No official ETCC Volvo team 2002

[JMeissner]

No official Volvo team
ETCC 20/11/01

Volvo Motorsport boss Olle Odsell has confirmed that there will be no official works-team from Volvo in the ETCC 2002. Instead Prodrive, who will tune the official Volvo cars in 2003, will run two S60's privately. The reason to this is of course the sudden change of regulations much due to BMW's pressure. Prodrive will build two Volvo S60's for the Super Production+ rules with Rickard Rydell as the only confirmed driver.

No second driver has been mentioned yet, but Alain Menu and Jens Edman are two hot contenders. Volvo will instead wait for the 2003 season when the Super 2000 rules will be taken in place. Volvo has already got a couple of S60 cars ready for the Super 2000 rules, but had to put them away until 2003. Volvo will now instead focus on the STCC season and Super Touring for 2002.

Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[touringlegend]

Well, you can't blame Volvo can you?

But at least their not turning their backs on the ETCC, though I do wonder if Super 2000 rules will ever come into effect with BMW's pressure?? Or have they said they will run in 2003 as well?

[Eddie_harasym]

Thats a shame no BTC prodrive cars then?.

I wonder if Volvo are having any trouble finding somewhere to store the Super 2000 S60's, I have garage space avaible huh hmmm

[MaxSport]

TC Legend-

While it appeared that all five manufacturers had signed up for 3 years of ETCC with SP+ rules, (that according to AutoRumor er... AutoSport), my source in Europe is saying that the factories agreed to 3 years, but with SP+ rules in 2002 and the understanding that the step up to Super 2000 rules would come the following season.

If BMW and Honda had not agreed to coming back in 2003 and '04 I doubt that the FIA,ETCC or the Volvo,Nordauto Alfa or Nissan people would have given the OK to this plan. There would be no benefit to the series if BMW and Honda ran in 2002, but did not return the next year with cars that met the Super 2000 rules.

Volvo should be thanked for being willing to shelve their S60 Super2000 cars and for having Prodrive race an "unofficial" team in the coming season. It would have been easy to have thrown a fit and caused instability for the series, or simply taken a pass on any involvement in ETCC 2002. Instead they bit the bullet for the good of the sport.

BMW better come back after the trouble they have caused.

[Michael H]

I am glad Volvo will still be represented, though unofficially.
Prodrive will do a good job. Rydell and Menu would be an ace team, but Edman would do a superb job too. I think Menu will get the second seat, though.
I wonder what the colour schemes of the cars will be?? They won't be blue and silver. Any suggestions?

[kmchow]

I too am relieved to hear that Volvo will continue to support the ETCC. It seems that management seems to find that motorsport is a good venue to promote the brand and their cars. It will be nice to see them racing around the world again.

So will Volvo build '02 spec chassis (and keep existing aero/engines) for the upcoming '02 STCC season??

I hope they can take another STCC!! They clearly deserve it for all their continued support. So who (works teams) else are in for '02?? I hear teams are dropping like flies? Or still too early to tell?

Do you think VW will race in the SP2000 rules?

[racer69]

It's good Volvo haven't pulled out altogether, and i bet that Prodrive will receive some 'works' assistance next year.

As for Super 2000 and BMW, i hope BMW are happy, and they better continue after next year.

Does anyone know if Super 2000 is a definate starter for 2003, i've heard so many rumours i don't know what the hells going on. Hopefully S2000 is in the 2003, as it gives teams ample time to prepare cars, aren't SEAT developing a car, and VW too.

On the Prodrive Colour schemes, as they aren't a factory team, i would suppose the sponsers would define the colours.

On 2002 ST S40's for STCC, aren't the one's they used this year just the '99 BTCC S40s, i suppose they would use the same next year.

And race formats, i really wish they would go back to the two driver enduro's which the championship historically used. That way they could run the TT for Tourers, and give the Spa 24 Hours back to Touring Cars, or.....................or am i only dreaming.

[JMeissner]

The offical verision from the ETCC organisation and the FIA is that Super 2000 will come in place 2003. But who knows what BMW can do... We'll know on the 13:th of November when the next FIA Meeting is.

[MaxSport]

KM Chow- I hope that VW and Seat are both there in 2003. However, I would bet that Seat would be the VAG brand in the ETCC. It wouldn't make much sense to race one brand against the other.

Imagine if five or six makes are racing with half a dozen factory, or factory backed, cars each. It should be good stuff.

While I prefer the close racing that touring car sprint events provide, I too would like to see two or three long distance races for the ETCC cars. Spa, Nurburgring and say... a 1000K event at Donington or Silverstone.

I am thankful for the positive things that are happening in touring cars. Happy Thanksgiving to all the Yanks here!


Kurt Maxwell
MaxSport
Indianapolis,IN USA

[Michael H]

I reckon it would be nice to see a revival of the old white, blue, grey and black colour scheme from the 1980s Volvo 240 Turbo's.

Just for one year, before blue and silver return.

[racer69]

They were a good scheme, and fitted in well with the Nordica sponser, the Volvo Australia cars had the same scheme and looked great as well, also the Eggenberger colours from 1985 i didn't mind either, the orange added a nice touch, unfortunatly i think sponsership will ultimatly decide it. maybe some of the semi-factory cars could run those in '03.

So who is definatly in for '02. What teams will run the cars and so on?

And, does anyone know how i can see these races in Australia

[JMeissner]

racer69, do you have any pics of that Eggenberger Volvo from 1985?

[Michael H]

JMeissner , I was just going to ask the same question! Does anyone have photos of the Eggenberger Volvo's??

Post them here.

As for Australia, yeah, I want to see the ETCC on Australian TV too. Write to all TV networks, magazines etc.

The only thing we know team wise is that Prodrive will run two cars.

[racer69]

this is the only picture i have of it on my computer (no scanner )
It's pretty plain i know, but i don't mind it.

I got it from the ETCC History site

http://www.euronet.nl/users/in004021/

1985 Eggenberger Volvo 240T :

[Michael H]

Were there ever any yearbooks made of the 1980s ETC??

Thanks for the website tip, racer69