WTCC: Dalhgren replaces Ekblom in Volvo line-up

Robert Dahlgren will race for Polestar for the remainder of the World Touring Car Championship season, taking the place of Fredrik Ekblom from this weekend's round in Vila Real.

36-year-old Dahlgren, whose association with Volvo goes back more than 10 years, has competed in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship for Polestar so far this year and currently leads the standings by 10 points from team-mate Richard Goransson.

As part of Volvo's development plan for 2017, Dahlgren will now drive the team's second S60 Polestar alongside Thed Bjork, with Ekblom taking up testing duties as Volvo's manufacturer-backed squad prepares to introduce a third car for 2017.

"I am honored to get this opportunity," said Dahlgren, who will continue his STCC campaign alongside his WTCC commitments, with the latter set to take priority on the two date clashes remaining on the calendar. "The feeling is awesome, especially as I have been a part of this program since the start with our evaluation season in 2011, as well as the development of the new car this year."

Eklbom is currently 12th in the WTCC drivers' standings, one place and eight points ahead of teammate Bjork, with the pair each having recorded a best finish of fourth.

"Our main objective with the WTCC project this year is to prepare for 2017, using two cars and three drivers," Polestar's head of motorsport Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin said. "As a part of this plan, Robert will switch with Fredrik and join Thed for the part that is done during the race weekends.

"Our plan and three drivers have all delivered beyond expectations so far, delivering several top-five finishes this early in our first season. We are confident it works and we are continuing with the next phase in our plan."

Dahlgren was part of the team's first foray into the WTCC between 2007 and 2011, which included a full-season campaign in the final year where he finished 11th in the championship in a Volvo C30, scoring a best result of fourth. The Swede was also part of Volvo's initial involvement in the V8 Supercars championship in 2014.

Alongside Bjork and Eklbom, he played a significant part in the team's development of its S60 for this year's competition, but was overlooked for either of the two seats Polestar had nominated for its first season back in the championship.

Originally on Autosport.com