Since the start in 2004, four drivers have driven more than 100 races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. This year, the 20th edition of the championship will be decided and as part of the anniversary celebrations, we present the unique Club 100 quartet in a series of articles. We start with Thomas Karlsson who, with his 106 races, is fourth on the list.

In 2015, Thomas Karlsson, Falkenbergs MK, bought a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to drive the Swedish GT. But by his friends in the Mtech Competition, the Halland man was persuaded to try Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia as well. Today, eight years later, Karlsson is one of the championship's most loyal drivers with 106 race starts to his credit.

Since his debut in Anderstorp in 2015, Thomas Karlsson has not missed a single season in Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. In addition to boasting five top ten finishes overall in the championship, he has been one of the most successful drivers in the Masters Cup.

In the championship for drivers over the age of 40, Thomas Karlsson has one second place and two third places. It is also in the Masters Cup that the 58-year-old (turns tomorrow, Wednesday 5 April) from Falkenberg has taken his race victories. He drove the first in the second heat at Drivecenter Arena in Fällfors in 2020.
Last year, Thomas Karlsson joined Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia's unique 100 club. The inaugural race at Gelleråsen Arena was his 100th of his Carrera Cup career.

What do you remember from your debut in Anderstorp in the 2015 season?
"Actually, I was only going to drive Swedish GT together with Ola Nilsson that year. Carrera Cup was not relevant, never thought I would be able to measure up to the stars who drove there. But the guys in Mtech Competition thought it could probably work for me in Carrera Cup as well, so I jumped in. Anderstorp, which was the second race that season, was my debut race and I did better than I had thought. Among other things, I was ninth man in the second race and thus got a receipt that I actually kept up quite well.
– But I don't really have any clear memories from the competition other than the whole picture and that I was lyrical and incredibly happy to be involved.

Which of your 106 races is your most memorable?
”The final race in the final at Ring Knutstorp 2020. I was leading the Masters Cup and had good speed when I drove off and ended up out in the gravel. Up on the track again, I drove myself up and caught up with Prince Carl Philip, Magnus Öhman and Christoffer Bergström. Then there was a local rain shower down in the Lito curve and everyone in the top trio spun. I made it and was able to slip in between and win. Dramatic and memorable”.

"My first victory in the Masters Cup, which came in Fällfors the same year, is also a good memory of course. It was awesome, but difficult. It rained a lot all day and after the victory I remember that we stood and drank champagne in the box and it rained outside”.

Which race would you most like to forget?
”The third race in Anderstorp 2021. I was squeezed between Jan Magnussen and Christoffer Bergström and ended up in the railing. A race incident that ended with a body change. Also last year I was unlucky in Anderstorp when I got involved in the big start crash in the premiere”.