Schumacher Racing Products
# Schumacher Racing Products

Schumacher Racing Products (or just Schumacher) is a British manufacturer of radio-controlled cars and accessories with a primary focus on high-end racing products.

## History

### Foundation

The founder, Cecil Schumacher, was a Cosworth transmission engineer who was recruited from Borg Warner to lead the design team to adapt the Hobbs transmission (which he had worked on) to handle the Cosworth DFV's power. Cecil spotted his workmates driving radio-controlled cars on the company's helipad and decided it needed a ball differential after noticing the cars skittered. He soon started noticing large areas that these early primitive cars could be improved. Having noticed high tyre wear he introduced the ball differential to radio-controlled cars.

These ball differentials were used by his son Robin then his friends then local model shop requested to stock it and soon international orders followed. It came to the point that Cecil Schumacher was making more money from this side business than through his employer. So in 1981 Schumacher Racing Products was formed in Northampton, England.

The company has always operated out of Northampton but sourced some components from China like most other successful RC companies; however, the majority of manufacturing remains in England and Schumacher remains very much an English company. Cecil Schumacher's son Robin Schumacher took over the business in 2001.

### 1980s

The first car to be produced by Schumacher was the XL Lexan chassis pan car in 1981 which had intentionally highly flexible chassis suitable for indoor racing. This was followed in 1983 by the "C" car which was made out of fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin sheet and designed specifically for racing on carpet. It included many features that are still around on every modern 1/12-scale car; race wins include the euros in 1985 and 1988.

In the latter half of the 1980s, off-road RC cars increased in popularity. In 1986 the first 4WD 1/10-scale off-road buggy was launched, called the SWB CAT. This launched the CAT (Competition All Terrain) brand for Schumacher. This first variant SWB (Standard Wheel Base) 4WD car was an instant success with serious RC fans with its popularity cemented into history when Masami Hirosaka won the 1987 IFMAR off-road RC World Championships having been lent a works car after Schumacher scouts noted his driving form during practice sessions.

### 1990s

Following the success of the first generation of off-road CATs, Schumacher continued to produce many successful off and on-road electric cars. The popularity of the touring car class seriously affected the off-road world during the 1990s. Schumacher stepped down the development of this class through the 1990s. Schumacher was then starting to dominate a niche in the "fun" car sector, with high-power/speed nitro-powered models capable of real speeds in excess of 80 mph.

### 2000s

Over the turn of this century the Schumacher product line-up became quite familiar with the "fun" cars with increasing number of nitro products; however it remained in the 1/10 competition touring cars market.

### 2010s

The flood of cheap high-volume low-margin ready to run cars produced in Asia meant the company no longer produce a nitro car or fun car. Schumacher now concentrate on the high level 1/10-scale electrical competitive market. Alongside their Mi touring car range the company re-entered the off-road scene with the CAT SX (4WD) and Cougar SV (2WD). Vintage racing of older designed cars became popular with Schumacher re-releasing the CAT XLS in 2017 and then the Top Cat. In the mid 2010s a move was made to help the sport grow with the introduction of a number of lower priced competition cars. The Mi1 touring car was introduced alongside the ever evolving top spec version. And then a move was made to re-establish 1/12th electric carpet racing with the launch of the Supastock and Eclipse range. It also increased its distrution business of other none competing RC products.

### 2020s

In January 2020 Schumacher won IFMAR 1/12 World Championships held in Milton Keynes

## Racing Success

### IFMAR World Championships

| Year | Title | Driver | Model | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1987 | 1:10 4WD Off-Road | Masami Hirosaka| | CAT XL | report |
| 2020 | 1:12 Elec. Track | Marc Rheinard | Eclipse 3 | report |
| 2020 | 1:12 Elec. Track, Stock | Andy Murray | Eclipse 3 | report |

### European Championships

1985 - Andy Dobson 1:12 1988 - Phil Davies 1:12 1988 - Jürgen Lauterbach, 3rd 1:12

### ROAR National Championships

| Year | Title | Driver | Model | Ref. | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1987 | 1:10 4WD Off-Road | Jim Dieter | "Dieter" CAT | | |
| 1995 | 1:10 4WD Off-Road | Brad Reelfs | CAT 2000 EC | | |

