Team Volvo, comprising two members of the British Bobsleigh Team and two amateurs, took to the ice at the Olympic Sliding Centre against GBR 1, currently ranked 5th in the world, armed forces' teams with British Bobsleigh Athletes, and privateer entries. The team was put together as part of Volvo Car UK's sponsorship of British Bobsleigh.
With only two days at the bobsleigh push track at Bath University with British Bobsleigh trainers, the team first laid eyes on the track and took their first steps on the ice on the morning of the qualification runs the day before the championships. Having successfully completed the push off, loading of the sled and passing the finish line without incidents, Team Volvo qualified to take on the nation's best bobsleigh athletes.
On the morning of the British Championships, Team Volvo lined up at the start line, just behind GBR1, made up of John Jackson, Stuart Benson, Bruce Tasker and Joel Fearon. Once GBR1 had cleared the track, Team Volvo's sled, nicknamed ‘Glacies Tempestas' was placed in the start grooves, and with a battle cry the team was set. After the team successfully loaded into the sled, it was up to Lee Johnston, British Bobsleigh Coach, to drive along the 1200 metre track, around the 14 corners and through the finish line.
Finishing the first run in third place, it was up to the team to continue the good start, and with true determination the team held off the other teams from behind and finished in third place overall.
"It's great to see Volvo here at the British Bobsleigh Championships, and not just as a spectator but also competing. There are few people that have been privileged to go down the track in a bobsleigh, let along be part of a team entry, they can consider themselves amongst the few. With very little track time, the whole team not only impressed me, but also a number of the more established athletes in the GB team," said Gary Anderson, Performance Director of British Bobsleigh.
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