Polestar set clear target to win the championship in 2017

Polestar Cyan Racing have brought forward their ambitions to win the World Touring Car Championship’s drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles this year, after securing their first victory only back in September.

The Volvo manufacturer’s original five-year plan saw them aiming for regular race victories in 2017, before fighting for the championship from 2018 onwards, but after a strong end to last season, and after signing a potent line-up in Thed Björk, Nicky Catsburg and Néstor Girolami for 2017, the team have brought forward that target as they battle Honda and a number of privateer Citroëns for the title.

Head of Polestar Motorsport, Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, announced the team’s revised target at a media launch at Volvo’s base near Gothenburg, in front of its assembled staff to enthusiastic applause.

“It doesn’t feel like an overstatement,” said Murdzevski to TouringCarTimes. “I think that we have done the necessary homework over the past season and especially over the winter. We’ve seen progress over the winter that puts us in a very confident state for the season, so why not?”

Volvo admit that the marker set down by Citroën, which will still be on the grid this year raced by a handful of privateers, is the biggest challenge for the Swedish manufacturer.

“They’re there to catch, but it’s a huge leap,” he admitted. “I genuinely don’t think they are credited enough for the competence that they actually possess. No other manufacturer has gone in and out of different FIA categories with a track record like Citroën has, so obviously, they’re doing something right.

“And previously, when Chevrolet went from being an official team to a privateer team, everything they were holding back they stopped holding back, and the cars went even quicker; so if we are on par or much quicker, it’ll be more about what we’ve done on our end.”

Assessing the competition outside of Volvo’s three-star line-up for 2017, the team boss reckons one threat comes from the other manufacturer-backed Honda team, and one from the privateer Citroën armada.

“The driver I think has surprised us many times is (Norbert) Michelisz,” said Murdzevski. “His season ended in a way where he was coming back so he’s high on the list, and (Rob) Huff is a real, good quality driver regardless wherever he has been. He’s just really clever to pick the right car or really quick regardless, so those are the two to keep an eye on.”