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Polestar to supply WTCC Official Safety Car

Volvo’s performance brand Polestar will provide the Official Safety Car to the FIA World Touring Car Championship under a long-term agreement starting from this week’s season-opening WTCC Race of France at Circuit Paul Ricard (1-3 April).

The company, which is also entering a factory team in the WTCC from 2016, has prepared a track-ready version of its Volvo V60 Polestar for this vital function.

As well as assisting with the safe and smooth running of WTCC races, Polestar will use its agreement with WTCC promoter Eurosport Events as the Official Safety Car partner to showcase one of its flagship models to live television audiences around the world and to fans watching trackside at the 12 events on the WTCC schedule.

While safety car intervention occurs in the event of an on-track incident that doesn’t require a race stoppage, the vehicle and its crew, which consists of a driver and observer, lead the field around on the formation lap of the Opening Race and Main Race and then wait in the pit lane ready to be deployed in case assistance is required. The safety car can also be used to start a race in the event of exceptional conditions, such as heavy rain.

Developed from 20 years of motorsport experience, the Volvo V60 Polestar has been extensively engineered to deliver an engaging, precise and confident driving experience in all weathers with input from factory Polestar drivers Thed Björk, Robert Dahlgren and Fredrik Ekblom.

The Volvo V60 Polestar Safety Car is equipped with a roll cage, rescue and communication equipment and more in order to meet the rigorous technical and safety requirements set by the FIA and WTCC promoter Eurosport Events.

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, said: “Last October we welcomed Polestar’s long-term commitment to the WTCC as a manufacturer. Now we welcome Polestar as the new Official Safety Car partner of the WTCC, an exclusive opportunity which will allow them to promote their extremely safe and high-performing V60 flagship model around the world.”

Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar, said: “It was an easy decision to start a cooperation with the WTCC on the Official Safety Car. This allows us to close the circle from track to road by showcasing customers the take-home alternative of our racing car technology in the form of the Volvo V60 Polestar Safety Car, at the same time being part of the vital an extensive safety work of the championship.”

Technical specification: Volvo V60 Polestar Safety Car

Chassis

Polestar Öhlins shock absorber system

Polestar front strut brace with carbon fibre enforcement

80% stiffer Polestar springs compared to S/V60 T6 R-Design

Front: 62 N/mm

Rear: 67 N/mm (S60) 72 N/mm (V60)

Stiffer Polestar top mount front and rear

Stiffer Polestar tie blade bushing

Performance

0-100 km/h 5.0 sec

0-200 km/h 17.8 sec

Top speed 250 km/h*

* = Electronically limited

Engine

T6 engine

350 hp @ 5250 rpm

500 Nm @ 3000-4750 rpm

Max 6500 rpm

Twin-scroll Borg Warner turbo

Max boost 1.2 bar

Polestar 2.5” stainless full-flow exhaust system with twin 3.5” tail pipes

Transmission

AWF21 automatic gearbox with paddle shift system

Polestar transmission calibration for faster gearshifts, launch control and curve-hold functionality

Four-wheel drive

Polestar Haldex calibration for more rear torque dynamic distribution

Brakes

Front:

Polestar/Brembo 6 piston brake calipers

371×32 mm ventilated and floating Brembo discs

Pads: Brembo HP1000

Rear:

302×22 mm ventilated discs

Pads: Brembo HP2000

Tyres and rims

Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/35 ZR20 (95Y) XL

Polestar bespoke rims, 20×8”

Curb weight

V60: 1834 kg

Fuel tank

67,5 litres