José Luís Mendes, CEO of Ascendum Máquinas says: “We are very proud to be the partner of Volvo CE, which is responsible for building and maintaining the WRX tracks. On the other hand, we use this platform with our own competition team, the CE Dealer Team, to show that it is possible to achieve success with electrification, safety and diversity.” He adds that the results of this first stage in Portugal could not have been better and we are all very happy with the victory in Portugal.
04 JUN 2025
The CE Dealer Team, a Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) team that holds a partnership with Ascendum, kicked off the 2025 season of the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX) with a solid victory in Lousada. Niclas Grönholm dominated the Portuguese stage, securing first place in the final, while his teammate, Klara Andersson, showed a determined performance in a race fought to the end.
A strategic sponsorship for “Driving a responsible shift”
Ascendum is proud to be the Hosting Dealer for the Portuguese leg and the Gold Sponsor of the CE Dealer Team for the 4th consecutive year, further strengthening its strategic alliance with Volvo CE. This partnership reinforces Ascendum’s commitment to “Driving a Responsible Shift” in its sector with more sustainable solutions, as it is renewing 40% of its entire product portfolio with the new generation of excavators, dumpers and wheel loaders. On the other hand, the championship gives the opportunity to show the potential of electric machines and accelerate the electric transformation in the construction equipment industry.
“Drive” not only mirrors the active role as Gold Sponsor of the CE Dealer Team in the competitive world of rallycross, but also symbolizes Ascendum’s position as one of the largest dealers. “Shift” reflects Ascendum’s active role, partnering with Volvo CE as catalysts for change. It is a proactive commitment to pioneer the shift towards more sustainable operations in our industry. Finally, “Responsible” highlights the way we work, emphasizing thoughtful and strategic decision-making that benefits our business, our customers and the environment.
Ascendum Experience
During the weekend in Lousada, Ascendum offered an exclusive experience to various partners and representatives of the sector, reinforcing its proximity to the national market. The activation included access to the paddock, behind-the-scenes visits to the CE Dealer Team, moments of direct contact with the drivers and the technical team, as well as the opportunity to watch the races from a grandstand with a privileged view of the track. In addition, several Volvo CE electric machines, already available on the market, were on display, allowing guests to get a closer look at the brand’s sustainable solutions.
The Volvo machines also played a crucial role in the construction and preparation of the Lousada track, and were part of the action throughout the weekend: they were decisive in ensuring that the track was always kept in top condition and were always ready to intervene to rescue the cars on track.
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A Battle of Technologies on the Track
he WRX introduced a competitive concept: the “Battle of Technologies”, placing electric cars and sustainable combustion vehicles side by side in a format that challenges the limits of performance and innovation, while maintaining a focus on the energy transition.
The CE Dealer Team is one of the teams in the championship competing with 100% electric vehicles, and it also stands out for being the first and only team made up of a full-time driver and a female driver. This alignment underlines the team’s commitment to sustainability and diversity in motorsport.
More information at:
FIA World Rallycross Championship (https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/)
CE Dealer Team (https://www.cedealerteam.com/)
Mais informações em:
FIA World Rallycross Championship (https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/)
CE Dealer Team (https://www.cedealerteam.com/)
