Speculation has grown in recent days that Volvo is intending to join the V8 Supercar championship in 2014. However, the Swedish manufacturer has denied links with the category, stating that they have “no plans to go into motor racing”.
Late on Thursday night, numerous Australian news websites reported that Volvo was in negotiations to provide factory-backing to Garry Rogers Motorsport for the 2014 season and beyond. In spite of this, Volvo Cars Australia and team owner, Garry Rogers, have firmly hosed down speculation about their alleged negotiations.
In response to the conjecture, a Volvo Australia spokesman told Speedcafe; "Volvo Car Australia is constantly looking at a range of partnerships and, like a number of automotive manufacturers, is fully aware of V8 Supercars Car of the Future strategy, but we have no plans to go motor racing".
Further fueling the rumours, Volvo Australia recently commissioned a limited production run of high performance S60 road cars to be sold in Australia in the coming weeks. The S60 model is currently contesting the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, and many believe that the chassis is similar to that of the newly introduced Nissan Altima that entered the category at the beginning of this year.
Garry Rogers was similarly staunch in his denial of the speculation, telling Speedcafe that he has “just about given up on that [2014] because it’s probably too late”. Rogers suggested that he “takes absolutely no notice of any paddock chat because that’s exactly what it is”. His Melbourne-based team has campaigned Holden Commodore’s since 1996, and currently receives no financial support from Holden. The veteran team owner has however confirmed that he is seeking to negotiate a factory deal for 2014.
Volvo already has an Australian Touring Car Championship to their name, with Kiwi Robbie Francevic successful in 1986 at the helm of a dealer-supported 240 Turbo. The Swedish manufacturer also supported a tilt at the Australian Super Touring program in the late 1990's using an S40, which propelled them to victory in the 1999 manufacturer’s championship and the 1998 Bathurst 1000.
Volvo would be the fifth manufacturer to compete in the series under the new “Car of the Future” regulations, alongside the recently joined Nissan and Mercedes marques. Chrysler is also rumoured to be in talks to join the category next year.
Image: TenTenths
