Pit gear: what a race meeting asks of the pits, the rostrum and the marshal posts.

Transponders: what the rules require

Laps are counted automatically from a transponder on each car, and several bodies require drivers to bring their own. Each rule applies only to its own events.

• IFMAR 1/8 IC off-road (2024, 3.9): every competitor must use their own AMB/MyLaps-compatible personal transponder, fitted to the body shell or chassis, and secure fitting is the driver's responsibility. Two independent timing systems run at once.
• IFMAR electric off-road (2019, 1.15 and 2.18): the rule names the MyLaps system or an IFMAR-approved equivalent; a driver may use an IFMAR-approved personal transponder if the lap-counting officials agree, but missed laps with an unspecified transponder are the driver's responsibility. A car starting without a transponder, or with the wrong one, is not counted, and no heat is re-run for transponder failure.
• IFMAR 1/8 and 1/10 IC track (2023 and 2024, 4.6): in qualifying a car without a transponder is not counted; in finals a manual back-up count is used.
• EFRA (Handbook 2026, Appendix 3): cars must allow a transponder to be fitted in a suitable position; organisers may hand out timing equipment; a driver using a personal transponder is entirely responsible for its working (A 5.1, 5.2 and 12.6). In GT12 only personal transponders record laps (C 1.24), and all weight minima apply with a personal transponder fitted (A 12.19).
• ROAR (National Guidelines, revised 13 October 2026, 4.5.10): the race flyer for a National must include a statement on mandatory use of personal transponders compatible with the MyLaps RC4 system, and the racer is responsible for compatibility.

A search summary of the BRCA's 12th Circuit national series page says it advises against pure RC4 transponders (AMB "Percy" and Pro) at its events; the page was not opened, so that is unconfirmed. Which system a meeting uses is for its organiser to say. More on timing and transponders.

What the rules say about the pits

• A secure pit area. EFRA's 2024 General Rules (6.5.3 to 6.5.5) require a secure pit area and bar animals from pits and working areas. Among the referees' points of observation are repairs and refuelling outside the pit area (7.1.11).
• Phones and radios. EFRA bars the use of mobile phones on the rostrum, pit lane and track (5.3.10). IFMAR's 1/10 IC track rules (2024, 2.14) put radio maintenance in a designated area far from the rostrum.
• Power and fire extinguishers. At electric European Championships EFRA requires a 220-volt supply near the pits with one outlet for every four drivers (Appendix 3, A 1.1.9), and a fire extinguisher must always be in the pits (A 9.1.4). These are organisers' obligations under EFRA's rules.
• LiPo sacks. Where an event's rules require drive batteries to be in a LiPo sack while charged or discharged, as EFRA's 2026 Appendix 4 (2.4) does, a sack is part of the pit kit for that event. EFRA defines a sack as built to contain a fire; that is the rule's definition, not evidence of protection, and this guide has no pick for sacks. See battery rules at events.
• Inspection. IFMAR marks one car per driver at initial inspection and sends semi-final and final cars to a "parc ferme" straight after their race (1/8 IC off-road 2024, 3.27). EFRA may dismantle and check the motors of the top three finishers (Appendix 3, A 11.5).

What marshals wear

Competitors marshal the heat after their own under both IFMAR (electric off-road 2019, 1.11) and EFRA (Appendix 3, A 5.5). The bodies set clothing rules for marshals, each at its own events:

• EFRA General Rules (2024, 8.15 and 8.15.7): each marshal position must be furnished with gloves or other protection and a safety jacket that is compulsory to wear, and marshals need safe footwear that will not come off; sandals are not acceptable. At IC events a plastic or wooden baton is mandatory at marshal positions as an aid to stop a running engine. Driver-to-mechanic radio equipment, which some classes allow, must not be carried while marshalling (8.6.2.b, item h), and where transmitter impound is not compulsory there must be a place next to the rostrum for drivers' transmitters while they marshal (8.6.7).
• IFMAR electric off-road (2019, 1.11.4): marshals must wear safety jackets and adequate footwear. IFMAR's 1/8 IC off-road rules (2024) require drivers to hand their radio to their mechanic before going to their marshal post.
• BRCA Large Scale Off-Road Round 8 (October 2025 briefing): marshals must wear hi-vis vests and gloves, and no one under 14 may marshal. That is one event's briefing, not a confirmed BRCA-wide rule.

This site has no product category for marshals' jackets or gloves; the organiser's rules say what is needed.

Carrying gear to a meeting

Batteries carried by air come under air-transport rules. IATA's guidance of 31 March 2026 makes spare lithium-ion batteries carry-on only and requires them to be protected against short circuit; it does not name lithium polymer. Detail is on travelling with batteries.

Our picks by category