The Race Cat was the Formula One driving shoe from which the Speedcat came. Puma's timeline says it debuted in 1999 as a low-profile, fireproof racing shoe with the stitched cat logo. It was commissioned by Puma board member Martin Gänsler and designed by Rudi Hieblinger with the agency Création & Focus Design, starting from a 1984–85 model Puma had made for a driver.
The racing version was cut in premium calfskin or kangaroo leather with a fireproof lining, and its very thin sole let drivers feel the pedals closely. In 2000 Puma launched a lifestyle version without the fireproof lining, the Speedcat, which became a cult shoe among motorsport fans and the fashion crowd.
The Race Cat also marked Puma's growing role in motorsport. Puma's partnership with Ferrari began in 2005, supplying racing gear to drivers from Michael Schumacher to Charles Leclerc, and between 2014 and 2022 Puma-equipped teams won nine consecutive Formula One drivers' and constructors' championships.