However, having always hinted it would return in the future, Volvo – which has been dominating the overhauled Swedish Touring Car Championship with a factory-supported effort over the past two seasons – has announced it will re-enter in 2016 under the Polestar Cyan Racing banner.
No drivers have been confirmed as yet, but Volvo will join Citroen, LADA and Honda as being eligible for the manufacturers’ title.
“This is a great day for all of us at Polestar Cyan Racing to announce our assault on the FIA World Touring Car Championship,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar. “ It is a programme that boils down to one thing; to bring the world title to Sweden. We have got respect for the task ahead of us that we take on with absolute commitment. This is a long-term effort and we have got an extensive testing programme during the winter that will continue alongside our first WTCC season in 2016 which is all about learning.”
Having grown in prominence as a licensed tuner of Volvos over the years, Polestar was purchased by the Swedish firm earlier in the year to become its official performance arm, while it has previously been responsible for its sporting efforts in recent years.
A boost for WTCC, which has been largely dominated by Citroen since its arrival in 2014, FIA president Jean Todt is delighted to see Volvo add to the strength of the series.
“I am delighted to welcome Volvo as a new manufacturer in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. As a famous touring car marque, and as a name synonymous with both technology and safety, it is fitting that Volvo is the latest manufacturer to join the World Championship. This new entry is testament to the maturity of the WTCC and to the attractiveness of the TC1 regulations for manufacturers. My hope is that Volvo, with its S60 TC1, and the FIA World Touring Car Championship will enjoy great success together.”