Robert Dahlgren joins Volvo Polestar Racing

Robert Dahlgren is today announced as a driver for the Volvo Polestar Racing team in its debut season of the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship.

“I am really happy to be joining Volvo Polestar Racing in V8 Supercars, it is a dream come true for me,” Dahlgren said.

“The V8 Supercars is a championship like no other in the world and one that every racing driver wants to race in. I will be facing fast and experienced drivers who know the championship and circuits inside out, but I am looking forward to the challenge – it’s definitely one of the biggest of my career.”

Dahlgren – who becomes the first Swede to take part in a full season of the V8 Supercars Championship – finished third in the 2013 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship for Volvo Polestar Racing, and has previously won the Swedish and Nordic Formula Ford Championships before moving to England and winning the intensely competitive British Formula Ford Championship.

The 34-year old is an experienced driver with a solid background of developing road and racing cars for Volvo and Polestar. He was the development driver of the Volvo C30 1.6T S2000, which he successfully raced in the Swedish, Scandinavian and World Touring Car Championship from 2008 to 2011. Robert has also been fundamental in the development of the Volvo S60 Polestar road car, which made its debut in Australia last year.

”The Volvo S60 is a car Robert knows inside out, so we’re delighted he’s joining our racing program,” said Matt Braid, Managing Director Volvo Car Australia.

“Robert’s experience and ability to develop a race car will be critical in our debut racing season, so we’re all looking forward to seeing what he – and Scott – can do with the Volvo S60 out on the track.” 

Dahlgren is going to team up with young Kiwi Scott McLaughlin, the 2013 V8 Supercars Rookie of the Year, driving Volvo Polestar Racing S60s this season.

“We are happy to have Robert join our Volvo Polestar Racing outfit in Australia. His experience of developing racing cars is vast, something that will be very useful in his and our first year in the very competitive and exciting V8 Supercars,” said Derek Crabb, Motorsport Director of Volvo Cars.

Team principal Garry Rogers commented:

“It was excellent news for all the GRM team when we were chosen by Volvo to join Volvo Polestar Racing as they entered the V8 Supercars Championship in 2014 with their S60.

“With Robert Dahlgren joining Scott McLaughlin in the team I see this as a great opportunity to continue with our recent solid performances. Robert’s history shows he has proven to be a successful Volvo Polestar Racing driver. Being a winner of the British Formula Ford Championship – one of the world’s most competitive categories – he should adapt to our cars quite quickly and be a big positive for the team.”

The 2014 V8 Supercars season starts with the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, which runs from February 27 to March 2.