Volvo comes back!

JMeissner · 27 Nov 2002, 10:48 (Ref:437792)

Volvo comes back!
STCC 27/11/02

Volvo has now made a U-turn and will be on the start-line in the STCC 2003. It has been an intense debate lately on why Volvo quit both ETCC and STCC; many angry voices were aimed at Volvo. Had the make put down their aim of being a manufacturer associated with Motorsport?

According to Expressen.se the drastical retirement was due to that Volvo wanted to win. The retirement a new fresh start to go to the STCC and ETCC again with new better possibilities. According to information from Expressen Volvo was out for a new Motorsport boss only a week or two before the retirement.

Volvo will be on the start line in 2003 and in 2004 move on to the ETCC. Which teams will tune the Volvo's this time is far from set, but most likely it will not be the ones used in the past. Stay tuned for more news on this subject!

Source: Expressen

Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

SALEEN S7R · 27 Nov 2002, 12:54 (Ref:437884)

Ah well at least it looks like there will be factory Volvos on the ETCC grid as of 2004, great news for the championship.

kmchow · 27 Nov 2002, 17:48 (Ref:438075)

YEEAAHH!! Christmas came early this year!! How could Volvo abandon motorsports was beyond me. So Volvo will be updatingn their '02 ETCC cars for the '03 STCC? What a big relief. OTOH, did Volvo announce their withdrawal in order to generate some PR???

SALEEN S7R · 27 Nov 2002, 19:51 (Ref:438180)

Nah I cant see why, didnt really make a big splash in the news either, dont get me wrong ppl looked up read it and went back to sleep though.

JMeissner · 27 Nov 2002, 20:05 (Ref:438187)

The STCC 2003 Volvo's will be privately funded and run either by Flash Engineering, Elgh Motorsport, Picko Troberg Racing or perhaps yet another team...

This is still so very early but it sure does look promising. At least it is better than turning the 3 Volvo S60's to expensive dust collecters..

Super Tourer · 27 Nov 2002, 20:12 (Ref:438191)

Will Rydell drive?

Sim_Da_BTCC_Man · 27 Nov 2002, 20:25 (Ref:438206)

good point. They were saying Rydell in Honda Civic Type -R in BTCC in 2003 but maybe not now.

JMeissner · 27 Nov 2002, 21:15 (Ref:438234)

If Rydell will drive is of course far from settled, but it wouldn't surprise me...

kmchow · 28 Nov 2002, 07:11 (Ref:438442)

I wonder if Minichamps or Oynx will be producing 1/43 scale ETCC or BTCC models? Any ideas?

Michael H · 28 Nov 2002, 09:58 (Ref:438502)

This is good news. I hope Flash Engineering get the deal, and Rydell is aprt of a three car team, that will also occasionally visit the ETCC.

Re Minichamps - they don't give a stuff about the ETCC or BTCC. They are so nationalistic, now just a shadow of the company they used to be. In touring cars they only care about DTM cars. What a joke! I think Onyx no longer exists.

a_r_c_a · 28 Nov 2002, 14:08 (Ref:438667)

So please excuse me Mr.Michael H You've got things all wrong. Flash Engineering get the deal for what?

JMeissner · 28 Nov 2002, 14:37 (Ref:438707)

No Michael is on the right track. He hopes Flash Engineering gets the deal to tune the Volvo's for 2003 (in the STCC, perhaps a few jump in's in the ETCC also) and on. Nothing wrong in that, though Flash Engineering has competition from a number of other teams for this deal...

kmchow · 29 Nov 2002, 01:42 (Ref:439129)

Yeah, I can't imagine Rydell leaving Volvo or at least the Ford family. Surely people now associate Rydell with Volvo. When you talk about Rydell, you end up talking about Volvo. And having the marque Volvo being mentioned can't be bad for PR/advertising?

Last I heard, Minichamps/Onyx/etc are now all under the control of one company. I forget who exactly?

racer69 · 29 Nov 2002, 10:04 (Ref:439265)

Would Rydell be happy to put his faith in Volvo though? He sat out 2001 on the promise that there was a great deal for the future with Volvo in the ETC, yet they've pulled the pin after one year completely, then said they will enter the STCC in 2003 and the ETC in 2004, would he really trust them this time?

