Volvo Joins V8 Supercars Grid

June 17, 2013

Swedish car manufacturer, Volvo is the latest manufacturer to commit to the V8 Supercars championship after announcing a deal with Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) on Monday.

Volvo will become the fifth manufacturer on the grid when it lines up in next year’s championship joining newcomers Nissan and Mercedes-Benz along with traditional rivals Holden and Ford.

GRM will race Volvo’s S60 model sedan after the vehicle was launched to the Australian market in Brisbane.

Volvo already has S60 racing programs under its motorsports arm Polestar in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship and the Pirelli World Challenge in the United States.

The manufacturer has history in Australia after winning the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship while its Super Touring program won the Bathurst 1000 in 1998.

It’s not known whether the S60s will use a generic Chevrolet engine or an older Volvo-made V8 engine.

Volvo’s inclusion is the latest development in the V8 Supercars expansion program that was initiated by the Car of the Future’ regulations brought in this year.

The new rules were in part designed to attract new manufacturers after two decades of a Holden-Ford duopoly.

The multi-million, multi-year deal will mean GRM will run two S60s in the championship.

GRM owner Garry Rogers commented on the deal: “It’s every team’s dream to get a fully fledged factory deal. It’s great … Everyone at my place is so excited about it.”

V8 Supercars chairman Mark Skaife said Volvo’s decision was further vindication of the championship’s Car of the Future’ plan.

“This is a very significant day for Volvo to join V8 Supercars racing,” Skaife said.

“It’s a big endorsement of our Car of the Future’ plan.”

Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid said the company was proud and excited to be the first luxury car brand to enter the championship as a factory outfit.

“The expansion of V8 Supercars as a championship is certainly welcome,” Braid said.

“As the category builds and grows it’s obviously going to be equally fantastic for those involved in it.”