Interview: Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky "To be the first woman on the podium in Audi Sport TT Cup, that was cool"

By Tarek Ramchani

Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky had a dream weekend at the Norisring in the second round of the Audi Sport TT Cup. The young talented Swedish driver became the first women to clinch an overall podium in the newly formed Audi single-make racing series.

Read also: Podium and big points for Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky at the Norisring

We were pleased to have a new interview with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. Talks about her performances at the Norisring, the upcoming round at the Red Bull Ring and more.

The Norisring weekend started with a sensational performances in qualifying, tell us more about that.

The qualifying in Norisring was really under difficult conditions. It was raining a bit, a little bit too much for slick tires, but still to little for rain tires.

The plan for me was to wait out the rain, but it actually increased so my coach Kris told me to get out and make 2 fast laps. So I did, and then when seeing that I was P3 for race 1 and 2 I was SO happy!!

How difficult were the conditions in race 1?

Well since I didn't get any experience from the rain race in Hockenheim, we went a bit wrong with the tire pressure for the wet race, and I overheated my tires already after 8 laps.

So the remaining 17 I really had to struggle, and then finished P7 among us permanent drivers.

Sunday’s race 2 turned to be a magical one, how emotional was it to clinch an overall podium?

Amazing is not even an "enough" word do describe my feeling! I was so happy, jumping around and just smiling :-)

Really brought my confidence back after race 1! And then again, to be the first woman on the podium in Audi Sport TT Cup, that was cool.

Tell us more about the fierce battle with SEAT Sport factory driver Jordi Gené in the closing stages of race 2.

Before the 2 last laps I had a gap of 3 seconds to Jordi, so I was really safe and calm at the moment.
Then we were about to overtake the last car which was one lap after, and then he didn't move out of the ideal line so I lost my contact to P2, and Jordi came really close!

I had to close the door many times, also in Schöller S I got a huge oversteering, but could handle it and had to once again close the door for Jordi.

But he was really nice and fair, and to be honest I think he understood my frustration from the overtaking of the last car, and he knew I had a big gap before it, so he was really fair :-)

He is a great driver, and also a great person!

The Red Bull Ring will be the next stop for the Audi Sport TT Cup, what are your targets and hopes for the Austrian round?

Red Bull Ring is a track I like! With it's hilly character and fast corners.
My goal and target is like for the other races, just to do my best and gain as my experience and knowledge as possible.

Audi has two highly competitive single-make series, the Audi Sport TT Cup and the Audi R8 LMS Cup, which one do you think is stronger?

That question I can't answer, since I've not raced in the R8 LMS Cup. But it seems to be a very though one too!

Some motorsport followers are claiming that single-make racing is boring, what is your answer about that?

My answer to that is, have they looked at an Audi Sport TT Cup race? ;-)

No but I think it get's even more interesting, especially in our series with the push-to-pass!

Photo credit: Audi Media

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Audi Sport TT Cup: Podium and big points for Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky at the Norisring

By Tarek Ramchani

Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky had a strong Audi Sport TT Cup round 2 at the Norisring last weekend. The Swedish driver was among the fastest in the field and made history in the newly formed single-make series.

It all started on Friday with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky setting the sixth fastest time in the free practice session.

A last year winner at the Norisring in the former Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky had a sensational qualifying on Saturday morning. She qualified in a very strong third place for race 1. She had the same result for race 2 with again setting the third fastest time.

The first Audi Sport TT Cup race on Saturday was a wet one. Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky started from the second row of the grid but lost some places and ended in eighth place overall with her #89 Audi TT.

A day later it was a different story. Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky started again from position three on the grid and had a strong pace in the 25-lap event. She was able to challenge for race lead in the first half and later resisted very well to the assault of SEAT Sport works driver Jordi Gené. In the end she crossed the finish line in third place

A very well deserved podium for Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, the first woman to take an overall podium in Audi Sport TT Cup. Big points collected as well at the Norisring after a very unlucky season opener at the Hockenheimring. She is now eighth in the drivers' standing with a total of 41 points

Photo credit: Audi Media

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TT Cup: A look back at the 2014 Scirocco R-Cup round in Norisring - Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky made history

By Tarek Ramchani

The newly formed Audi Sport TT Cup will be heading to the famous and challenging Norisring circuit. Here a look back at what happened there last year in the former Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup.

2015 Audi Sport TT Cup regular driver Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky made history in the "Monaco of DTM" becoming the first ever female driver to win in that competitve single-make series. She was victorious ahead of  Moritz Oberheim in second and Jordan Lee Pepper (now Audi driver in ADAC GT Masters with C.ABT Racing) in third.

The Audi Sport TT Cup had a successful launch at the Hockenheimring last time out, we are expecting a great second round in the demanding street circuit.

Photo credit: Volkswagen Motorsport

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Interview: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky "I'm happy with my speed and look forward to Norisring"

By Tarek Ramchani

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky is one of the eighteen full season drivers in the newly formed Audi Sport TT Cup. The Swedish driver had a mixed opening round at the Hockenheimring with strong pace and some bad luck.

We were pleased to have a new interview with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky about her performances at the Hockenheimring and her expectations for the upcoming Norisring round.

You can follow Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky racing news and updates on her official Facebook page, and her official Twitter account.

You had a mixed season opener at the Hockenheimring with great qualifying and unlucky races, tell us more about your weekend there.

Yes Hockenheim was a mixed weekend, started very well and ended very bad. But, that's racing sometimes, it's not always a straight road to success :-)

I was very happy with the qualifying, when I saw on the board that I was P5 I was jumping high of happiness! The feeling in the rain was great, I do really love this car.

