The former works Audi driver won DTM titles in 2008 and 2009 and retired from the German series at the end of his 11th season last year.

Scheider has previously raced in World RX events four times, on each occasion for the Munnich Motorsport team, but will switch to a brand-new Ford Fiesta Supercar for Max Pucher’s team, which previously ran under the World RX Team Austria name for the last two years.

"I’m very excited to be joining MJP Racing Team Austria and to be able to compete the full 2017 season,” said Scheider.

“We’ve been talking for some time but now we’ve agreed on a great partnership. For me, rallycross encompasses the great passion of motorsport.”

Scheider made his World RX debut at Barcelona in 2015 driving one of Munnich Motorsport’s Audi S3 Supercars, before re-joining the squad last season following the departure of Reinis Nitiss.

Racing in Spain, Latvia and Argentina, Scheider scored the best result to date for the squad’s Seat Ibiza with fourth in the latter event.

Running as World RX Team Austria, MJP Racing Team Austria finished on the podium at Barcelona last year with Russian driver Timur Timerzyanov, and is building new-specification Ford Fiesta Supercars for 2017.

“The level of the championship goes up this year with more manufacturers entering, but MJP Racing has built a new car that will be a serious contender,” continued Scheider.

“They not only have great dedication but also employ a high-tech approach to designing and building race cars that is unique. We have found ourselves to be very compatible as partners. I look forward to a fantastic rallycross season.”

There has been no official announcement regarding the team’s 2016 drivers Janis Baumnis and Timerzyanov, but the appointment of Scheider means it’s likely that at least one of those will race elsewhere this year.

Le Mans winner Alexander Wurz tested for the Austrian squad at the end of 2016 and could feature at selected events for the team this year, while team owner and Austrian Champion Pucher raced in the European Rallycross Championship and selected World RX events in 2016 and could also drive.