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Néstor Girolami linked to WTCC outing in Japan following Volvo test

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Two-time Argentinian Super TC 2000 champion Néstor Girolami could make his third career appearance in the World Touring Car Championship later this season after a successful test at Termas de Río Hondo last week.

The Swedish factory team remained at the track one day for the day after the race in Argentina, allow the local driver to test alongside regular driver Thed Björk, while Robert Dahlgren travelled back after contracting a stomach bug to prepare for this weekend’s round of the STCC at Karlskoga.

Girolami tested the Volvo S60 of Polestar Cyan Racing on the Monday during late morning and throughout the afternoon. The 27-year-old Cordoban, who has moved to the Sao Paulo while he participates in a Peugeot 408 in the Brazilian Stock Car Championship, completed over 30 laps in six runs.

The Argentinian first tried to find balance in the car, setting impressive times during the test as he adapted to the car, after having driven two different TC1 class cars during 2015, testing the Lada Vesta at the Hungaroring before racing the Nika Racing Honda Civic at the Slovakiaring and at Vila Real.

“It was such a pleasure to make this test,” said Girolami to TouringCarTimes. “It was (WTCC promoter) Francois Ribeiro’s idea. He called me a month ago he asked if the day after the WTCC race in Argentina I could drive the Volvo in the test. To me it was a very important day, as it led me to understand new things about a WTCC car.

“I think the S60 that is now on its way in Japan is very different to the Honda Civic. The Volvo is very good in a straight line, but the Civic was probably better in the corners. With fresh rubber the car behaved much better and we managed to get a less oversteer response from the car.”

Girolami was coy on his chances of racing in the WTCC next season, while the championship tries to find a local successor to José María López, who moves to Formula E and most likely the World Endurance Championship in 2017.

“I don’t know if I can make it into the championship next year, but obviously I would like to,” he added.

Speculation has mounted that Girolami would race a third Volvo S60 for Cyan Racing at Motegi next month, but it’s understood the Swedish team will keep the test car in Europe for testing while the two race cars continue to travel on to Japan and then China. However, it’s possible the team could change the driver of their second car for the second time this season, with Robert Dahlgren potentially returning to compete in the final two clashing rounds of the STCC, where he’s just eleven points behind team-mate Richard Göransson after the most recent race meeting.

Interview by Juan Cruz Mathus