Robert Dahlgren and the Polestar Volvo team enjoyed one of their strongest-ever weekends in the championship at Donington Park last weekend.
Dahlgren came away from the British rounds of the World Touring Car Championship having secured an eighth and sixth-placed finish – despite starting from the back of the grid for both races in changeable conditions.
In qualifying, which took place in particularly changeable conditions, the team got their strategy wrong and the Swede was forced to start on the back row of the grid from 19th for both races.
“We took a bit of a gamble that unfortunately did not pay off,” said Dahlgren of the team’s qualifying performance. “It is a thin line between success and fiasco in racing. It actually felt inspiring to line up last. I had an incredible confidence for the car and our concept, we were going to climb in the field, it was just a matter of time.”
In both races on Sunday Dahlgren charged through the field to top ten positions – which could have been more had he not come into contact with several other drivers.
“What a weekend! Both races are in the top five of my best ever,” said Dahlgren, 31. In the second race he believed he could have taken fifth, from Chevrolet driver alain Menu, but did not want to take too many risks. “I was faster but I didn’t want to risk anything at the end of the race. The weekend has been our best so far and I am looking forward to continue fighting for top positions, the C30 has never been better,” he added.
Christian Dahl, Managing Director of Volvo Polestar, was equally optimistic about the pace of the car and how it continues to develop during the season.
“We got yet another receipt today that our development program is paying off,” said Dahl. “Oschersleben is a new track for us and it is by no means going to be easy. But we have got a strong package and a strong position for further top results.”