Cyan recalls Volvo V8 Supercars to Sweden

The news follows yesterday’s confirmation from Polestar that the V8 programme will be wound up at the end of the season.

While it was initially thought that a rescue deal through Cyan or Volvo’s local arm in Australia could be struck, or at the very least GRM could continue to use the hardware as a privateer outfit from 2017 onwards, a Cyan statement has confirmed that the cars and engines will return to Sweden.

”We will continue our technical cooperation throughout the remainder of the 2016 season on the current three-year contract,” said Polestar CEO Christian Dahl.

“After all, Cyan Racing was involved from day one when the cooperation was created with Volvo Polestar, so it is a matter of both sporting competitiveness and commitment as well as business ethics to see this through.

“However, Volvo Car Group’s performance brand Polestar is our assignor in motorsport and decisions from this group sets the precedent for our agenda and this means that we will cease the activities with Garry Rogers Motorsport in the V8 Supercars after 2016 and bring back our engines and race cars to Sweden after the season end.”

The Volvo/Polestar/Cyan withdrawal from V8s comes as a shock, particularly after reports surfaced last week suggesting a deal had been done to continue.

Cyan news contradicts Rogers

Before Cyan announced that it wants the cars and engines back in Sweden, GRM had released its own statement claiming it will continue to race Volvos next season.

“Polestar advised us at the start of this season that their involvement in V8 Supercars had ceased,” said GRM manager Barry Rogers.

“If you look at the rear wing of our car; last year it said Volvo Polestar Racing, this year it says Volvo Cyan Racing. If you look at our trucks, last year it said Volvo Polestar Racing, this year we have Volvo Dealer Team on it.

“So the Polestar connection ceased, as far as GRM is concerned, at the start of the 2016 season.

“In day to day business, it really doesn’t effect what we do. Nothing changes from our end.”

That situation, however, is changed by the Cyan withdrawal, particularly if the hardware is indeed Sweden-bound.

V8s disappointed

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton also expressed disappointment at the situation.

“It is a disappointing decision by Polestar especially given the positive discussions being held locally about Volvo’s continued involvement in the series. However we understand that ultimately this was a global decision,” he said.

"We have really enjoyed the association with Volvo and the success they have enjoyed in Supercars.”