Polestar Cyan Racing’s team of three Volvo S60s defeated the trio of Honda Civic WTCCs in the WTCC MAC3 time trial at FIA WTCC Race of China at the all-new Ningbo International Speedpark this afternoon.
The all-blue Volvo Polestars, led by DHL Pole Position Award winner Néstor Girolami, set the two-lap benchmark by running first in murky conditions at the 4.015-kilometre track. The Hondas had a time of 4m05.191s to beat.
WTCC returnee Gabriele Tarquini led Norbert Michelisz and Ryo Michigami – until he repeated his error from qualifying and ran off the increasingly slippery circuit. The experienced Italian rejoined the trio, but was now at the back of the train.
His error left the team more than four seconds off the Volvos at the end of the first lap, a gap they were unable to make up on the second tour. They finished 4.7s down on the Polestar Cyan Racing S60s. “It well really well,” said Volvo driver Nicky Catsburg. “We’re super-happy to get the points.”
Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar, said: “We have claimed a double with pole and WTCC MAC3 victory previously, but this is no doubt the best one as we won it in wet conditions that have proven to be hard for us in the past.”
“Néstor was finally able to show what he really can deliver and we are all very happy for him. Things look very strong for tomorrow.”
The result and 12 accompanying points means Volvo Polestar now lies just two points behind Honda in the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Manufacturers, 588 leading 586. It was Volvo Polestar’s sixth WTCC MAC3 triumph of 2017.