Volvo Polestar Racing unveiled its 650 HP Volvo S60 that will debut in the 2014 V8 Supercars by driving it across the Sydney Harbour Bridge under police escort.
“This is a significant day,” said Christian Dahl, owner of Polestar. “Polestar has been Volvo Car Group’s global performance and motorsport partner since 1996, and has campaigned Volvos in the World Touring Car Championship, the European Touring Car Championship and, currently, the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship. To that end, we’re looking forward to the challenge of the V8 Supercar Championship.”
Dahl was joined by Volvo Car Australia Managing Director Matt Braid, drivers Scott McLaughlin and Robert Dahlgren and team principal Garry Rogers to present the race car to the media.
“This is an historic day in the history of Volvo Car Australia,” said Matt Braid. “As the first luxury car manufacturer to enter V8 Supercars with a factory team, we’re delighted to reveal our Volvo S60 race car to meet the challenge of the world’s toughest touring car series and strengthen the presence of the S60 model line – and Volvo brand – here in Australia.”
Utilising the resources of Volvo, Polestar and GRM, the Volvo Polestar Racing S60 V8 Supercar has been designed and built to V8 Supercars’ ‘Car of the Future’ regulations. These regulations include 18-inch wheels, transaxle gearbox and independent rear suspension (see specification details below).
“This is a race car like no other. It is really challenging, but fun, to drive. The power is insane, you need to treat it with respect. I am very much longing for the season start in Adelaide where I am going to face the biggest challenge of my racing career,” said Dahlgren.
Volvo Car Australia has a rich heritage of motorsport in Australia, dating back to the 1960s, and posting some notable milestones, including winning the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship with Robbie Francevic in a Volvo 240T.
Last year marked the 15th anniversary of Volvo winning Australia’s most famous race, the Bathurst 1000 in 1998 with Jim Richards and Rickard Rydell in a Volvo S40.
Indeed, some of Australia’s greatest names in motorsport have tasted success with Volvo including John Bowe and Peter Brock.
Garry Rogers commented: “For all the GRM staff it is incredibly satisfying to see the next step of all the hard work and energy they have put into designing and building the Volvo S60 V8 Supercar over the last 12 months. During this process, this same group of workers were also responsible for the preparation and running of our 2013 V8 Supercar Championship cars, so it makes me extremely proud to be surrounded by such a never-say- die group. We cannot wait to get on with the racing.”
With the first race at the Clipsal 500 fast approaching at the end of February, testing of the Valvoline Volvo S60 continues apace, with the official V8 Supercar test day taking place at Sydney Motorsport Park on 15 February.
Watch the S60 V8 Supercar cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Volvo S60 V8 Supercar technical information
- Vehicle: Volvo S60
- Engine: Modified Volvo B8444S (see below)
- Transmission: Control Albins ST6 6 speed sequential Transaxle with integrated spool differential
- Front suspension: Double wishbone suspension, adjustable damper and cockpit adjustable front anti-roll bar
- Rear suspension: Control independent rear suspension, adjustable damper; cockpit adjustable anti-roll bar AP Racing 6 piston caliper, 395mm ventilated discs
- Brakes: AP Racing 4 piston caliper, 355mm ventilated discs
- Wheels: Control Rimstock 18” x 11” forged aluminium
- Tyres: Dunlop control tyre
- Weight: 1410KG (includes driver)
- Top speed: 298+ km/h
- 0-100 km/h: 3.2 seconds
- Steering: Custom rack and pinion power assisted steering
- Shocks: Öhlins TTX Dampers
- Electronics: MoTec ECU and Data Logging System
Engine technical information
- Block: Modified Volvo B8444S, 60 degree aluminium cylinder block
- Heads: Modified Volvo B8444S, aluminium
- Bore x Stroke: 95.5 x 87.1
- Capacity: 4989cc
- Compression: 10:1
- Power: 650bhp (estimated)
- Max revs: 7500rpm
- Induction: Naturally aspirated, eight throttle bodies
- Fuel: E85
- Liners: Cast in steel liners
- Valve train: Double overhead camshafts, direct acting tappets
- Ignition: Volvo B8444S coil on plug
- Injection: Port injection, one injector per cylinder, injection pressure: 5.5 bar
2014 V8 Supercars Calendar
- February 15 – sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day – Sydney Motorsport Park
- Feb 27-Mar 2 – Clipsal 500 Adelaide – Adelaide
- Mar 13-16 – 2014 Formula 1 Australian GP – Albert Park
- March 28-30 – Tasmania 400 – Symmons Plains Raceway
- April 4-6 – Winton 400 – Winton Motor Raceway
- April 24-27 – ITM 500 Auckland – Pukekohe Park Raceway
- May 16-18 – Perth 400 – Barbagallo Raceway
- June 20-22 – Skycity Triple Crown Darwin 500 – Hidden Valley Raceway
- July 4-6 – Townsville 500 – Reid Park
- Aug 1-3 – Coates Hire Ipswich 400 – Queensland Raceway
- Aug 22-24 – Sydney Motorsport Park 400 – Sydney Motorsport Park
- Sept 12-14 – Wilson Security Sandown 500 – Sandown Raceway
- Oct 9-12 – Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – Mount Panorama
- Oct 24-26 – Armor All Gold Coast – 600 Surfers Paradise
- Nov 14-16 – Phillip Island 400 – Phillip Island Circuit
- Dec 5-7 – Sydney 500 – Sydney Olympic Park
