Reading these articles will give you a unique understanding of how the ETCC programs worked. You will read how in 1983-84 Volvo entered an evolution 242 Turbo for Group A under FISA homologation rules. It was later modified over and above the original requirement of the first 5000 street car minimum which began in 1981. The new evolution version was a new 500 production car requirement. These cars would become the 500 1983 flathood 242 Turbos imported to the USA that we know of today. FISA rules intended them to be real production street cars that would be sent to dealers and sold to the public. The rules stated they had to be built by the manufacturer with the same homologated equipment as the Group A race cars, including, but not limited to: a bigger turbo and intercooler, better exhaust manifold, better intake manifold, water injection and a rear spoiler.  Some other items found on the racing versions were not subjected to these strict rules, such as transmissions (these race cars got 5-speed Getrags), or big brakes (Most used big AP brakes). Race cars could use any brakes as long as they fit inside the 16 inch wheel.

It is now pretty common knowledge that none of these 500 cars, when sold to the public, actually came with any real racing parts (except for possibly a few legendary rear spoilers that were reportedly found in trunks). Competitors learned about these cars being sold without the racing parts and filed grievances with the FISA. Volvo was called to answer in the middle of the 1985 season while FISA investigated. After Volvo initially remained silent, FISA suspended the Volvo teams completely from all races after Sep 1, 1985, but then another FISA official reversed and allowed the Volvos to continue racing "under suspension" pending the final outcome of the investigation. They raced much of the season under suspension and WON a LOT of races during that time.

In October 1985 FISA was then shown a loophole in the rules which revealed there was no actual requirement that the 500 cars could not be "stripped" of the race parts after the FISA finished inspected the cars, but before being sent to Volvo dealers and sold to the public. On Oct 11, 1985, The FISA announced they had no choice but to exonerate Volvo and remove the suspension.  Soon afterward FISA revised the rules to eliminate this loophole in the future. Two days after their exoneration, on Oct 13, 1985, Volvo took first place at Estoril, giving them the points needed for the 1985 ETCC championship.