Motorsport: Young gun puts Volvo back in limelight

The Volvo S60 V8 Supercar of Scott McLaughlin made it onto the podium in just its second race. Photo / Supplied

McLaughlin puts the S60 on the podium in only its second race back

Volvo, especially in the hands of New Zealander Scott McLaughlin, made a stunning return to V8 racing in Australia after a 15-year hiatus. The last times the Swedish car manufacturer had tasted success in Australia was in the hands of Kiwis Jim Richards and Robbie Francevic who won Bathurst and an Australian Touring Car Championship respectively.

Over the weekend at the opening round of the 2014 V8 Supercars championship in Adelaide for the Clipsal 500, McLaughlin put the sleek-looking S60 on the podium in only its second race back in the category. To get a car to go that well so soon in the series is a feat in itself and much credit has to go to the engineers at Polestar Racing, the motorsport arm of Volvo. The narrow V8 engine has undergone intense development over the past 10 months and, coupled with the undeniable ability of Gary Rogers Motorsport to build good, fast cars, provided McLaughlin the platform to go about his business.

The cars of McLaughlin and Swede Robert Dahlgren look and sound great and there were a few drivers who were more than a little surprised to see the bright blue bonnet of the Volvo breathing down their necks.

In race two, McLaughlin was hounding defending V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup so hard he forced the Red Bull Racing Australia driver into an uncharacteristic mistake to snatch second place on the last corner. Polestar's head engineer Christian Dahl has been in Australia working closely with the team and is excited about the prospects of Volvo doing well in the series.

"Sure, we've had a few teething problems but it all started to work well at the last test in Sydney. It's all starting to work well now and GRM have done a good job in getting the whole package to work well."

Scott McLaughlin

The Clipsal 500 has traditionally had two 79-lap races over two days of the weekend. For the car's first hit out that would have been a big ask, but fortunately this year there was a format change, which may just have played into Volvo's hand.

Saturday had two 39-lap races so the car just had to negotiate a sprint race, which it did with McLaughlin finishing seventh.

"It's a good thing that the Bathurst 1000 race isn't this weekend though," says Dahl.

"We have a bit more time to do some more testing and development. Of course, we will have issues at some stage but it's how we learn more about the engine."

The Swede must have been crystal-ball gazing because the interview was done before Sunday's longer race and sure enough, McLaughlin's car coasted to a halt with 11 laps to go while holding on to fourth place.

"We will now have a chance to check the engine as we've never had a Volvo engine develop 650 horsepower before. But if you have good parts and a well put together engine there shouldn't be any major problems. It's great to be involved in this series and we're looking forward to getting better," he said.