Prince Carl Philip will be replaced by a real racing queen in the upcoming round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia. In Anderstorp 5-6 August, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky takes over the prince's car at Porsche Experience Racing. "I am grateful to have the chance to make an appearance in the championship and to compete at Scandinavian Raceway, which I think is a good and fun track. But this will also be a challenge, partly because I have never driven a GT4 car in a racing context before," says Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky is Sweden's most successful female racing driver. The 29-year-old from Hammarö in Värmland has heard about herself many times since she went from go-kart to car in 2012. She has competed in several different championships internationally, run the STCC successfully for five seasons and this year, together with Johan Kristoffersson, she tops the international off-road racing series Extreme E with two races left to run.

But above all, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky is best known for breaking several historical barriers. As the first female driver, she has:
Won races in a Volkswagen-backed championship: at the Norisring in the 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup.
Won race (2018), captured pole position (2019) and finished on the podium (second) overall in stcc.

What have these successes meant to you and your career?
" A lot, really. All of them have created a lot of attention and a lot of media. The successes have also meant that I have been accepted and respected as a driver like everyone else, and not just as a female driver.

Porsche debut as a 19-year-old
Now Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky is making history again – as the first woman in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia! In Anderstorp, she thus replaces Prince Carl Philip from whose hand earlier this year she received the Motor Prince's Medal for her efforts in 2021 – second place in stcc and third place in Extreme E. Yes, that's right. The first woman to receive the medal was Tina Thörner after her fantastic performance as a co-driver in Dakar. Tina was also my mentor when I started racing in 2012 and my mom's co-driver once upon a time.

Then, ten years ago, Mikaela from karting went straight into the Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup – and Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia! At the age of 19, she replaced defending champion Robin Rudholm in Xlander Racing and made three races.
"It was the first rear-wheel drive car I drove, ever. Then maybe there were some big shoes to fill after Robin, but it was a super fun experience," she says.
Mikaela ran five races and reached places in the top ten in all but the last, race two in the final at Solvalla. There she was disqualified for ignoring the black flag!

Was I!?

Don't you remember that?
"No, I don't (laughter). Why I got black flag? You'll probably have to look for answers to that question in the history books.

Do not expect podiums
This year Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, as I said, competes with success in Extreme E where she, together with Johan Kristoffersson, represents former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg's team Rosberg X Racing. With two races (Chile and Uruguay) still on the calendar, the Swedish duo tops the championship by a wide margin.

Mikaela is also hired as a development driver in PWR Racing, the team he competed for in stcc. There she is involved in the team's electric car project, ePWR. The 29-year-old Värmland native also makes an appearance in the Rallycros series Nitro Rallycross. The weekend that passed, she ran the race in Strängnäs. But August 5-6, as I said, it is Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia that applies. A completely new acquaintance for Åhlin-Kottulinsky.

"Just the fact that I will be a teammate with Ingemar Stenmark and Aksel Lund Svindal will of course be really cool. As for the competitive challenge, I know it's going to be tough. I don't even expect to step into this and take podiums. As I said, I've never driven a GT4 car before. GT3, sure, but that's also a few years ago.

Must develop quickly
Any opportunity to get acquainted with the car, she will not get until the tests start in Anderstorp. Two half-hour-long training sessions are offered before there is qualifying Friday afternoon. The next day, both races are decided.

"I expect it to be tough, but that's what's good when you get into new series and new cars. Because then you have to push yourself and develop quickly. I'll take it step by step and then we'll see what happens in the end," says Mikaela, who can think of more appearances in the series if the prince or any of the other drivers in Porsche Experience Racing were to be prevented. Why not. All driving is good driving...

Facts
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Born: November 13, 1992.
Domicile: Karlstad.
Occupation: Professional racer/rallycross driver.
Club: KAK.
Team in Porsche Sprint Challenge: Porsche Experience Racing.

Motorsport career in brief.
2012-2014: Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup.
2012: Five races in Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia 2012.
2015: Audi Sport TT Cup.
2016-2017: ADAC GT Masters.
2017-2021: STCC. Second overall in the 2021 championship.
2021-2022: Extreme E (third in 2021).
2022: Extreme E, European Nitro Rallycross and Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia.