pushes Diotoir onto the flame pit

Fire Storm had the quicker start, charging into Diotoir as it drove away from the wall. Fire Storm got at the side of the flipper and pushed, forcing Diotor back towards the arena wall. However, it struggled to get under the ground clearance, and Diotoir turned off the wedge. Fire Storm reversed and tried to get under Diotoir's front, tried pushing, but Diotoir got the end of its flipper under the front of Fire Storm. Fire Storm turned off the flipper, then reversed.

"Where do they get all of this polka dot fur from?!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir comes into battle with another covering of fur

Dead Metal slices into the flaming Diotoir

Diotoir is flipped by the floor flipper

Fire Storm charged back at Diotoir, but missed its charge, bumping past it and driving into the arena wall. It quickly turned, and Diotoir appeared to have stopped. After accidentally driving onto the front wedge of Diotoir, Fire Storm reversed, slid underneath the front of Diotoir and flipped it over, before pushing it onto the flame pit where it caught fire.

"Now onto the flame pit. The lick of flame, the smile obliterated."

— Jonathan Pearce

Dead Metal came over into saw it, but drove onto the flame pit himself in the process. Dead Metal cut into the base of Diotoir as he pushed it against the arena wall. As he reversed, several small pieces of burning Diotoir fur became caught on him. Dead Metal returned to his CPZ, and Sir Killalot came over, ramming Diotoir against the wall with the lance, picking it up with the lance and carried it to the floor flipper. Diotoir was thrown across the arena, Cease was called and Fire Storm moved on to the semi-finals.

"Diotoir righted, it's not all right, it's all gone wrong from the boys from Dublin. What a story, but Fire Storm worthy winners! ... Well done to the Fire Storm boys, the fairy story ends for Diotoir! The crowd have loved them, to the very last minute."

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir is thrown by the floor flipper!

Heat Winner: Fire Storm

"It's the show that RoboCop deplores, 'cause we're good after three sequels, of Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles signs off

Special Event

Razer attacks the car door

Between Round 1 and Round 2 of each heat, a Special Event or Trial took place. For Heat O, it was the penultimate Pinball Competition run, featuring Razer.

Score: 210 points

Trivia

• The new machine of Team Nemesis, suffered terrible misfortune in this heat. Upon boarding the ferry from Ireland, customs demanded that Diotoir be dismantled. This left Peter Redmond, Joe Gavin and Ciarán Byrne only a few hours to reassemble Diotoir in order to compete. Despite this, Diotoir managed to reach the heat final before losing.
• Fire Storm's first battle with Crasha Gnasha is ranked joint sixth in the Shortest Battles in UK Robot Wars.
• Heat O was the second and last of two Series 3 heats to feature more veterans than newcomers, the other being Heat I.
• Unusually, the opening titles recap was not structured sequentially and did not feature any clips from Heats J, K, L and N.
• Firestorm and Diotoir would both appear in Heat C of Series 4 and be seeded in that heat.
• This episode aired on the same day as the last episode of Techno Games 2000, which aired between Monday 20 and Friday 24 March 2000.
  • This was the only time an episode of Robot Wars aired on the same day as an episode of Techno Games. All the other series were shown in gaps between series of Robot Wars, always in March.