The past year didn't look too bright for the World Touring Car Championship. First BMW cut its program down from three works teams to one, then reports came in indicating that Seat – fresh from back-to-back titles – was scaling down its factory-backed team as well. But the latest reports give those behind the premier tin-top series something to smile about as Volvo announces its plans to mount an assault on the championship over the next couple of seasons.
The news comes on the back of the Swedish Touring Car Championship which the local automaker – fielded by Polestar and driven by Robert Dahlgren – seized this past weekend at Mantorp Park. With little in the way of an off-season, the 2011 STCC season is set to begin in just a couple of months. But while Volvo and Polestar prepare to defend their title, the two will also be participating in select rounds of the big league championship next season as well.
Polestar and Dahlgren will also be behind the WTCC effort, campaigning the ethanol-powered C30 DRIVe touring car, but while the BMW, Seat and Chevrolet-powered teams fix their eyes on the prize, the Volvo entry will be oriented primarily towards evaluating the series with an eye towards a full Volvo works entry the following season. Details in the press release after the jump.
