The 1990s was a decade where Volvo was trying to kick its drab, bad driver tag and it did this in many ways including here in Australia by enlisting Peter Brock to head its motorsport program.
Volvo already enjoyed a successful history in local motorsport after New Zealander Robbie Francevic took the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship title before the team imploded at the Sandown 500.
Not only was Volvo invested in touring car racing in Australia, but significantly in Europe coinciding with the championship there too before it pulled out at the end of 1986, but a return in the 1990s was to come.
A link up with Tom Walkinshaw Racing came in 1993 for a British Touring Car Championship assault the next season against nine other manufacturers.
Volvo’s program was a surprise using the 850 Estate and although it wasn’t a success, it set the groundwork for future championship success.
The 850 Estate came to Australia in 1995 for Tony Scott when the BTCC team upgraded to the Saloon due to new aerodynamic regulations.
Scott was heavily involved with Volvo Australia’s earlier ventures in production car racing driving a standard 850 GLT in the national series in a program spearheaded by George Shepherd.
Brock entered the equation at the final Bathurst 12 Hour to be held at Mount Panorama of the early era in 1994 driving an 850 T-5R and this association led to a drive in the Australian Super Touring Championship in 1996.
Volvo Australia stepped up its involvement in the ASTC for 1996 by employing Brock to drive a 1995-specification 850 Saloon up against the factory Audi and BMW teams in addition to a strong line-up of privateers led by Steve Richards in the Garry Rogers Motorsport Honda Accord.
There was controversy surrounding Brock’s involvement given he was part of the factory Holden Racing Team and was used heavily in the brand’s marketing ads.
Super Touring was starting to gain momentum in 1996 and Brock in the sole Volvo was up against it compared to his factory-backed German rivals featuring two entries.
Brock finished a best of second at Lakeside on the way to sixth in the title, but a missed exhibition event at the Bathurst 1000 opened the door for his replacement for 1997.
Jim Richards had been out of an Australian Touring Car Championship seat for a season after Gibson Motorsport was forced to downsize due to the loss of tobacco advertising, but replaced Brock in the Super Tourer support events at Bathurst. This was due to HRT wanting Brock to focus on the Bathurst 1000.
In fact, Richards took Volvo’s first Australian Super Tourer race victory in the final race of the weekend held in treacherous conditions to solidify his tag as the ‘Rainmaster’.
Brock was forced to give the drive away, but Volvo Australia had found a worthy replacement in Richards.
Volvo Australia continued its ASTC program until 1999 when Richards nearly secured the title driving the sophisticated S40. This included a Bathurst 1000 victory alongside Swede ace Rickard Rydell following a superb pole lap by the recent BTCC champion.