It marks 10 years since the demise of Volvo in the Repco Supercars Championship after what proved to be a popular addition to the series.
Volvo was a very obscure entry into Australia’s top-tier in 2014 after announcing an allegiance with long-time Holden squad Garry Rogers Motorsport.
Supercars welcomed new entries from Nissan and Mercedes in 2013 thanks to the then-new Car of The Future regulations introduced that season.
Led by star New Zealander Scott McLaughlin, Volvo accrued 17 pole positions and six race wins during a three year program.
Volvo had a dalliance in Australian touring car racing back in the mid-1980s when it took on the Mark Petch organisation, which had raced a 240 Turbo in 1985, before turning into a factory team after the start of the 1986 season.
Although Volvo’s first attempt was a success courtesy of Robbie Francevic’s title win in 1986, the GRM program failed to net a title nor a Bathurst win.
The S60 proved a contender though, especially in McLaughlin’s hands.
Its Yamaha-designed B8444S engine was the S60’s key party piece courtesy of delivering great power and was easily the most successful of the manufacturers to enter Supercars during this time.
Concluding the program in 2016, Volvo achieved a lot in terms of its marketing and losing its boring tag.
GRM went back to Holdens and Volvo hasn’t participated in Australian motorsport since.