“We’re targeting customers who want a unique and exclusive truck and appreciate the values associated with the Volvo Ocean Race, regarded as the “Mount Everest of sailing”, says Kristin Signert, project manager at Volvo Trucks, which will release a limited edition of specially-designed Volvo Ocean Race trucks before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race in October.

”The Volvo Ocean Race is an excellent opportunity to expose our brand and build relations with customers and other visitors. In fact, during the last race, almost four million people visited our exhibition in the ports,” comments Christina Ohlsson Jones, who is responsible for the Volvo Ocean Race at Volvo Trucks.

The design team at Volvo Trucks has worked hard to give the latest versions the right feel both inside and out. The cab is available in two colours: a white ‘Millennium Silver Metallic’ and a dark blue ‘Dark Knight Pearl’.

Both colours have been especially chosen for the Volvo Ocean Race Limited Edition and so have the black painted grille, the side stripes with a wave decoration and the globetrotter sign displaying the words ‘Volvo Ocean Race’. There are also ‘Limited Edition’ emblems on the sides of the cab.

The sailing-inspired interior features exclusive materials and details. With plenty of leather, exclusive seams and embroidered details, the driver area exudes quality and craftsmanship. The leather-covered seats are embellished with a blue accent colour, while other interior details such as the steering wheel, mats, door panels and grab rails have unique accent blue stitching. Curtain retainers made of sheet cord are an unexpected feature that heightens the overall effect.

“We wanted the truck to evoke a feel of sail racing and reflect the sleek, refined design of the yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race. For this reason, the interior design features a lot of leather and dark materials with striking cobalt blue accent colours,” says Nicola Fox, senior designer at Volvo Trucks.

Galway, whose twin town is Lorient, has fought an intense contest against the other bidding ports to win back the event for a second edition and the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 will complete its lap around the globe in Ireland’s ‘cultural heart’, where the final prize giving will be held.

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, stated: “The 2009 stopover in Galway made an abiding impression on the sailors, support crews, organisers and media, who were immersed in the warmth of an Irish welcome.

“Their presence, in turn, had an enormous beneficial impact on Galway, the west of Ireland and indeed the entire country. Their arrival here was spectacular and their visit helped generate a massive 55 million Euros for the regional economy, more than one third higher than the original projections

“Given its economic benefits and its importance to Irish tourism, I am more than happy to welcome the return of the Volvo Ocean Race to our shores and pledge our support for the event”.

The stopover in Galway during May 2009 fuelled the public imagination as never before.  Over 600,000 supporters visited the race village during the stopover, with the crowd peaking at 62,000 people on in-port race day alone.  The seaside resort of Salthill drew a further crowd of 120,000 to watch the dramatic close combat race from the shoreline.

Galway’s ‘home town boat’, Green Dragon, became Ireland’s second entry in the race – the first was NCB Ireland in1989-90.  Double Olympic medallist, Ian Walker, guided the team to a fifth place finish overall and claimed the third spot on the podium when the fleet crossed the finish in Galway, delighting the huge crowd that had gathered to welcome them.

“The interest in hosting the Volvo Ocean Race, particularly in Europe, has been quite overwhelming,” said Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Knut Frostad, as the last of the European ports was unveiled. “I am very proud to confirm Ireland’s participation and Galway will be a magnificent port to stage the finish of the event.  We have already experienced the enthusiasm that abounds in Ireland for the race and we are looking forward to bringing the competition to its conclusion in a country that really knows how to celebrate,” he said.

This announcement completes the list of European cities hosting the event.

The remaining ports will be introduced throughout March.

The Volvo Ocean Race traces its origins back to 1973 and is the world’s premier offshore sailing race. The Volvo Open 70 racing boat is sailed by professional athletes, who race around the world with the prevailing winds.