Timo
Scheider brought Johan Kristoffersson’s winning run in the FIA World Rallycross
Championship to an end with a sensational performance in South Africa today (8
October), as the German’s maiden victory ensured the title fight goes on to the
Hong Kong season finale.
For
the first time in World RX history, the entire field took to the track in equal
machinery at Killarney International Raceway, and Scheider was a leading
contender from the outset. After finishing third on Saturday – matching his
previous best result from the 2023 campaign – the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich
Motorsport star got the better of all of his rivals today to reach the top step
of the podium.
Scheider’s
day did not get off to the best of starts, as rear motor failure restricted him
to the fifth-fastest time in the single-lap SuperPole shootout and a puncture
then dropped him out of the lead in heat one. Unbowed, he battled back to top
the timesheets in both heats two and three – in so doing, vaulting to the
summit of the intermediate standings and earning himself pole position for the opening
semi-final.
Another
flawless run saw the German pip Kevin Hansen to the chequered flag by just over
three tenths-of-a-second, before he held his nerve once more in the final,
executing a textbook launch and keeping his pursuers calmly at bay throughout.
“It’s
pretty difficult to describe this right now,” Scheider reflected. “I feel quite
emotional. I’ve been chasing this win for some time; it hasn’t always been
easy, but we’ve kept fighting and I always try to squeeze the most out of what
I have.
“The
level of competition in World RX is so high and we all know how difficult it is
to beat Johan [Kristoffersson], so I’m super-proud for both myself and the
ALL-INKL.COM team – they put so much energy into this project and have kept
believing in me. It’s quite overwhelming, to be honest. I want to dedicate this
victory to my dad, who passed away last year. And to all of the fans here in
Cape Town – thank you for being amazing!”
Scheider’s
South African success has elevated him to third in the title standings, just
three points behind Kevin Hansen, who replicated his Saturday result by
scooping the runner-up spoils again on Sunday.
To
do so, the Hansen World RX Team ace had to fend off a charging Kristoffersson,
who admitted to ‘completely sleeping’ at the start of the final, enabling his
countryman to dive up the inside and into second place. Try as he might, the
championship leader was never able to get back ahead, obliging him to wait a
little longer in his quest to secure a sixth career crown.
Klara
Andersson crossed the finish line fourth following a much-improved display
compared to the previous day, just ahead of 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen,
but their positions were reversed when the CE Dealer Team driver was handed a
penalty for contact. Niclas Grönholm – the winner in South Africa four years
ago – wound up sixth.
The
2023 World RX campaign will conclude with the championship’s first-ever city
centre event next month – a double-header in downtown Hong Kong on 11-12
November.
FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Timo
SCHEIDER (DEU) ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport 5 laps
2. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World
RX Team + 1.021s
3. Johan
KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS + 1.344s
4. Timmy
HANSEN (SWE) Hansen
World RX Team + 6.656s
5. Klara
ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Dealer Team + 6.175s *
6. Niclas
GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team + 8.532s
*
One-place penalty