Volvo Polestar at donington for the WTCC

Friday, 22 July 2011 14:05

This week my motoring calendar seems to be all about Volvo. It begins with the WTCC at Donington where Polestar are racing one car with Robert Dahlgren in the Volvo C30 and then midweek I shall be off sailing and testing out the model year 12 series.

My first World Touring Car Championship begins by an aquaplaning journey along the M42 to Donington, where upon arrival I see many young drivers and equally many cars that I am not particularly familiar with. I wondered what the WTCC was all about. After walking around I soon realised that this is an environment where there are indeed many young drivers, who have passed through the karting world and moving up or driving in the 'Interstepping' race and where there are many apprentices working as mechanics alongside experienced team crews. What a delight to see this in action, a place where young talent is truly appreciated.

I find my way over to the Volvo lounge whilst the rain continues to discover something about the car that they are racing today. Hans Baath is the Director of Publicity at Polestar, the team who put the optimisation into Volvo cars. Hans tells me that the Volvo/ Polestar team are in their introductory season this year for the WTCC, where they are racing just one car.

The team races three cars in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championships with two times British touring car champion James Thompson and Norwegian Tommy Bradford. The Polestar/Volvo racing team not only secure podium places in the races but the collaboration is working very well on the road too.

Robert, who is racing today at Donington has raced here five times and has had an eight year relationship with Volvo/ Polestar, so effectively this is a home race of the team, certainly by weather conditions and the terrain.

This is however a dip in the water so to speak to see how an international race series is organised. Polestar hope if all goes well, to collaborate with Volvo for a further two years to have two drivers in 2012 and three in 2013.

So the qualifier begins and Robert starts at 13th position, moves up to 6th but pits to change tyres. Unfortunately due to a longer than expected pit stop his position dropped right back to 19th. The final results of the race find Robert in 8th position. Not bad for a team that is testing the waters.

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