Is Volvo Stupid?

Geva racing · 4 Jul 2000, 17:28 (Ref:21418)

Why won't the Volvo marque give it's approval of the new zakspeed C70 DTM?

Are they waiting for prove that the DTM is worth it.

Zakspeed has built a reasonable fast car that only can improve.

Surely they aren't stupid.

ganda123 · 5 Jul 2000, 20:40 (Ref:21685)

I think it's something to do with their Ford ownership, apparently they're not allowing them to race it for now. I heard that ages ago though, maybe we'll see them in DTM next year (with Rydell?)

kmchow · 5 Jul 2000, 23:15 (Ref:21724)

I think Ganda hit the nail on the head. If Volvo allows Zakspeed to race the C70 this year and Volvo races next year, the Zakspeed car will have at least one more year of racing history than the factory team. And you can't have an indie beat a Works team. Unless Volvo were to give the Works contract to Zakspeed. Most likely, Volvo (Ford) will give it to TWR? That should cut some development time and costs?

ganda123 · 6 Jul 2000, 20:21 (Ref:21900)

Volvo, TWR, Rydell, it's all falling into place. Except this time it's a faster car with rear wheel drive. Should I move to Germany?

Invader · 7 Jul 2000, 11:14 (Ref:22042)

Yes

kmchow · 7 Jul 2000, 16:20 (Ref:22067)

Wait, the C70 is 850 based so it should be FWD? Or will the race version be converted to RWD? Could we expect a Martini or Valvoline sponsored C70? Anyone have any other sponsors they would like to see on the Volvos or DTM?

I guess it would be nice to have all the '96 ITC or previous DTM sponsors come back aboard? That would really bring back the memories? McDonalds, Ocean Spice, UPS, TV Spielfilm, etc...

Invader · 7 Jul 2000, 18:00 (Ref:22073)

Anything has to be better than being sponsored by Viagra!

Geva racing · 7 Jul 2000, 18:03 (Ref:22075)

You mean that Nascar in the winston cup?

probably one of the "senior" drivers

Invader · 7 Jul 2000, 18:06 (Ref:22077)

Mark Martin I believe...Valvoline lubrication to Viagra in one year....has to be a kick in the bottox for the old boy.

Back on topic now please...we digressed

Koffe · 7 Jul 2000, 20:39 (Ref:22098)

I have heard that Volvo soon will replace C70 with a new modell.

kmchow · 7 Jul 2000, 23:41 (Ref:22105)

Koffe wrote:

>I have heard that Volvo soon will replace C70 with a new >modell.
>
Yeah, in another 2-3 years? Which kinda discourages Volvo to race in the DTM? Why spend so much money to develop/race a model that will replaced very soon.

Invader wrote:

>Back on topic now please...we digressed
>
yeah, enough Nascar, this is a touring car list!!! ;-)

ganda123 · 8 Jul 2000, 19:07 (Ref:22162)

kmchow, the Volvo C70 is FWD but I think the DTM race version will be converted to RWD as it would be at a major disadvantage if it didn't, right? Unless they say it can be a lighter weight, but I doubt that. It is a RWD championship.
I hadn't heard that the C70 was going to be replaced, but I had heard that TWR who make C70s for Volvo had a row with them about money and they went on strike, but I think that's sorted now.
Vader, I am moving to Germany

Invader · 10 Jul 2000, 22:10 (Ref:22461)

I will miss you horribly Ganda

Danielsun · 12 Jul 2000, 09:11 (Ref:22708)

Better Germany than France; it's not so full of French people, ain't that right, Liz?

The DTM is, I reckon, the way to go in terms of Touring Cars. Just look at the response the new BTCC rules have received from all the fans. People want to see brutish and fast (preferably rear-drive) cars, not 'poxy' under-powered front-drivers.

Volvo have been looking at it; maybe we just need Koffe to go peskering them into doing the DTM next year - or even earlier. And Gerhard is looking at the series with great interest for Berger Motor Works. Now wouldn't that a fantastic series make?

Another slight digression, Vader, but what model do you think they'd race? 3 Coupe?

kmchow · 12 Jul 2000, 16:03 (Ref:22784)

Danielsun wrote:

>Another slight digression, Vader, but what model do you >think they'd race? 3 Coupe?
>
Anything but the Z3 coupes!! Blah, blah. But from past experience, the 3 series coupe seems the most likely? Of course, you know I prefer the sedans! ;-)

Danielsun · 12 Jul 2000, 18:39 (Ref:22811)

Mr Chow, see the message header, please...

This is the DTM we're talking here, not some stupid, poxy little Super Touring wannabe series. 3 Coupe it would seem to be then.

kmchow · 13 Jul 2000, 00:46 (Ref:22887)

Danielsun wrote:

>This is the DTM we're talking here, not some stupid, poxy >little Super Touring wannabe series. 3 Coupe it would seem >to be then.
>
It would be different. Back when the TRUE/REAL DTM was racing, BMW raced coupes when everyone else choose sedans. Now when everyone races coupes, BMW should race a sedan just to be different. Of course, the rules don't allow that.

Danielsun · 13 Jul 2000, 12:28 (Ref:22977)

You are a strange character, aren't you, Mr Chow?

I can't believe nobody's really hit home the real reason Volvo won't enter the DTM: their number one driver could not, for this season anyway, be Rickard Rydell. What good's a Volvo in a Touring Car Championship (outside of his homeland, of course) without him leading the charge?

Throw in (or out) that Walkinshaw bloke and you've got it made, as Ganda has already mentioned. Preferably out...

ganda123 · 13 Jul 2000, 20:44 (Ref:23049)

Yes, I think Daniel's got it, we couldn't have a Volvo touring car team without my favouite driver now could we? Having TWR running the operation could not got far wrong as Rickard and them work well together, it has been well proven. Rickard should move away from the BTCC if (actually when) they use pansy underpowered cars next year as he is a top class driver, and needs something faster.
Vader, I will miss you too...sniff sniff

DAVID PATERSON · 16 Jul 2000, 00:49 (Ref:23424)

Ganda, aren't you a little young to be doing coke?

ganda123 · 19 Jul 2000, 18:15 (Ref:24184)

Yup

JMeissner · 20 Jul 2000, 21:39 (Ref:24432)

Well, the most obvious reason I can see is that the C70 is pretty old, and wont be in production for that long. And, the Volvo S60 will debute the 8:th August, so it is most likely that they will race with that modell if they will at all...

Doesent that make any sense?

kmchow · 21 Jul 2000, 02:53 (Ref:24477)

JMeissner wrote:

>Well, the most obvious reason I can see is that the C70 is >pretty old, and wont be in production for that long...so >it is most likely that they will race with that modell if >they will at all...
>
OTOH, it just occurred to me---if that's the case, why not let Zakspeed race an "old" car. Let Zakspeed take the risk? TWR can then race the new shape? Then perhaps Zakspeed experience or advantage over Volvo will not be as great?

Bring Back The Cavaliers · 21 Jul 2000, 21:52 (Ref:24602)

If Volvo do enter i think Rydell and Cleland would be a great driver pairing. JC was on a local Scottish car programme with his T5 estate being a Volvo dealer. They had a car psychologist guessing who it belonged to by what was in the car. Pretty dodgy music in the cd player. Am i digressing too much here?

kmchow · 22 Jul 2000, 18:04 (Ref:24811)

BringbacktheCavaliers wrote:

>JC was on a local Scottish car programme with his T5 >estate being a Volvo dealer
>
huh? What did you mean? Couldn't understand you. JC is a Volvo dealer? Or does he just drive a Volvo?

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