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Written by TopGear.com
WTCC cars are quite scary, as we found out when we attempted to drive one around a greasy little French circuit last year. Our man managed not to crash, but with another 17 or so cars alongside also attempting to not crash, things are liable to get a bit chaotic. Such is motorsport.And when things get a bit chaotic, you need a safety car. This Volvo V60 Polestar has been announced as the official course car of the World Touring Car Championship. And given Volvo"s solid reputation for safety, it would seem cars get no better for your health than this. As if the V60"s gamut of airbags and warning bongs wasn"t enough, FIA requirements have also seen the fitment of a roll cage and plentiful rescue and communications kit. Oh, and those flashing orange lights atop its roof. Everything is safer with orange lights..Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six with 345bhp and 369b ft, mated to a six-speed automatic. Volvo quotes 5 seconds dead to 62mph and a limited 155mph top speed.As well as being deployed as required, the V60 will lead the pack ahead of races and trail them around the opening lap. It will be driven by former racer Bruno Correia, who was appointed permanent safety car driver after an inexperienced safety car driver collided with race-leader Franz Engstler at the French round of the 2009 season.Fast Volvo estates have history in touring car championships, of course, and fans of the BTCC should be aware of the mighty 850 racer from the 1990s. This V60 is rather too safety-minded to be replicating its two-wheeled exploits, but there are at least a couple of S60s in the WTCC grid, as the V60"s appointment as safety car coincides with Polestar-backed Cyan Racing"s WTCC entry. Fingers crossed this safety car is a subliminal nod to a proper racing wagon return next year
Date written: 29 Mar 2016
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 2746
WTCC cars are quite scary, as we found out when we attempted to drive one around a greasy little French circuit last year. Our man managed not to crash, but with another 17 or so cars alongside also attempting to not crash, things are liable to get a bit chaotic. Such is motorsport.And when things get a bit chaotic, you need a safety car. This Volvo V60 Polestar has been announced as the official course car of the World Touring Car Championship. And given Volvo"s solid reputation for safety, it would seem cars get no better for your health than this. As if the V60"s gamut of airbags and warning bongs wasn"t enough, FIA requirements have also seen the fitment of a roll cage and plentiful rescue and communications kit. Oh, and those flashing orange lights atop its roof. Everything is safer with orange lights..Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six with 345bhp and 369b ft, mated to a six-speed automatic. Volvo quotes 5 seconds dead to 62mph and a limited 155mph top speed.As well as being deployed as required, the V60 will lead the pack ahead of races and trail them around the opening lap. It will be driven by former racer Bruno Correia, who was appointed permanent safety car driver after an inexperienced safety car driver collided with race-leader Franz Engstler at the French round of the 2009 season.Fast Volvo estates have history in touring car championships, of course, and fans of the BTCC should be aware of the mighty 850 racer from the 1990s. This V60 is rather too safety-minded to be replicating its two-wheeled exploits, but there are at least a couple of S60s in the WTCC grid, as the V60"s appointment as safety car coincides with Polestar-backed Cyan Racing"s WTCC entry. Fingers crossed this safety car is a subliminal nod to a proper racing wagon return next year
Date written: 29 Mar 2016
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 2746
