Volvo celebrates 20 years since 850 wagons came to BTCC

Filed under: Motorsports, Wagon, Europe, Videos, Volvo, UK, Racing



This year Honda Yuasa Racing brought a station wagon back to the ranks of competitors in the British Touring Car Championship (its drivers currently sit in third and fifth place in the Championship). In 1994, however, Volvo was the first team to run an estate in the series that's one of the best for delivering close racing.

Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers drove the duo of 850 Estates prepped by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, lining up at Thruxton and proving that the rumors of a wagon in the series weren't a joke. The team used that year for development, getting the 2.0-liter, 290-horsepower, naturally aspirated five-cylinder engine ready for the next year's proper assault. The team's best finish over the 21 races was a fifth place, and they took 14th overall.

Rules changes led Volvo to switch to the 850 sedan the following year, but all the right noises had been made with the wagon. Rydell drive on to a third-place overall finish in 1995, three years later he claimed the Championship title. You'll find details and reminiscing from Rydell in the press release below, as well as the full video with scenes from the glory days.Continue reading Volvo celebrates 20 years since 850 wagons came to BTCC

Volvo celebrates 20 years since 850 wagons came to BTCC originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Permalink | Email this | Comments