Schumacher Racing is a British manufacturer of radio controlled cars founded in Northampton, England in 1978 by Cecil Schumacher, an F1 transmission designer. One of the first Schumacher product was the ball differential which became very popular and once one of the fundamental items found in an RC car.
Since the 1980s, Schumacher has been an active and innovative manufacturer in the RC racing community and produced race winning products. Later, schumacher marketed ready to run vehicles.
Schumacher's Famous competition circuit 1/12th 'C' car was introduced in 1982 and won several titles including a European Championship. In 1987 the Iconic CAT XLS driven by Masami Hirosaka won the IFMAR World Championship.
In 2001, Cecil Schumacher's son Robin Schumacher took over the company as Managing Director.
Schumacher also sells a range of accessories and supplies its customers with motors, batteries, speed controls, tyres, chargers, tools, and radio control equipments.
Schumacher Racing also supports drivers and customers running Schumacher cars and distributed products at major race meetings in the UK and accross the World. Events like the BRCA British Nationals, EFRA Euro's, IFMAR World Championships and more recently EOS and ETS Championships.
History[edit | edit source]
Below is a complete timeline of schumacher Racing's history:
1980s[edit | edit source]
Schumacher produced its first RC car in 1981, the XL Lexan chassis pan car with its intentionally highly flexible chassis geared towardss indoor racing. In 1983, the brand released the "C" car made primarly out of fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin sheet and designed for racing on carpet. The car included many features that are still around on modern 1/12 scale car. The car won several races including the european championship in 1985 and 1988.
In the second half of the 1980s, off-road RC cars became increasely popular hence the launch by Schumacher in 1986 of the first 4WD 1/10-scale off-road buggy: the SWB CAT. It was the first occurence of the CAT (Competition All Terrain) brand for Schumacher. This first SWB variant (Standard Wheel Base) 4WD car became an instant success with serious RC fans and cemented its popularrity into history with Masami Hirosaka's win at the 1987 IFMAR off-road RC World Championships.
- 1978: The first ball differential was invented by Cecil Schumacher, an F1 transmission designer.
- 1980: Schumacher Racing was started by Cecil Schumacher.
- 1981: The first car, the Schumacher XL 1/12th car was introduced.
- 1983: The legendary 1/12th scale ‘C’ car was introduced.
- 1985: & 1988 Schumacher ‘C’ car wins European Championships.
- 1986: The CAT 4WD 1/10th scale off road buggy was introduced.
- 1987: The CAT, driven by Masami Hirosaka wins the World Championships.
- 1988: The first 2WD buggy, the TOP CAT was introduced.
- 1989: The 4WD PRO CAT and 2WD TopCat win the European Championships.
1990s[edit | edit source]
During the 1990s and following the success of its first generation off-road CATs, Schumacher kept on producing several successful off and on-road electric cars. Later in the 90s, the popularity of RC touring car class affected the off-road world. Schumacher thus reduced the development of the buggy class through the 1990s.
- 1990: The 4WD PRO CAT and 2WD Cougar win the European Championships.
- 1991: The Nitro 10 range of cars introduced which developed into the Nitro 21 and some of the first ready to run nitro vehicles.
- 1994, 95, 96, 97: 4 consecutive European Championships for the CAT 4wd buggies.
- 1996: The first SST 1/10th electric touring car was introduced.
- 1997: to 2006 Schumacher touring cars win 10 USA national titles.
2000s[edit | edit source]
At the begining of the new century, Schumacher product line-up geared towards the "fun" cars with increasing number of nitro products but the market remaine mainly focused on 1/10 competition touring cars.
- 2001: Cecil’s son Robin Schumacher takes over as Managing Director.
- 2002: Fusion range of 80mph nitro cars introduced.
- 2003: Menace range of 70mph nitro trucks introduced.
- 2005: Mi2 touring car wins the European Championships with Teemu Leino.
- 2008: Schumacher return to electric off road racing with the revolutionary CAT SX.
- 2009 & 2010: The Mi4 touring car wins the British Championships with Chris Grainger.
- 2009: Manic twin engined monster truck introduced.
- 2009: A modified Schumacher Mi3.5 touring car achieves a Guinness World Record for R/C cars of 161mph.
2010s[edit | edit source]
Starting in 2010, the market saw a flood of cheap high-volume low-margin ready to run cars produced in Asia. Schumacher tuned its focus to high level 1/10-scale electrical competitive cars. Alongside their Mi touring car range the company re-entered the off-road market 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 its popular 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 such as the Mi1 touring car which was introduced alongside the ever evolving top spec version. Schumacher also increased its distrution business of other none competing RC products.
- 2010: Schumacher return to 2WD off road with the ground breaking Cougar SV and promptly win the BRCA Championship with Tom Cockerill.
- 2011: Contact tyres launched, and win the 1/8th World and Euro Finals.
- 2012: The SupaStox 1/12th range is launched, 30 years since Schumacher last introduced a 1/12th car!