In race 1 it didn't take so long before I got hit from behind, and almost spun. I lost a few places there, but even though that and some technical problems I finished P8 among us permanent drivers, which in the end is okey.

For race 2 we got a safety car already after the start, and then in the restart I got hit so bad that I couldn't continue. Like I said, it's not always easy, but I'm happy with my speed and look forward to Norisring to see how me, my car and the track comes together there!

The new Audi Sport TT Cup had a successful launch, tell us more about the level of competition.

The level in the series in extremely high! If you have a bad day, you are last. That's how close it is!

The next round will be at the Norisring, a circuit where you dominated in the former Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup. What are your targets in the "Monaco of DTM"?

 My target is like it is always, to do my very best. All things can happen in racing (look at Hockenheim ;-) ) so my goal is to learn more about the car, gain more experience and find a good feeling.

What do you think about the new race format in DTM?

I think it's great that they do 2 races! For the spectators visiting the track the whole weekend, they get more racing which is of course great.

Read our first interview with Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky: Part 1 - Part 2

Photo credit: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky

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Interview with Audi Sport TT Cup driver Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky - Part 2

By Tarek Ramchani

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky is a young and talented driver from Sweden. She has successfully competed in the Volkswagen Sicrocco R-Cup taking a great win in this demanding single make series. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky will compete in the newly formed Audi Sport TT Cup this year.

We were pleased to have an interview with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. A very interesting Q/A about her 2014 season in the Volkswagen Sicrocco R-Cup, her expectations for 2015 and more.

You can follow Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky racing news and updates on her official Facebook page, and her official Twitter account.

This is part two of the interview (Part one is here).

How great is for the Audi Sport TT Cup to share the weekends with a prestigious championship like the DTM?

Is one of the most important things in the Cup. Both regarding spectators, and also to get the chance to “show yourself” in the same area as your goal (DTM) is.

What are your targets for the upcoming 2015 season?

Like I said before, my goal is to do my own best, and hopefully that results in even results during the year, and to be a top driver.

Which race track is your favourite? 

A driver always likes the tracks where they’ve made good results, so for me of course Norisring is one of my favourites, but I also like “hilly” tracks like Red Bull Ring and Nürburgring.

You did some rallycross events in the past. How about a ride with EKS RX Audi team in FIA World Rallycross Championship?

That would be so fun! I really enjoyed testing RX, so if I’d get that opportunity I would definitely not say no to it!

Looking at Audi's full factory motorsport effort, do you prefer FIA WEC/Le Mans 24 Hours or the DTM?

Same here, I wouldn’t say no to anything if I would get the great chance to do one of these events, but my goal is definitely the DTM.

What are your dreams for the future within your motor racing career?

To drive the DTM, and to be a top driver there. That’s my dream.

Photo credit: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky / Audi Media / Volkwagen Motorsport

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Interview with Audi Sport TT Cup driver Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky - Part 1

By Tarek Ramchani

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky is a young and talented driver from Sweden. She has successfully competed in the Volkswagen Sicrocco R-Cup taking a great win in this demanding single make series. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky will compete in the newly formed Audi Sport TT Cup this year.

We were pleased to have an interview with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. A very interesting Q/A about her 2014 season in the Volkswagen Sicrocco R-Cup, her expectations for 2015 and more.

You can follow Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky racing news and updates on her official Facebook page, and her official Twitter account.

This is part one of the interview.

You had a great year in the Volkswagen Sicrocco R-Cup, tell us more about your 2014 season.

It started of quite tough for me, I really had to struggle with my mental attitude, how I looked at things that I wanted to happen, and that happened.

After a really bad race at Oschersleben, I told myself that my goal from thereon would be to do the best I could, no matter which place I placed myself in the race. What happen happens, and all I can do is my very own best.

So I did, tried to focus on being fully “there”, living in the moment, and the next race I won! After that I struggled with my qualifyings, and at the end of the season I found a method which was working for me.

You have been recently selected to compete in the newly formed Audi Sport TT Cup, tell us more about that.

165 persons from 20 countries applied for the Cup, and 18 persons were selected. So as you can see, it was hard and tough to get selected!

I am very happy and proud, to now get the chance to both work and drive with Audi. (I work as an Instructor for Audi driving experience) It will be driven as a support class to the DTM, in which will have 6 events together, each race weekend we’ll have 2 races.

What are the differences between the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup and the Audi Sport TT Cup?

They are quite similar in the “set up” regarding how many races, number of cars, push-to-pass, how the organisation is being built up (coaches and so on) and that we drive with the DTM.

The big difference I’m seeing already now (I haven’t tested the car, so can’t say anything about the difference there) is regarding marketing. Audi are really pushing for the Cup in the media, which of course is great!

How does the driving experience differ between the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup and the Audi Sport TT Cup?

I’d say it’s the same. Some drivers are really experienced, and some are completely new. Maybe a bigger part of the field has more experience than the other part.

The 2015 Audi Sport TT Cup field looks very competitive. Can the new series bring a new Kelvin van der Linde?

The goal from Audi Sport’s side is to find new talents, so I do absolutely think it will bring out new great drivers. Maybe I shouldn’t say bring out, maybe more “lighten up” great drivers that maybe didn’t get much attention before.

Like I said, Audi is really pushing this Cup with marketing, and I think that the series before didn’t enlighten the drivers like this.

Photo credit: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky / Volkwagen Motorsport

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