Schumacher Racing Products
British RC manufacturer that introduced the ball differential.
Schumacher Racing Products, a British company, makes radio-controlled cars and parts. It was founded in 1981 in Northampton, England, by Cecil Schumacher, a former Cosworth transmission engineer. While working at Cosworth, Cecil noticed colleagues racing RC cars on the company helipad and saw ways to improve them. He introduced the ball differential to RC cars. After a local model shop requested the differentials used by Cecil’s son Robin and his friends, the company began selling internationally. Robin Schumacher took over the business in 2001.
The company’s first car, the XL Lexan chassis pan car, launched in 1981 with a flexible chassis for indoor racing. In 1983, the “C” car followed, made from fibreglass-reinforced epoxy resin sheet for carpet racing; it introduced features still common on 1/12-scale cars and won European championships in 1985 and 1988. As off-road RC cars grew popular in the late 1980s, Schumacher released the SWB CAT, the first 4WD 1/10-scale off-road buggy, in 1986. This launched the CAT (Competition All Terrain) brand. The SWB CAT won the 1987 IFMAR off-road RC World Championships with driver Masami Hirosaka, who was lent a works car after Schumacher scouts noticed his driving in practice.
During the 1990s, Schumacher produced many successful electric competition cars for on-road and off-road. As touring car classes gained popularity, the company shifted focus to high-power nitro models capable of over 80mph, dominating the “fun” car niche. In the 2000s, Schumacher continued making nitro fun cars while staying in the 1/10 competition touring car market.
By the 2010s, cheap Asian ready-to-run cars flooded the market, and Schumacher stopped producing nitro and fun cars. It now focuses on high-level 1/10-scale electric competition cars, including the Mi touring car range and off-road models like the CAT SX (4WD) and Cougar SV (2WD). Vintage racing grew popular, leading to re-releases of the CAT XLS in 2017 and the Top Cat. In the mid-2010s, Schumacher introduced lower-priced competition cars, such as the Mi1 touring car, and revived 1/12 electric carpet racing with the Supastock and Eclipse range. It also expanded its distribution of non-competing RC products.
In January 2020, Schumacher won the IFMAR 1/12 World Championships in Milton Keynes.
- Founded
- 1981
- Founder
- Cecil Schumacher
- Location
- Northampton, England
- First car
- XL Lexan chassis pan car (1981)
- First 4wd off road buggy
- SWB CAT (1986)
- Ifmar world championship win
- 1987 (off-road, with Masami Hirosaka)
- Current focus
- high level 1/10-scale electrical competitive market
Lore & Background
The company was formed in 1981 in Northampton, England, after a local model shop requested the ball differentials used by Cecil Schumacher's son Robin and his friends. Cecil, a Cosworth transmission engineer, had noticed his workmates driving RC cars on the company's helipad and began improving them, introducing the ball differential to RC. The first car, the XL Lexan chassis pan car, had a highly flexible chassis suitable for indoor racing. In 1983 the 'C' car, made of fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin sheet, was designed for carpet racing and included features still used on modern 1/12-scale cars, winning the euros in 1985 and 1988.
In 1986 Schumacher launched the first 4WD 1/10-scale off-road buggy, the SWB CAT, which launched the CAT (Competition All Terrain) brand. It won the 1987 IFMAR off-road RC World Championships with Masami Hirosaka, who was lent a works car after Schumacher scouts noted his driving form. During the 1990s, the popularity of touring cars shifted focus, and Schumacher began dominating a niche in 'fun' cars with high-power nitro models capable of over 80mph. By the 2010s, cheap Asian RTR cars led Schumacher to stop producing nitro and fun cars, concentrating on the high-level 1/10 electric competitive market, re-entering off-road with the CAT SX and Cougar SV. In the mid-2010s, lower-priced competition cars were introduced, and the company re-established 1/12 electric carpet racing with the Supastock and Eclipse range. In 2020, Schumacher won the IFMAR 1/12 World Championships in Milton Keynes. The CAT range switched from belt drive to shaft drive in 2026 with the PB named after Phil Booth.
Reader's Guide
Schumacher Racing Products holds significance as a British manufacturer that shaped early RC car design, notably by introducing the ball differential. Its first car, the XL Lexan chassis pan car, pioneered flexible chassis for indoor racing, while the 1983 'C' car established features still used in 1/12-scale cars. The company's entry into off-road with the SWB CAT in 1986 led to an IFMAR World Championship win in 1987, cementing its competitive legacy. Over decades, Schumacher adapted to market shifts: dominating the 'fun' car sector with high-speed nitro models in the 1990s, then pivoting to high-level 1/10 electric competition cars in the 2010s as cheap Asian RTR cars flooded the market. The company also contributed to the sport's growth by introducing lower-priced competition cars and re-releasing vintage models like the CAT XLS in 2017. Its continued presence in 1/12 electric carpet racing and distribution of non-competing RC products reflects its enduring role in the RC industry.
Did You Know?
- Schumacher introduced the ball differential to radio-controlled cars.
- The first car produced was the XL Lexan chassis pan car in 1981.
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