Rydell pledges his future to Volvo

The Swede tested for Mercedes at the end of last season, but it is rumoured that he turned down a prospective deal because the Three Pointed Star required him to sign a two-year contract, which would have stopped him linking up with Volvo again. Rydell, who finished third in the BTCC last year whilst 'on loan' to Ford, has been linked to Volvo since its first campaign in the BTCC with the 850 Estate, and won the title for the Swedish marque in 1998.

"It was not possible for me to race this year with another Touring Car manufacturer and do the Volvo deal as well," said Rydell. "And since both Volvo an myself wants to be there from the start we have come to an agreement. If it's competitive they will probably enter the European Championship from 2002, and if they do I will be driving for them."

Volvo has also been linked to a return to the BTCC, and there is an outside chance that Rydell's development programme could include a couple of BTCC appearances at the end of this season - if the new-for-2002 European Touring Car regulations align themselves with the new-look BTCC as expected.

On the subject of his racing plans for this year, Rickard said: "I don't have any firm plans to race this year yet - but wouldn't mind doing some races in sportscars."

Rydell's team-mates from 2000, Alain Menu and Anthony Reid, have yet to ink any deals for this season, although both have been linked with a Prodrive-run Opel campaign in the DTM.