Robert Dahlgren will replaced Fredrik Ekblom at Polestar Cyan Racing for the remainder of the current World Touring Car Championship season, starting at this weekend’s races in Vila Real in Portugal.
The move has been announced as Volvo prepare for a three-car assault on the WTCC in 2017.
Dahlgren, 36, first made his WTCC début in 2007, when the Polestar team competed in select rounds of the WTCC until 2010. The Swede then participated in a full season in 2011, as Polestar continued to evaluate a full multi-car assault on the WTCC.
”I am honoured to get this opportunity,” said Dahlgren. “The feeling is of course awesome, especially as I have been a part of this programme since the start with our evaluation season in 2011, as well as the development of the new car this year.”
Dahlgren, who is currently leading the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, will join reigning STCC champion Thed Björk in the team’s WTCC driver line-up.
”I am very glad to have Robert as team mate again and to keep my cooperation with Fredrik in the development work in-between the races,” said Björk. “The Vila Real races is something I am absolutely looking forward to, it seems to be such a challenging circuit and I absolutely love street circuits.”
Polestar Head of Motorsport Alexander Murdzevski-Schedvin explained that Dahlgren’s role will evolve from being part of the testing team behind the scenes to taking on race weekends in a full competition environment.
”Our main objective with the WTCC project this year is to prepare for 2017, using two cars and three drivers,” said Murdzevski-Schedvin. “As a part of this plan, Robert will switch with Fredrik and join Thed for the part that is done during the race weekends.
“Needless to say our plan and three drivers have all delivered beyond expectations so far, delivering several top five finishes this early in our first season. We are confident it works and we are continuing with the next phase in our plan.”