Volvo's BTCC history - two wheels up

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Nov 2017, 11:54

In case you missed it, here's the story behind Volvo's mid-1990s campaign in the British Touring Car Championship, made iconic by the image of the BTCC Volvo 855 with two wheels up.

To make the 850 race-worthy, the development team needed to get to work. They took on typical weight-saving and safety measures, stripping the inside down to the metal and adding a role cage. For better weight distribution, the development team also lowered the engine in the bay and set it as far back as possible. The image below compares Volvo’s highly-customized 850 engine for the 1994 BTCC to a standard 850. Check out that air intake!

LOB · Post by **LOB** » 05 Nov 2017, 01:03

Who needs a turbo with such a air intake.... Wasn't it something like 250 HP they got out of the NA inline-5?

Post by **scot850** » 05 Nov 2017, 11:54

Remember watching these race both on TV and at the race track in the UK in their heyday. Always marvelous to watch. Remember the time they upset the animal lovers by racing around the track with large toy dogs in the back!

Still have a program from the racing at Knockhill tack in Scotland with that iconic picture on it.

Neil.

Post by **matthew1** » 05 Nov 2017, 12:16

Neil, if you can photograph and post any materials you have, that would be very cool.

LOB, 290.

Post by **scot850** » 08 Nov 2017, 19:58

I will have to see if I can take a better picture of the rest of the program from the 1995 season. However, here are a couple of pictures from the racing sedans, 850 and S40:

: 850 and S40 programs

: 850 sedan poster 1995 BTCC season

: S40 poster picture

Loved watching these cars racing!

Neil.

Post by **matthew1** » 08 Nov 2017, 21:53

Outstanding. Thanks Neil.

Post by **June** » 15 Nov 2017, 12:02

matthew1 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2017, 21:53 Outstanding. Thanks Neil.

+1! It's great to see these photos again. June

Post by **scot850** » 19 Nov 2017, 13:53

I also just picked up a 2000 MY Volvo sales brochure in mint condition. Even has a picture of a laser blue 2000 V70R!

Neil.

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Feb 2020, 14:45

: btcc-wagon-dog.jpg (146.24 KiB) Viewed 3689 times

Post by **BlackBart** » 18 Feb 2020, 21:40

Really interesting how far they moved the motor back - it's even with the strut towers. And they must have changed the front suspension geometry, as the top of the strut is removed. Maybe a lower lighter coilover type.