Thed Björk has received his trophy for claiming the 2017 FIA World Touring Car Championship drivers’ title at the annual FIA prize giving ceremony at Château de Versailles in France.

The Swedish driver claimed the title with two victories and seven podiums, beating main rival Norbert Michelisz by 28,5 points after the final race in Qatar one week ago.

“To become the first-ever Swedish motor racing world champion is something I have dreamt about since I started racing. To step up onto the podium together with Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton felt fantastic,” said Björk. “This is, by far, the greatest moment of my racing career. A massive thank you to everyone in the team – they are as much world champions as I am.”

Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar, collected the manufacturers’ title for Volvo Polestar.

“We entered the WTCC in 2016 with a five-year plan to become world champions with the Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 developed in Sweden. We achieved this goal and claimed both titles in just two years. The Polestar Cyan Racing team, the Volvo engineers who provided the original car and Thed has done a fantastic job and are worthy champions. This is the proudest moment in our motorsport history and I am honoured to be a part of it and to be able to say that we are the world champions,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin.

FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP HALL OF FAME

Year Driver Nat Car Manufacturer

2017 Thed Björk SWE Volvo S60 Polestar Volvo Polestar

2016 José María López ARG Citroën C-Elysée Citroën

2015 José María López ARG Citroën C-Elysée Citroën

2014 José María López ARG Citroën C-Elysée Citroën

2013 Yvan Muller FRA Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Honda

2012 Rob Huff GBR Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Chevrolet

2011 Yvan Muller FRA Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Chevrolet

2010 Yvan Muller FRA Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T Chevrolet

2009 Gabriele Tarquini ITA SEAT León TDI SEAT

2008 Yvan Muller FRA SEAT León TDI SEAT

2007 Andy Priaulx GBR BMW 320si BMW

2006 Andy Priaulx GBR BMW 320si BMW

2005 Andy Priaulx GBR BMW 320i BMW

1987 Roberto Ravaglia ITA BMW M3 Ford