Race Spec's Rennsteig SICMA 1.5 / 2.8 Project Cancellation

Race Spec has announced the permanent cancellation of the Rennsteig SICMA 1.5 / 2.8 Die Set Project after a four-year development effort. Below is a concise breakdown of what happened, why the project was halted, and what happens next for impacted customers.

Key Highlights & Core Takeaways

• 100% Refunds or Store Credit: All pre-order deposits ($50) and full payments will be refunded in full or converted to store credit—at the customer's choice. No customers will absorb any tooling costs.

• Cutting Ties with Rennsteig: Race Spec will liquidate its remaining Rennsteig inventory and permanently end its distribution partnership once stock runs out.

• Looking Forward: Race Spec is actively evaluating alternative tooling partners to develop a proper solution for the SICMA 1.5 and 2.8 terminal family.

Background: A Proven Track Record

Prior to this project, Race Spec and Rennsteig had successfully developed three exclusive, first-to-market die sets with zero engineering flaws:

1. AMP Superseal 1.0 (Released May 2021 | 355 units sold)

2. Molex CMC (Released June 2022 | 177 units sold)

3. Sumitomo HX090II (Released Dec 2024 | 31 units sold)

These past successes earned Rennsteig significant trust, setting the foundation for the ambitious SICMA project.

What Went Wrong?

1. Complex Terminal Architecture

The SICMA terminal family (originally designed by Delphi/Aptiv) is notoriously difficult to engineer for:

• 70+ Part Numbers: 38 variations for 1.5 mm and 32 for 2.8 mm terminals.

• Conflicting Data: Ownership changes left fragmented documentation, mislabeled sealed/unsealed specs, and contradictory crimp guidelines.

• Downsizing Wire: Race Spec designed the tools to accept high-spec, smaller-diameter wire (M22759/32 & Spec 55), requiring two distinct die sets instead of one.

2. Manufacturing & Design Errors

• Wrong Tooling Geometry: Race Spec supplied precise dimensional prints requiring an overlapping insulation crimp. Rennsteig instead manufactured the dies to a single-seal crimp profile.

• Terminal Damage: The wrong radius cause the insulation wings to collide, deforming the terminals and damaging wire insulation on every crimp. Testing on 21 alternate terminals yielded zero usable results.

3. Structural & Communication Breakdown

• Personnel Shifts: In 2025, Race Spec’s key contact at Rennsteig left, revealing communication gaps between Rennsteig’s US office and German headquarters.

• Lost Exclusivity: Race Spec learned their previous funded projects were no longer exclusive to them without prior notice.

• Waived FAI: Relying on past success, Race Spec made the misstep of waiving the First Article Inspection (FAI)—a decision they take full responsibility for, though the initial tooling specs had been provided in writing months prior.

• Unresolved Deadlines & Account Disputes: Months of unanswered emails, ignored recovery offers (including Race Spec offering to modify 80 die sets in-house), demands to pay for defective tooling, and arbitrary net-terms suspensions forced Race Spec to pull the plug.

Next Steps for Customers

1. Check Your Email: Race Spec is contacting all pre-order and deposit holders directly with links and options for refunds or credits.

2. Contact Directly: If you prefer not to wait, reach out to Race Spec directly for immediate processing.

3. Rennsteig Clearance: If you need existing Rennsteig products, order soon while remaining inventory lasts.

Thermocouple Components & Wiring Requirements

When, But Mainly How, To Use Shielded Cable

I can't tell you how to do things.....but the fact that you're here and reading this says you do want to do it right.