The rebirth of the Volvo 240 Turbo Group A
In the early 1980s, Volvo was best known for its family cars, with a reputation for safety and durability. However, an ambitious project was underway that would soon change the brand’s image and place it firmly on the map of motorsport history.
The Flying Brick: Volvo’s mid-eighties 240 Turbo Group A machines.
The Volvo 240 Turbo Group A was born out of Volvo’s desire to enter the world of competitive motorsport and prove its engineering prowess. The company’s motorsport division set out to build a car that could hold its own against established racing brands. The 240 Turbo was developed for Group A, a class of racing where manufacturers had to create cars based on production models, maintaining resemblance to the street versions whilst possessing the performance and durability for intense racing.
Volvo's engineering team did a great job to fine-tune the brand's famous turbocharged B21ET engine, suspension, brakes and aerodynamics. The result was a car with a 2.1-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine capable of producing over 300 horsepower. With this, the 240 Turbo, nicknamed 'Flying Brick' was very competitive on tracks against established racing brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
The debut of the Volvo 240 Turbo in racing came in 1985, and it immediately made an impact. One of the most notable figures in the car’s early success was Swedish racing driver Jan "Flash" Nilsson. Nilsson’s experience behind the wheel and deep understanding of the car’s capabilities were crucial in transforming the 240 Turbo into a force to be reckoned with. In 1985, Nilsson’s performance in the Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) showed that the 240 Turbo was more than capable of competing at the highest level.
The car’s greatest triumph came in 1986 when Volvo entered the 240 Turbo Group A in the prestigious European Touring Car Championship (ETCC). Piloted by the talented drivers Tommy Kristoffersson and Hans Stück, the Volvo 240 Turbo showcased incredible handling and speed, securing podium finishes and victories that stunned the motorsport world. These performances proved that Volvo, long thought of as a manufacturer of conservative family vehicles, had the engineering expertise and competitive spirit to succeed in the world of motorsport.
The most iconic moment in the 240 Turbo’s racing career occurred at the 1986 race at the famed Bathurst 1000 in Australia, where Tommy Kristoffersson delivered a breathtaking performance, finishing in the top positions and making Volvo the talk of the motorsport world. This victory brought Volvo global recognition, with the brand now associated with both safety and performance.
In the years that followed, Volvo’s racing efforts with the 240 Turbo helped cement its reputation for producing durable, reliable, and competitive vehicles. The success of the Group A racecar boosted Volvo’s image and showed the world that the brand was capable of more than just family cars. Through the dedication of its engineers and the skill of its drivers, the 240 Turbo became a symbol of innovation, perseverance, and Swedish engineering excellence.
By the end of the decade, Volvo had solidified its place in the motorsport world, and the 240 Turbo's legacy would continue to inspire the brand’s motorsport initiatives for years to come. The car may have been a product of its time, but its influence on Volvo’s identity remains to this day.