Racing Green: Volvo's E85-powered C30 racer

Volvo is promoting both its C30 sports hatch as well as bioethanol (E85) fuel by campaigning a racecar in the Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) for the next three years. Volvo is running a S60 sedan in this year's championship, but claims the C30 hatchback will be better suited for motorsports due to its smaller size and sportier driving dynamics.

Volvo will be teaming up with Polestar Racing for the effort, the same independent racing firm who has assisted with previous Volvo racecars in the STCC. Final details of the car have yet to be announced, but so far we know it will be powered by an all-aluminum 2.0-liter I5 E85 engine with racing-spec valves, camshafts, pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft. Estimated power is expected to be in the 280 horsepower range and is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed sequential racing gearbox.

The C30's suspension will be fully modified for the task ahead with Ohlin's dampers, race-spec support arms, and adjustable anti-roll bars. The brakes have been beefed-up to cope with the car's new potential and incorporate four-piston calipers in the front and two-piston units in the rear. The car's minimum weight with a driver on board is mandated by the series at 2,500 lbs, and it can be expected that Volvo will do everything it can to keep the car at that minimum. Aerodynamics are also improved with front splitters and a rear roof spoiler that were developed in Polestar's windtunnel.

The Volvo/Polestar team is currently running second and ninth in the 2007 STCC championship with the Volvo S60.