Scheider ‘addicted’ to World RX and ‘doing everything he can’ to return

Off the back of his finest season to-date in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, Timo Scheider says he is ‘doing everything he can’ to continue in the series in 2024, after demonstrating what he and ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport ‘are capable of when everything comes together’.

Scheider finished a career-high fourth in the Drivers’ standings in 2023 – a four-place improvement upon his previous best – as he progressed to the final five times out of seven. He tripled his overall podium tally in World RX by reaching the rostrum on four occasions – a statistic beaten only by world champion Johan Kristoffersson – including his breakthrough victory in the series in Cape Town, a result he believed he could have repeated in Hong Kong.

After surprising himself by racing the ‘overweight’ SEAT Ibiza RX1e to a third-place finish in round two in Hell, the double DTM champion then advanced to the final again at Höljes, before instantly gelling with the ZEROID X1 following the mid-season switch of machinery. Indeed, despite being one of just two drivers in the field with no prior experience of the car, Scheider was immediately on the pace in South Africa – and immediately on the podium.

“Even if we didn’t manage to hold onto a top three championship position in the end, I’m very pleased with the season overall,” the German reflected. “We went into it knowing very well that our RX1e car was overweight, with René [Münnich – team owner] telling me not to expect to reach the final until we got the new car, so to stand on the podium in Norway and finish fifth in Sweden despite picking up a puncture was fantastic.

“To then end the season with three podiums from four rounds in the ZEROID X1 including my first World RX victory was amazing. Of course, every driver wants to be in the RX1e and every team wants to run their own car that they developed, but in the circumstances, I think using the ZEROID X1 was the best possible solution and it generated some great racing.

“I also think the value of winning when everybody is in equal machinery is even higher. We all know Johan is an outstanding driver, but Cape Town and Hong Kong proved that there are other drivers in the field that can beat him – myself included. I’m super-proud of the whole team for everything we’ve achieved. We proved what we are capable of when everything comes together.”

Indeed, having established himself as a World RX winner in 2023 – joining an elite club of just 17 drivers – Scheider is hoping he can carry his current momentum into a fourth full season in the championship next year, as it transitions into the forthcoming ‘Battle of Technologies’ era.

“Personally, I would love to stay in World RX in 2024, to line up in hopefully a competitive car and show even more how much I love rallycross,” the 45-year-old revealed. “I’m addicted to this sport – I love this type of racing and this format so much. It would be a tough year for me if I’m not part of it again, so I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure I come back.”