Volvo S60 R Enters World Challenge GT Series

SPEED Channel will Air the Series to Their North American Viewers

Volvo's going racing? It's not as if the Swedish brand never has. Actually its old 240 Turbo successfully competed

For the first time ever, Volvo will take part in the 2004 Sports Car Club of America. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada)

in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) in the 1980s, a series it entered more recently with its S60 ETCC Challenger, a car developed by British company Prodrive. In between it entered various country specific touring car series with its 850 and S40 models, plus other series.

The company has never raced in North America before though. This year it will take part in the 2004 Sports Car Club of America SPEED World Challenge GT series with legendary F1 and Le Mans racer Derek Bell behind the wheel.

Three additional drivers including Bob Miller, Volvo team strategic

"Between driving, announcing (SPEED Channel), and helping to develop the new race car, this should be an exciting year for me," stated Derek Bell. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada)

director, owner of the nine-event series and World Challenge rookie of the year in 2001, Paul Gerrard, and a fourth member to be named later, will pilot the four-car Volvo Cars of North America team that features new racing spec Volvo S60 Rs.

"I am ecstatic to be part of Volvo's first motorsport involvement in the United States, and it will be good to be back in the GT Series. Between driving, announcing (SPEED Channel), and helping to develop the new race car, this should be an exciting year for me. I enjoyed racing against Bob in the past, and I'm looking forward to working with Volvo and to driving with Bob and Paul (Gerrard) in 2004."