MOTORSPORT: Crucial Volvo talks this weekend

Crucial meetings on the sidelines of the opening round of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship this weekend could pave the way for an announcement of Volvo’s continued involvement in V8 Supercars racing beyond 2016.

While local factory Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin’s debut in the STCC in a one-off guest drive for Polestar Cyan Racing has been making the headlines, Volvo Car Australia boss Kevin McCann and team boss Garry Rogers will be at the race for global level meetings with executives from the Swedish brand’s Polestar racing and performance division.

McCann told motoring.com.au that if the talks were successful the confirmation of a new deal between Volvo and Garry Rogers Motorsport to extend into a new multi-year arrangement could come soon.

“I would hope within weeks,” he said.

That would most likely make Volvo the first of the current manufacturers to extend into the new Gen2 era, with Holden and Nissan yet to finalise their arrangements, although both have indicated they intend to continue.

“We are hoping to bring together some meetings this weekend at the side of the track that will clarify some of the questions, provide some o the answers and move us another step closer,” McCann said.

“The key decision makers from the Australian side in the sense of myself and Garry Rogers will both be involved and we will be meeting with senior people from the Polestar subsidiary with responsibility within Volvo for motorsport.”

McCann made it clear that the new deal would continue a two-car Volvo S60 presence on the grid and that the current B444S V8 engine would remain the powerplant for at least 2017, even though NewGen will be introduced that allow other engines types and body shapes.

“We would just like to get out second car running much more closely to our first car,” McCann said, referencing the dominance McLaughlin has had over his team-mates since the program began in 2014. However, new recruit James Moffat is already showing signs he will provide more competition than previous occupants of the second S60.

McCann made it clear Volvo wanted McLaughlin’s services retained. The 22-year old New Zealander is the emerging superstar in the category and swept the most recent championship event at Phillip Island. However, he has been linked to a drive at motor racing mogul Roger Penske’s DJR Team Penske operation in 2017.

“I can’t speak on behalf of Scott in terms of what he wants to do ultimately, all I can say is we see him as part of the overall package and an important part of it as well,” he said.

While Rogers as been vocal and confident for some time about a renewal, this is the first time McCann has provided the VCA perspective.

“We have had to go through a sequence of steps and the biggest two steps are the first one and the last one,” he explained. “All the steps in between are getting all the information together, dealing with the costings and evaluating all of the elements.

“The first step is the one where you decide you want to do it and the last step is the one where all the stakeholders have got to the same page in terms of agreeing to do it.

“It’s fair to say we are well past the first step and we are well underway to all the subsequent steps. We are yet to get to the final step but we hope to be there pretty soon.”

McCann said there were still some “loops” for VCA to progress through with its global management before a green light for a renewal could be delivered: “We don’t call them hurdles,” he joked.

“We are a global corporation and we act as a listed company so everything has to be costed properly, evaluated properly, subject to internal investment analysis and all those sorts of things.”

While there had been reports that part of the discussions for the renewal had been about whether Cyan Racing would continue to develop the V8 engine in Sweden or GRM would take over responsibility, McCann said longer term issues were more central to an extension.

Volvo has committed to four and three-cylinder internal combustion engines and substantial electrification of its production vehicle line-up. The V8 hasn’t been offered for since 2010. McCann said he expected to be told by his parent company how much longer the V8 could be raced, although that had yet to be defined.

“The real issue for us engine-wise is what happens after V8. That is a reality we have to confront in a very constructive way,” McCann said.

“It’s a top-line strategic message from Volvo that we are looking to build our brand on the basis that our cars are leading in technology that reduces emissions and reliance on internal combustion engines.”

McCann explained VCA was keen to continue in V8 Supercars because of the marketing value the first three-year deal had delivered.

“It’s a great way for customers and potential customers to interact with the brand. It’s a fantastic motivational tool for our teams and the dealer network. And it’s a really strong talking point in our sales presentations, which gives strong validity to the brand.”

McLaughlin will replace Prince Carl Philip for the opening round of the STCC at Skovde in Sweden. Philip is unable to drive the S60 due to the 70th birthday of his father King Carl XVI Gustaf, as well as becoming a father last week.