Volvo Joins SPEED GT Manufacturers' Championship

TOPEKA, Kan. February 23, 2009: With the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Champions K-PAX/3R Racing making the switch from the Porsche 911 GT3 to the Volvo S60, WC Vision and Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, today announced that the Swedish marque has joined the 2009 SCCA SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine.

For the 2009 SPEED GT season, Volvo will compete head-to-head for the Manufacturers’ Title against confirmed series regulars Ford, Porsche and Viper. Volvo has seen a handful of entries in World Challenge competition since 2004, earning its sole race win in the hands of Michael Galati, who nearly lapped the entire SPEED GT field en route to victory at a rain-soaked Mosport in 2006. Volvo's Vice President of Public Affairs Geno Effler is confident the K-PAX/3R team will bring the brand further success in 2009.

“We’re associated with a great race team, so yes, we have high hopes for a great season,” Effler said. “World Challenge fans may ask early on, 'What's Volvo doing here?' Later, we want them to be saying, 'Wow, that Volvo rocks.' We expect enthusiasts to see Volvo in a whole new light.”

“SPEED World Challenge has become an ideal way to connect car clubs and motorsport enthusiasts together with companies that value competition and performance,” WC Vision Co-Chair Peter Cunningham said. “This year, the manufacturers enrolled in the championship receive marketing and incentive packages for their area dealers and guests to invite valued customers to the races. We want to showcase their products - what they can do on the street and what they can do on the track.”