MOTORSPORT: Volvo crosses bridge into V8 Supercars

Three hours later it was formally unveiled in a small ceremony beside the Bridge and in the shadows of the equally famous Sydney Opera House.

The S60 is fitted with a Yamaha-designed, Polestar-built B8444S engine previously seen in the XC90 but stretched to five litres. The cyclinder banks are at a much narrow 60 degrees than the makes Volvo will compete against in V8 Supercar racing – Holden, Ford, Nissan and AMG Mercedes.

Like the Nissan and Mercedes engines, the B8444S has double overhead camshafts.

All of what are now called the New Generation V8 Supercars (rather than Car of the Future) have 18-inch wheels, transaxle gearboxes and independent rear suspension.

Two S60s, to be driven by New Zealander McLaughlin and Swedish ace Robert Dahlgren, will debut at Saturday’s official V8 Supercar pre-season test day at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The championship begins at Adelaide’s street circuit on the first weekend of March.

Volvo and its Polestar performance associate are entering V8 Supercar racing in association with long-established, Melbourne-based Garry Rogers Motorsport – which won the 2000 Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 24-Hour races in 2002 and ’03. The S60 bodywork that cloaks the generic V8 Supercar chassis has been built at GRM’s Melbourne base.

Initial testing was done using one of GRM’s previous Walkinshaw Racing-built Holden engines, while the first shakedown of an S60 with a B8444S was at Phillip Island last week.

The major sponsor is long-time GRM supporter Valvoline, with Volvo Car Financial Services and Volvo Trucks among other backers and a large Swedish flag on the roof.

Frenchman Alex Premat, dropped from GRM’s full-time line-up after two seasons in favour of Dahlgren, and long-time GRM endurance race co-driver Greg Ritter already have been named for the Sandown, Bathurst and Gold Coast enduros in September-October.

Volvo Car Australia’s managing director Matt Braid said today’s launch of the S60 as a V8 Supercar was historic for the company.

“As the first luxury car manufacturer to enter V8 Supercars with a factory team [the AMG Mercedes effort is by Betty Klimenko’s Erebus Motorsport], 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,” Braid said.

Polestar owner Christian Dahl also saw special significance in the occasion.

“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 said.

Although new to V8 Supercars, Volvo competed briefly in the forerunner Australian Touring Car Championship, winning the 1986 title with Robbie Francevic in a 240T.

It also won a two-litre Bathurst 1000 in 1998 with Jim Richards and Rickard Rydell in an S40. Two Australian greats, the late Peter Brock and John Bowe, also raced Volvos with some success.

VOLVO S60 V8 SUPERCAR TECH INFO
Engine: Modified Volvo B8444S
Transmission: Control Albins ST6 six-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: 298kmh-plus
0-100 kmh: 3.2 seconds
Steering: Custom rack and pinion power assisted steering
Shocks: Öhlins TTX dampers
Electronics: MoTec ECU and data logging system

ENGINE TECH INFO
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: 485kW (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