Past Champions: Timo Scheider
Timo Scheider is the first driver since Bernd Schneider to claim back-to-back Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters driver’s titles, ending both his eighth and ninth seasons in the series with the trophy in-hand.
This, the final part of the series profiling the past champions of the DTM, takes a look at the career of the reigning double champion, Timo Scheider.
Born in Lahnstein, Germany, Scheider’s racing career began in karting, where he enjoyed success at that level winning the Kerpen Winter Cup. He moved into Formula Renault in 1995.
Scheider’s Formula Renault debut season was a successful one, with the 1800 class title going his way. The following year he progressed to the 2000 class, and achieved a solid fourth place in the final season standings.
In 1997 Scheider moved into the German Formula 3 series, marking his debut season with the runner up position in the title race. He finished second to future Formula 1 driver, Nick Heidfeld.
From there, results went downhill, and eventually spelled the end of his open-wheel career, to-date.
In 2000, Scheider moved into the DTM, taking part in the inaugural season of the new series. At the wheel of his Opel Astra V8 Coupé he managed a number of top-ten finishes, but could only end the season in 12th place in the standings.
The following year he dropped to a disappointing 19th by the season end, but in 2002 he rose to 8th, where he remained throughout 2003 and 2004.
The 2005 season saw Scheider take a break from the DTM, when he moved into the FIA GT Championship. He finished 2nd in the standings on the back of a victory at the famous Spa 24 hour race. The same season also saw Scheider represent team Germany in A1GP.
The following year he moved back to the DTM, this time with Audi Sport Team Rosberg, where he finished the season tenth overall.
A move to the Audi works team, Abt Sportsline, in 2007 saw Scheider claim his first ever DTM podium on his way to finishing a personal best of 7th in the championship standings.
A maiden victory arrived at Oschersleben in 2008, and a raft of podiums, and two more victories followed, which would ultimately hand Scheider his first DTM driver’s championship title.
Consistency was the key to Scheider’s 2008 title, and the same happened in 2009.
He enjoyed a strong season throughout, with his lowest finishing position being 6th at Dijon. The only stumbling block in the season, was disqualification at Zandvoort for attending the weigh bridge test late. However, not even that could stop Scheider taking the title at the season finale, after fending off a late season charge from Gary Paffett, and took the title by 5-points.
Earlier this year Scheider launched a personal project, “Kart Team Scheider”. The venture aims to help young drivers ranging from age 8 to 15, into motorsport.
Scheider will offer help, guidance and advice, with the hope that those with talent are found and helped through the ranks.
Understandably Scheider has been retained in the current specification Audi cars for the 2010 season. He is the only Audi driver to receive a new chassis for the new campaign, albeit constructed on the 2009 specification due to the regulation freeze.
Next in the Past Champions series: Follow the 2010 DTM season at TouringCarTimes.com to find out!
