V8 Supercars Dahlgren's biggest career challenge

Robert Dahlgren, this morning announced as Volvo Polestar Racing/Garry Rogers Motorsport’s second V8 Supercars driver, feels competing in the Championship will be his biggest career challenge to date.

“I need to get in the car to see what it’s like, but I understand that is a big step to take – the biggest in my career, I think,” Dahlgren told v8supercars.com.au at this morning’s launch.

Dahlgren was revealed at the Garry Rogers Motorsport workshop to partner Scott McLaughlin to take the S60s to grid this season.

The 34-year old Swede – who is a three-time runner up in the Swedish Touring Car Championship, Champion of the 2010 Scandinavian Touring Car Cup and long-time Polestar driver – said he immediately said yes to the offer of a drive in the category.

“It didn’t take long, we didn’t finish the conversation, they said, ‘Do you want the drive?’ and I said ‘yes, yes!’” Dahlgren said.

“I know V8 Supercars is a fantastic Championship, it’s one of the greatest in the world … When I was younger I had a target to reach Formula One and early on I saw I didn’t get the opportunity.

“After that I looked at two Championships, V8 Supercars and DTM mainly, and also a little bit into World Touring Cars.”

Given his association with Volvo Polestar and role in developing the road car, Dahlgren was present at the launch of the S60 in Australia last year, which led to questions of whether he would be behind the wheel of a GRM Volvo. But he said at that stage nothing had been decided.

“I was here on the announcement day, the announcement of the Volvo S60 Polestar road car. It was meant to be, but not meant to be for me to be there at that stage. I knew they were going to do it (run the V8 Supercar), I just thought they were going to pick someone else!”

Having been to Darwin in 2006 to watch the V8 Supercars event, Hidden Valley is the only track he has seen in the flesh and though he has seen vision and has the support of his team, Dahlgren knows it will be a steep learning curve.

“I don’t know what to expect, everything will be new for me. New tracks, new car, everything is brand new. Just try to learn as we go, take small steps at a time…

“I don’t have a set goal because I know how tough the Championship is. I keep my expectations low in terms of position, but I have the expectation on myself to do a good job. I don’t want to be a low to the team, I want to bring something to the table.

“The target is to be thorough with preparation every single race.”

A Volvo chassis was also on display at the launch and Dahlgren and McLaughlin were joined by team boss Garry Rogers and Volvo Car Australia Managing Director Matt Braid.

Braid described Dahlgren’s level of popularity in Sweden as similar to Jamie Whincup’s following in Australia.