- 2012/2013: Chris Ashton wins 2 x BRCA GT12 Championships.
- 2013: The awesome CAT K1 and Mi5 launched and SupaStox takes double British Championship title.
- 2013: Chris Grainger wins the BRCA Touring Car Nationals with the Mi5
- 2013: Revolutionary Cougar KF Launched.
- 2013/14: Chris Ashton wins 2 x BRCA GT12 Championships.
- 2014: Darren Bloomfield wins BRCA 2WD Nationals Championship with Cougar KF.
- 2015: Cougar KF2 Launched.
- 2015: Elliott Harper Wins BRCA Touring Car National Championship with the Mi5evo.
- 2015: Michal Orlowski wins the EFRA 4WD Euro's at Robin Hood Raceway with the CAT K1 Aero.
- 2016: CAT K2, Atom GT12 and Mi6 Launched. Michal Orlowski wins both 2WD and 4WD classes at the EOS in Poland with the CAT K2 and KF2SE.
- 2016: Schumacher returns to 1/12th carpet LMP12 with the release of the Eclipse.
- 2017: Michal Orlowski TQ's and wins both 2WD and 4WD classes at the DHI Cup in Denmark using the CAT K2 and Cougar KC prototype.
- 2017: Michal Orlowski wins the GT12 World Championship in Milton Keynes.
- 2017: Mi6evo, Cougar KC and KD released.
- 2017: Schumacher Re-Release the famous 1987 World Championship winning CAT XLS Masami.
- 2017: Michal Orlowski take the EOS title in 2WD.
- 2017/2018: Andy Murray wins the BRCA GT12 Championship.
- 2018: CAT L1 Buggy Released.
- 2018: Michal Orlowski wins 2WD and 4WD EOS series with KC and L1.
- 2018/19: Andy Murray wins British GT12 Championship.
- 2018: Schumacher Eclipse 2 Released.
- 2019: CAT L1 EVO, Eclipse 3, Mi7, TOP CAT 'Classic' and Atom 2 Launched.
- 2019: Michal Orlowski takes the EOS title in 2WD.
- 2019: Michal Orlowski takes EFRA 1/12th European Title in Stock.
- 2019: James Hart and Olly Jefferies win both the Stock and Modified BRCA Touring Car Championships.
- 2019: Michal Orlowski takes 3rd in 4WD at the IFMAR Worlds in Trencin, Slovakia.
- 2019/20: Andy Murray wins British GT12 Championship.
2020s[edit | edit source]
In January 2020 Schumacher won IFMAR 1/12 World Championships held in Milton Keynes.
- 2020: Michal Orlowski and Andy Murray TQ the IFMAR 1/12th World Championship in Modified and Stock with Eclipse 3's.
- Marc Rheinard comes from 4th on the grid to win the IFMAR 1/12th Worlds, Orlowski finishes 2nd. Andy Murray wins the Stock 1/12th IFMAR Worlds.
- 2020: Cougar Laydown Stock Spec is released.
- 2020: Jorn Neuman wins EFRA Euro's 1/12th Stock Championship.
- 2020: COVID 19 Pandemic hits and racing activities are suspended.
- 2020: Schumacher's Instagram account is launched.
- 2020: Storm ST 1/10th Stadium Truck is released.
- 2021: Eclipse 4 LMP12 car released.
- 2021: Cougar LD2 car released.
- 2021: Schumacher take on the JConcepts line.
- 2021: Schumacher Mi8 prototype's TQ and win both classes at the BRCA Bedworth national.
- 2021: Andy Murray is crowned BRCA Nationals Stock Champion.
- 2021: Andy Murray is crowned BRCA Clubmans Champion.
- 2022: Mi8 Touring car is released.
- 2022: Dan Robin wins the BRCA GT12 Championship.
- 2022: The Icon 2 Formula car is released.
- 2022: Michal Orlowski TQ's and Wins Stock and Modified at the EFRA 1/12th Euros at Hudy Arena.
- 2022: Cougar Classic Re-release is launched.
RC Products[edit | edit source]
Below is a list of Schumacher RC vehicles in different scales.
List of all Schumacher Racing RC vehicles on RCpedia[edit | edit source]
List of Schumacher Racing RC vehicles by category[edit | edit source]
1/10-scale 4WD off-road buggies[edit | edit source]
| Date | Name | Kit and launch RRP No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2019–Present | Cat L1 Evo | K183 | |
| Apr 2018– Nov 2019 | 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[edit | edit source]
| 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[edit | edit source]
| Date | Name | Kit and launch RRP | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 – | 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[edit | edit source]
| Date | Name | Kit # | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–present | 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[edit | edit source]
| Date | Name | Kit and launch | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 - Present | ATOM 2 | K179 S2 GT12 Kit Alloy K184 S2 GT12 Kit Carbon Fibre |
Let's Talk Schumacher Racing[edit source]
Express your views or ask questions about Schumacher Racing: