Timo Scheider on a year with Carl Cox Motorsport
Extreme E: You are four races down out of five in 2023 with Carl Cox Motorsport – how would you describe this season so far?
Timo Scheider: In terms of results, it has been a little bit frustrating. In terms of performance, however, the year has been a surprisingly good one especially as a new team joining the championship at the beginning of 2023.
We’ve also changed drivers over the campaign, but that hasn’t impacted the development of the team as we look to finish off our first season. We are definitely performing much better now with even more races under our belt.
Extreme E: How have you found trying to build a team up from the beginning?
TS: I really enjoy building something up from the start and seeing how we can push on and develop. For sure, it is not easy, but it can be so rewarding. Sometimes as part of the journey you do not always see the results, especially in the early days.
I can tell that we are doing great and working hard, but there is definitely still a lot to do to be on top and challenge those frontrunning teams.
Extreme E: You must have been delighted to have got the call up to drive for Carl Cox Motorsport. How did that materialise?
TS: I have so much history in this series and have enjoyed being a part of it since the beginning. I spent quite a long time as the male Championship Driver, and it was really cool playing a role in the design of the tracks in the first couple of years. However, my long-term target and overall goal was always to race and compete in the series for real.
When I got the chance with XITE ENERGY RACING alongside Tamara Molinaro and proved what I could do in the car with a second-place finish in Sardinia last year, my hopes definitely got higher that I would be in contention for a full-time drive. I was so glad that it happened and want to keep performing.
Extreme E: What has been your highlight of the season so far?
TS: For sure the podium at the Hydro X Prix was a memorable moment. It was only the third race of the season so to take a podium finish was huge for the team. To achieve that so quickly was beyond our expectations!
It was great to have Carl [Cox] at the race to see it as well – it was a fantastic feeling for all of us and it is something we are continuing to chase. We all appreciate having so much positive energy in the team from him and he is always asking questions, and so interested in how we are going to race. It’s very refreshing to see this and the attitude he has, along with his passion for motorsport.
We were so happy to get onto the podium. We have not always got the results this season, but things went our way in Scotland to achieve that result.
The other standout has been the performance of Lia [Block]. To be right on the pace with hardly any testing in the car, and to perform that strongly at just 16-years-old is so impressive.
Extreme E: You have had two different team-mates this season – how do they compare?
TS: Christine [GZ] is such a positive person and helps to create a warm and happy environment. The team decided to make a change, though, and chose to bring Lia into the team.
Given how young Lia is, I did not want to set any expectations or place any pressure on her behind the wheel. I knew she had talent, but we wanted to give her time to settle in and develop. Lia has impressed so many people with her speed and commitment since joining the series – it is incredible. She has a lot to learn, and hopefully I can help to support her as she continues her motorsport journey. But we definitely work well together which is important. We badly want to win and that helps us as we focus from race to race.
Extreme E: You seem to have really taken Lia under your wing. How much of a talent do you think she is and what advice have you given her?
TS: I was friends with her father Ken [Block, who passed away earlier this year] and both came to visit me towards the end of 2022. They wanted to discuss Lia’s future in motorsport. And now she is my team-mate, which is something that we could not have predicted amongst everything else which has happened.
When we talked about Lia’s future motorsport career, I promised Ken if I can help Lia someday that I would give my very best to be a good teacher and friend. I think that’s the status we currently have, which is great.
My advice to her at the moment is just to take her time, to not expect things to happen so fast and for it all to fall into place quickly. Success comes from hard work, passion and consistency – nothing in motorsport comes for free. If she continues to work hard, I believe she will have a great future.
Extreme E: Although currently last in the standings it seems Carl Cox Motorsport has often been hit with bad luck or difficulties when close to a good result – are you confident ahead of the finale in Chile?
TS: I know the potential of the team and for sure our points total in the standings does not truly show our performance overall. We have definitely shown more than that on track throughout the season.
Carl Cox Motorsport will be going all out in the finale – I would not be surprised if we ended the campaign strongly, and ending on a high is our objective. We would absolutely love to take a victory and truly show our pace.
