Robert Dahlgren

Robert Dahlgren is a Swedish racing driver who achieved the most in touring car races. He was Volvo factory driver from 2004 to 2016, taking one championship title and few more podium places in Swedish and Scandinavian touring car competitions.

In 2017, when Scandinavian Touring Car Championship switched to TCR rules, Dahlgren has won the championship with Seat Leon TCR and then again in 2019 with Cupra TCR.

Robert Dahlgren

Formula Ford champion early in a career

Born in December 1979 in Skelleftea, Sweden, Robert Dahlgren spent his teenage years in karting competitions, switching to car racing in 1997. He made a debut in the Formula Ford Sweden Junior and then became double Formula Ford champion in 1998, winning both Scandinavian Open Masters and Nordic Championship.

In 1999, he moved to British Formula Ford, staying in that competition until 2001, when he won the championship.

Two seasons in the British Formula 3

In 2002, Dahlgren progressed to British Formula 3 National Class, winning four races in his debut season and finishing fifth in the points. He was driving a Dallara-Honda for Sweeney Racing.

In 2003, he joined Fortec Motorsport for one more season in the Formula 3. He won one race in a Dallara-Renault to finish ninth in the points.

Dahlgren's Volvo S60 in 2004

2004 - STCC vice-champion in his debut season

Dahlgren started his touring car racing career in 2004, entering the Swedish Touring Car Championship with Flash Engineering. He was driving the #7 Volvo S60, scoring his maiden STCC victory in the season-opening round at Knutstorp. Until the end of the season, he scored two more wins to finish second in the championship, behind  West Coast Racing's Richard Goransson.

In 2005, Dahlgren moved to #2 Polestar Racing Volvo S60. In the new championship format, Dahlgren scored one victory to finish seventh in the final standings. He was a race winner one time in 2006, finishing fifth in the points.

World Touring Car Championship debut in 2007

In 2007 Swedish Touring Car Championship, Dahlgren was the vice-champion in the #6 Polestar Racing Volvo S60. He won two races and lost a title to Fredrik Ekblom.

In 2007, Dahlgren made a debut in the World Touring Car Championship, participating in Swedish round at Scandinavian Raceway. He was 10th in the first race and 8th in the second race.

2008 was Dahlgren's first season in a Volvo C30

Switch to Volvo C30 in 2008

In 2008, Polestar Racing switched to Volvo C30. Dahlgren was driving the #2 Volvo C30 for Volvo Olsbergs Green Racing. He was a race winner in two last rounds to finish fifth in the points. In the 2008 WTCC season, Dahlgren participated in British round at Brands Hatch.

In 2009, Dahlgren has won four races in the #5 Volvo C30 but finished just seventh in the points. In the WTCC, he participated again in British round, finishing 14th in the second race.

Robert Dahlgren is one of the most successful Swedish touring car drivers

Scandinavian Touring Car Cup winner in 2010

In 2010, Dahlgren finished as the runner-up in the Swedish Touring Car Championship for the third time in a career. Driving the #7 Volvo C30, he won three races and lost a championship title by two points to Richard Goransson.

That year, Dahlgren was a winner of the Scandinavian Touring Car Cup, opened for drivers from Swedish and Danish Touring Car Championships. In 2011, the new Scandinavian Touring Car Championship replaced both Swedish and Danish championship.

Robert Dahlgren in 2011

2011 – first full season in the WTCC

After participating in two rounds of the World Touring Car Championship in 2010, at Brands Hatch (GB) and Okayama (Japan), Dahlgren was hired by Volvo Polestar Racing to enter his first full WTCC season in 2011.

He was driving the #30 Volvo C30. His best result during a season was fourth place in German round at Oschersleben. At the end of the season, he was 11th in the points.

In the inaugural Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, Dahlgren participated in just four races, scoring one victory and two podiums.

Racing with Volvo S60 Solution F since 2012

In 2012, Dahlgren was driving for Polestar Racing in the TTA – Racing Elite League, which was formed after a breakaway from the STCC. The team was running Volvo S60 Solution F race car. Dahlgren scored no wins and finished fifth in the points.

In 2013, two series reunited under STCC name but using TTA regulations. Dahlgren was again without wins, scoring six podiums to finish third in the points.

Robert Dahlgren in 2014

2014 – a season in the Australian V8 Supercars Championship

In 2014, Volvo Polestar Racing entered the Australian V8 Supercars Championship in a cooperation with Garry Rogers Motorsport. Dahlgren was chosen to drive the #34 Volvo S60 alongside Scott McLaughlin in the #33 car.

Dahlgren's best result was 12th place in the first race of Gold Coast 600 at Surfers Paradise. Dahlgren's endurance co-driver was Greg Ritter. At Bathurst 1000, they didn't finish the race.

In 2016, Dahlgren participated in three WTCC rounds

WTCC return with Volvo in 2016

In 2015, Dahlgren was out of racing, working for Volvo as a development driver during a preparation for WTCC return. In 2016, the team returned to World Touring Car Championship with brand new Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 race car. Dahlgren participated in three rounds driving the #63 car. In six races, his best result was seventh place in the first race at Qatari Losail International Circuit.

On the other side, Dahlgren spent a full season in the 2016 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, driving the #11 Volvo S60 Solution F. He scored three wins to finish second in the final standings, behind teammate Richard Goransson.

Robert Dahlgren is the 2017 STCC champion

STCC TCR champion two times in 2017 and 2019

In 2017, Scandinavian Touring Car Championship switched to TCR rules. Volvo continued to run in the WTCC so Dahlgren had to find a new team for the regional championship. He joined PWR Racing/Seat Dealer Team to drive the #2 Seat Leon TCR. He opened a year with two wins in the season-opening round at Knutstorp. Until the end of the season, he added five more wins to finally capture his first STCC title in a career.

In 2018, Dahlgren was among the front-runners again, scoring one victory and eight podiums to finish second in the final STCC classfication, behind Johan Kristoffersson. In 2019, there was no Kristoffersson in the championship and Dahlgren managed to take the title after scoring three wins and ten podium in 14 races, driving a Cupra TCR for PWR Racing Team.

Photos: Robert Dahlgren Official,