VehiclesSchumacher

Schumacher

Schumacher Racing is a British maker of competition RC car kits, based in Northampton and started in 1980 by Cecil Schumacher, a Formula One transmission designer.1

VehiclesHistory and background

Founded
19801
Headquarters
Northampton, England1
Company
Schumacher Racing Products; Robin Schumacher takes over as managing director in 20011,2

Key models

Schumacher vehicles

Buggies

2WD and 4WD off-road race buggies

Stadium trucks

About Schumacher

What it stands for

Schumacher calls itself "a British manufacturer of high performance radio controlled model cars" that has been "at the leading edge of RC car racing" since 1980, "producing innovative race winning products."1 It says it is "committed to always bring you high quality products with which to enjoy the fabulous hobby of radio controlled model cars."1

Known for

Cecil Schumacher is credited with the first ball differential, in 1978.1 The CAT brought the company its 1987 IFMAR world title, and the original Cougar won the 1990 European Championships with Jurgen Lautenbach.1,4 Its classic buggies came back as reproductions for vintage racing: the Cougar Classic reuses much of the original tooling, and the Cougar 2 Works Classic followed in 2024.3,4 In 2009 a modified Mi3.5 touring car set a Guinness World Record for RC cars at 161 mph.1

Product portfolio

Schumacher's range is electric race kits in 1/12 and 1/10. The Eclipse 6 is a 1/12 LMP12 pan car for carpet circuits.1 In 1/10 touring there are the Mi10 and Mi9, the Vibe TC, the front-wheel-drive FT9 and Vibe FT, and the Neon MTC and Neon FT. Off-road covers the CAT PB 4WD buggy, the Cougar LD3 2WD buggy in Mod and Stock spec, and the Storm ST2 stadium truck. The Cougar 2 Works Classic reproduces a late 1980s buggy for vintage racing.3

Racing record

Schumacher's first IFMAR world title came in 1987, when Masami Hirosaka won with the CAT.1 The CAT 4WD buggies took four consecutive European Championships from 1994 to 1997, and its touring cars won 10 USA national titles between 1997 and 2006.1 In 2020 Marc Rheinard won the IFMAR 1/12 Modified world title and Andy Murray the Stock title, both with the Eclipse 3.1,2 Michal Orlowski added the 1/12 world title with the Eclipse 5 in 2023.1

Timeline

  1. 1978Cecil Schumacher invents the ball differential.1
  2. 1981The XL, its first car, a 1/12 pan car.1,2
  3. 1986The CAT 4WD 1/10 off-road buggy.1
  4. 1987Masami Hirosaka wins the IFMAR World Championship with the CAT.1
  5. 1996The SST, its first 1/10 electric touring car.1
  6. 2001Robin Schumacher, Cecil's son, takes over as managing director.1
  7. 2016Returns to 1/12 carpet racing with the Eclipse LMP12 car.1
  8. 2020The Storm ST stadium truck.1
  9. 2023Michal Orlowski wins the IFMAR 1/12 world title with the Eclipse 5.1

Sources

  1. Schumacher Racing, About us.
  2. Wikipedia, Schumacher Racing Products.
  3. RedRC, Schumacher Cougar 2 Works 'Classic', 5 December 2024.
  4. RedRC, Schumacher Cougar Classic 2WD buggy, 9 June 2022.