### BRCA Nationals

BRCA

### National Manufacturer Series

Great Britain See Schumacher BTCC

## Competition cars

### 1/10-scale 4WD off-road buggies

| Date | Name | Kit and launch RRP No. | Details |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2022–Present | Cat L1R | K201 | |
| Dec 2019 | Cat L1 Evo | K183 | |
| Apr 2018 – | Cat L1 | K176 | |
| Dec 2015 – 2018 | CAT K2 | K159 Kit K169 Assembled | |
| Dec 2013 – 2015 | CAT K1 Aero | K147 Kit K149 Assembled | |
| Dec 2012 – 2013 | CAT K1 | K135 Pro K1 Kit K136 Pro K1 Assembled | |
| June 2011 – 2012 | CAT SX3 | K119 Pro C/F Kit K120 Pro C/F Assembled K121 S1 Kit K122 S1 Assembled | Launched at January 2011 Nurnberg Toy Fair it is an update of the SX2 |
| Jan 2009 – 2011 | CAT SX2 | K101 – Pro C/F Kit K102 – Pro CF Assembled K103 – S1 Kit K104 – S1 Assembled | |
| Jan 2008 – 2009 | CAT SX | K078 (4–2) NI-MH Kit K079 Stick LiPo Kit K091 LiPo Phil Booth Signature K092 LiPo S1 Composite Assembled | Launched at January 2008 Nurnberg Toy Fair |
| Never (2005) | CAT 4000 | | This car never went into production but prototype was seen at several BRCA National and Regional events in early 2005 |
| 2002–2004 | CAT 3000 Evo | KO19X | |
| 2000 | CAT 3000 | KO19X | |
| 1997 | CAT 98 | U421D | |
| 1997 | CAT 2000SE | U408M | Update of the 2000 based on spec of Jukka Steenari's 1996 Euro Champ car |
| 1997 | CAT 2000ECS | U401F | Cheaper version of the EC (no slipper etc.) |
| 1995 | CAT 2000EC | U498Y | CAT 2000 with new shell, sus. geometry and laydown shocks. |
| 1993 Oct | CAT 2000 | U460M | |
| 1993 (March) | Bosscat Works | U455H | |
| 1992 | Bosscat Sports | U444W | |
| 1992 | Bosscat Competition | U440S | |
| 1992 | Procat SE | U427F | |
| 1989 | Procat | U409N | |
| 1989 | CAT XLS | T403 | Saddle Pack |
| 1987 | CAT XL 4wd | T401 | Stick Pack Longer wheelbase and bodied version of the T400 |
| 1986 | SWB CAT | T400 | First 1/10-scale off-road racing buggy |

### 1/10-scale 2WD off-road buggies

| Jun 2021–present | Cougar LD2 'Stock Spec' | K191 Kit | |
| - | - | - | - |
| Jun 2021–present | Cougar LD2 'Stock Spec' | K191 Kit | Evolution design of Laydown for Carpet, Astro and Clay. Primarily for Stock spec racing with fixed transmission and carbon chassis |
| Jun 2021–present | Cougar LD2 | K190 Kit | Evolution design of Laydown for Carpet, Astro and Clay |
| Apr 2019–Jul-21 | Cougar Laydown | K180 Kit | Evolution design for carpet, Astro and Clay |
| Feb 2017–present | Cougar KC | K170 Kit | Evolution of the KF2 design for carpet and Astro |
| Jan 2017–present | Cougar KD | K170 Kit | Evolution of the KF2 design for Dirt |
| Jan 2015 – 2019 | Cougar KF2 | K155 Kit K156 Assembled | Evolution of the KF |
| Nov 2013 – 2015 | Cougar KF | K143 Kit K144 Assembled | Mid-motored belt drive using a lot of CAT K1 ideas for high grip such as astro turf |
| Sept 2013–present | Cougar KR | K139 Kit K140 Assembled | Rear motored for dirt |
| 2012 April – Nov 2013 | Cougar SVR | K133 Kit K134 Assembled | Developed from the Cougar SV but for dirt and low traction surfaces. |
| 2012–present | Cougar SV2 | K123 Kit K124 Assembled | Launched at the Nurnberg Toy Fair in Feb 2012 |
| 2010–2012 | Cougar SV | K111 Pro CF – Kit K112 Pro CF – Assembled K113 Race S1 – Kit K114 Race S1 – Assembled | There was a "2011 Spec" edition that had some upgrades. |
| 2002 | Fireblade EVO mk.2 | KO15T | Chassis mods for strength, new frt & rear towers, larger rr whl bearings |
| 1999 | Fireblade EVO mk.1 | KO15T | Evolution of Cougar 2000 series |
| 1998 | Fireblade USA | U424G | Upright shock angles (equal frt & rr), 7 cell slots, new motor position |
| 1997 | Fireblade 2000 | U407L | |
| 1995 | Club10 Mk 2 Cougar | U441T | |
| 1995 | Cougar '95 Team | U499Z | |
| 1995 | Cougar 2000 '95 spec | U474A | Also known as "XPC" spec with narrow chassis, SACs |
| 1994 | Cougar 2000 '94 spec | U457J | As per 1993 car, but now with Co-Axial driveshafts & diff to match |
| 1993 | Cougar 2000 | U457J | Double deck composite chassis, geared drivetrain |
| 1992 | Cougar 2 Works | U452E U453F | |
| 1992 | Cougar Club 10 | U441T | "Sport" version of Cougar. 540 motor + MSC |
| 1991 | Cougar 2 Team | U431J | Roller d/shafts, fully ballraced inc. steering |
| 1991 | Cougar 2 Racing | U430I | Slipper, 10 sealed ballraces, full spring set |
| 1991 | Cougar 2 Sport | U429H | Hybrid 23 mm diff, varishocks but no slipper and not fully ballraced |
| 1990 | Cougar | U415T | |
| 1988 | Topcat | U404J | F1 style lay down suspension |
| 1987 | CAT XL 2wd | T402 | |

### 1/10 4WD electric touring car

| Date | Name | Kit and launch RRP | Details |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2022 – | Mi8 | K196 Alloy K195 Carbon | |
| 2019 – 2022 | Mi7 | | |
| 2018 – 2019 | Mi6evo | | |
| June 2014 – 2018 | Mi5Evo | K148 – Pro C/F Kit K150 – Pro C/F Assembled | |
| 2013–present | Mi1v2 | K151 – Kit K152 – Assembled | Update of Mi1 |
| May 2013 – 2014 | Mi5 | K137 – Pro C/F Kit K138 – Pro C/F Assembled | |
| Jan 2012 – 2013 | Mi4CXL | K127 – Pro C/F Kit K128 – Pro C/F Assembled | |
| 2011–2012 | Mi4CX | K117 – Pro C/F Kit K118 – Pro C/F Assembled | |
| Late 2010 – 2013 | Mi1 | K115 Kit K116 Assembled | |
| | Mi4LP | K107 – Mi4LP Pro CF Kit K109 – Mi4LP Pro CF Assembled K108 – Mi4LP Race S1 Kit K110 – Mi4LP Race S1 Assembled |
| | Mi4 | k094 Pro-CF – Assembled k093 Pro-CF – Kit | |
| Aug 2008 | Mi3.5 | K082 – Race-S1 K081 – Pro-CF – Trg 5 Cell K080 – Pro-CF – Trg 6 cell | |
| May 2007 | Mi3 | K073 Mi-3 Pro | |
| 2005–2008 | Mi2 EC | K058 – Touring K059 – USA Foam Spec | |
| 2004 | Mi2 | K046 Mi-2 S1 K047 Carbon | |
| 2003 | Mission | Mission S1 K026 Mission Carbon K? | |
| 1999–2001 | SST 99 Pro | | |
| Approx 1997 | SST2000 | | |
| | SST Sport | SST Sport Lancer EVO 6 SST Sport Volvo S40 SST Subaru WRC | |
| | SST Axis 2 | | |
| | SST Axis | | |
| | Cat 2000 Touring | Escort Cosworth Alfa Romeo 155 Opel Calibra Mercedes C-Class Ford Mondeo | |
| 1995 | Bosscat Touring | U473Z – Escort Cosworth U483J – Alfa Romeo 155 U484K – Opel Calibra U485L – Mercedes C-Class U486M – Ford Mondeo | |
| | Wildcat Touring | Escort Cosworth Alfa Romeo 155 Opel Calibra Mercedes C-Class Ford Mondeo | |

### 1/12 2WD Electric Pan Car

| Date | Name | Kit # | Details |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2023 | Eclipse 5 | K203 | |
| | Eclipse 4 | | |
| 2019– | Eclipse 3 | | |
| 2019 | Eclipse 2 | K177 | |
| 2016–2018 | Eclipse | K169 | |
| 1981 | XL Lexan Pan Car | | Schumacher First Complete Car with the flexible lexan chassis |
| 1983–1988 | C-Car | C200 C204 Euro Spec | FRP chassis |
| 1984 – 198? | B-Car | | Simpler version of the C Car for club racing |
| 1988 – 1990 | C-Car SPC | C204 | FRP chassis to replace the flexible lexan |

### 1/12 GT12 circuit and 1/12 oval

| Date | Name | Kit and launch |
| - | - | - |
| 2012 April – 2014 | SupaStox | K131 – Four-cell NiMh/1S Lipo K132 – 6 cell NiMh/2S Saddle K141 – 1S with Hotrod Oval Body K142 – 2S with Saloonstox body |
| 2014 Nov | SupaStox GT | K154 – S1/Diff K157 – C/F |
| 2016 Jan - 2019 | SupaStox ATOM | K163 – Sport with fixed rear axle with no diff, no side dampers, old style SupaStox rear wheels K164 – Pro with C/F Pro diff, side dampers, left rear wheel clamp, new Atom GT12 wheels |
| 2019 Sep - | ATOM 2 | K179 S2 GT12 Kit Alloy K184 S2 GT12 Kit Carbon Fibre |
| 2023 | ATOM 3 | K207 S2 GT12 Kit Alloy K202 S2 GT12 Kit Carbon Fibre |

### Formula 1 RC

| Date | Name | Kit and launch | Details |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2020s | Icon 2 | K197 | |
| | Icon | | |

## Other Cars

| Date | Scale 1/10 | Power Electric | Drive FWD/4WD | Type Touring Car | Name Mission FT | Kit K187 | Notes Schumachers first front wheel drive touring car. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2010 | 1/10th | Nitro | 4WD | Fun Touring Car | Fusion 28 Turbo | K106 – Red/Silver – RTR K105 – Blue/Silver – RTR | |
| 2008 | 1/8th | Electric | 4WD | Touring Car | Menace GTRe | | Based on the Nitro car but with a three-speed gearbox and disc brake |
| 2005 | 1/8th | Nitro | 4WD | Touring Car | Menace GTR | | |
| 2004 | 1/10th | Nitro | 4WD | Fun Touring Car | Fusion R12 | K037 R12 Team Spec – K042 | The Fusion R12 is developed from the SST Mission electric car |
| 2002 | 1/10th | Nitro | 4WD | Fun Touring Car | Fusion 21 | K028 + BMW 3 Touring Body K029 + Subaru Rally Body K030 + F155 Truck Body K033 RTR + BMW 3 Touring Body K034 RTR + Subaru Rally Body K035 RTR + F155 Truck Body K050 + Skyline Body K051 RTR + Skyline Body | |
| 2000s | 1/6 th | Electric | 2WD | Track Car | Big 6 Lotus Elise Sport | S996 | |
| 2000s | 1/6 th | Nitro | 2WD | Track Car | Big 6 Lotus Elise Sport | S1020 | |
| 1995 | 1/10th | Electric | 2wd | Touring Car | Club10 mk.2 | U439R – Cosworth Touring U475B – Alfa Romeo 155 Touring U476C – Opel Calibra Touring U477D – Mercedes C-Class U478E – Ford Mondeo Touring | |
| 1995 | 1/10th | Electric | 2wd | Touring Car | 911 turbo SE | | Based on the Cougar mk1 |
| 1992 | | Nitro | | Pan Car | Daytona | | |
| 1990s and 2000s | N/A | Electric | 2WD | Fun Car | WILDCAT | |
| 1992 | 1/10th | Nitro | 2WD | Pan Car | Daytona | |
| 1990s | 1/10th | Electric | 4WD | Rallycross | RS 4x4 | | Based on the Procat |
| 1995 | 1/10th | Electric | 2WD | Offroad Truck | Club 10 mk.2 Storm truck | U443V | Cougar Mk2 based |
| 1991 | 1/10th | Electric | 2WD | Offroad Truck | Shotgun truck | U419X | Cougar based |
| | 1/10th | Nitro | 4WD | Fun Touring Car | Fusion 28 | K077 Skyline; Red/Silver – RTR K083 ARR – No Body K084 No Body – RTR K075 Skyline; Blue-Silver – RTR | |
| | | Nitro | Truck | | Riot 2 | | |
| | | Nitro | Truck | | Riot | S1174 | |
| | 1/10th | Nitro | 2WD | Truck | Nitro 10 | 190 Evaluation 911 Sport | Based on the Club 10 |
| | 1/16th | Nitro | 2WD | Micro Truck | Rascal 2 | | |
| | 1/10th | Nitro | | rear wheel drive stadium truck | Nitro 21 XT-R 3E | | Engine: 0.21 in³ (3.4 cm³) with E-start Power: 2.1 horsepower (1.6 kW) at 38,000 rpm Maximum engine speed: 40,000 rpm Gearbox: Three gears, fixed, automatic |
| | | Nitro | | Offroad Buggy | Storm 2000 | | |
| | | Nitro | | Offroad Buggy | Nitro 10 Panther | | |
| | | Nitro | | Offroad Monster Truck | Nitro 10 Racing Truck | | |
| | | Nitro | | Offroad Monster Truck | Menace | | |
| | 1/8th | Nitro | 4WD | Offroad Buggy | Swift | |
| | 1/8th | Nitro | 4WD | Offroad Buggy | Swift 2 | | |
| | 1/8th | Twin Nitro | 4WD | Monster Truck | Manic | | |
| | 1/8th | Nitro | 2WD | Stunt Truck | Havoc | |
| | 1/10th | Electric | 2WD | Touring Car | Alfa Romeo 155 | U492S – Alfa Romeo 155 Touring | Wildcat Chassis |