I just want to see him racing, maybe he should seek out the 2nd Ravaglia BMW seat.

Flash should definatly get the deal, they have been loyal to Volvo for a long time.

Are Volvo still going to develop S40's for Super 2000.

A bit OT, but is there a Swedish round of the ETC next year, and if so can any of the Swedish championship cars enter?

Michael H · 29 Nov 2002, 11:00 (Ref:439293)

Yes, as JMeissner says, I want to see Flash run the S60's in 2003. It is a race between several teams as JM has pointed out.

As to the other competitors for this deal that JM mentions, wouldn't Elgh being looking at runing new Primera's developed by RJN? And thought that there was a rumour doing the rounds that a new model Vectra was being built for STCC Super 2000 entry. Wouldn't PTR look at this?

racer69 makes a good point - can STCC Super 2000 cars race against ETCC Super 2000 cars at Anderstorp? The only major difference would be weights and gearbox, but I'm not up to speed on those exact details. But they would ordinarily be racing against ETCC spec machinery if, as expected ex-Nordauto and BMW cars head to Sweden in 2003.

JMeissner · 29 Nov 2002, 12:34 (Ref:439352)

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael H

As to the other competitors for this deal that JM mentions, wouldn't Elgh being looking at runing new Primera's developed by RJN? And thought that there was a rumour doing the rounds that a new model Vectra was being built for STCC Super 2000 entry. Wouldn't PTR look at this?

Well, it's the silly season, and with other words, many teams looking at many different makes etc. Nothing more than Audi and KMS in the STCC is completely set yet.

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael H

racer69 makes a good point - can STCC Super 2000 cars race against ETCC Super 2000 cars at Anderstorp? The only major difference would be weights and gearbox, but I'm not up to speed on those exact details. But they would ordinarily be racing against ETCC spec machinery if, as expected ex-Nordauto and BMW cars head to Sweden in 2003.

Anderstorp is still on the preliminary calendar for ESRW 2003, but of course this could change. In an article from a Swedish magazine about a month ago the Anderstorp organisers were still unsure if they would get the round even though they have made the alterations.

But now with the indications that Volvo will return, the chances for Anderstorp gets better.

For sure the Super 2000 cars bought from ETCC 2002 to the STCC 2003 can make jump in's in the ETCC. But cars built according to the special Super 2000 rules (made to make it cheaper for privateer teams to build cars and not only have to buy very expensive cars from ETCC) I don't think could join. But I'm not sure, time will tell though...

kmchow · 29 Nov 2002, 18:14 (Ref:439526)

Quote:

Originally posted by racer69
Would Rydell be happy to put his faith in Volvo though? He sat out 2001 on the promise that there was a great deal for the future with Volvo in the ETC, yet they've pulled the pin after one year completely, then said they will enter the STCC in 2003 and the ETC in 2004, would he really trust them this time?

I hope he still has a good relationship with Volvo (Ford?)then.

Quote:

Are Volvo still going to develop S40's for Super 2000.

It seems like a waste of money/resources to develop a car that will be replaced very soon in '04/'05?

kmchow · 29 Nov 2002, 18:26 (Ref:439531)

OTOH, which car--the S40 or S60--was developed for the S2000 rules? Wouldn't it make sense to develop the S60 since it will be around longer?

JMeissner · 29 Nov 2002, 18:32 (Ref:439533)

Quote:

Originally posted by kmchow
OTOH, which car--the S40 or S60--was developed for the S2000 rules? Wouldn't it make sense to develop the S60 since it will be around longer?

The S40 would only be prepared in S2000 spec. as a cheaper car for privateer teams. Though I don't think this kit will be developed now with all the fuzz in the Volvo Motorsport organisation currently going on...

Btw, latest rumour places Rydell in a DTM Mercedes...

kmchow · 30 Nov 2002, 00:59 (Ref:439783)

Hmmm, Rydell in a DTM Mercedes would look interesting... Speaking of the DTM, it's too bad Hakkinen won't do a year in the DTM. Imagine having him, Jean Alesi, Nigel Mansell and others doing the DTM. Recall the one make MB 190E race of back in '91 or '92??

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