Swedish karting star Mathilda Olsson steps up to racing cars, as she joins Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia with Fragus Motorsport.
Sweden's karting star Mathilda Olsson will make the step up to race cars in 2022, as she announced to have joined Fragus Motorsport in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia series. The 20 year old driver had a relatively late start to her karting career, but after her debut at 14, she quickly moved up the ranks of international competitions and became one of Europe's most exciting prospects: Olsson entered over 200 international karting events and stormed to victory in the 2019 Rotax Max Challenge Euro Trophy – one of most important European series – having finished third in 2018. In 2020, secured back-to-back victories and defended the title. "I thought it was hardly possible to win two years in a row, but I succeeded." – explained Olsson. "The European Championship titles weigh heavily and have meant a lot to me." She also won several national competitions in Sweden, like the Rotax Max Senior and the Prince Carl Philips Racing Cup. This achievement granted her the chance to test the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport – the same car used in the Sprint Challenge Scandinavia. This year, Olsson also had the opportunity to test the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup as part of the same program. "These two valuable test days of course contributed to the choice of starting my racing career in a Porsche" – Mathilda said. "I got many laps in the cars and very valuable information about the Scandinavian Porsche championships. I have tested other cars as well, but it is Porsche that has appealed to me the most." "Now it feels right for me to take the step to cars and I am really looking forward to competing in the championship." At its inaugural edition, the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia has attracted a big field of over 30 entries in 2021. With formula cars requiring a skyrocketing amount of financial support, more and more successful karting drivers are focusing their efforts on prestigious GT championships early on in their careers. Olsson, who feels she has proved her talent in karting, is ready for the next challenge and has her eyes on the Carrera Cup. "I am eager for new challenges, but the Carrera Cup may be a little too big a step for me. I want to learn a little in the Sprint Challenge first and see where it takes me. But the long-term goal is the Carrera Cup." Mathilda will have support from one of the top teams in the Scandinavian Porsche scene: Fragus Motorsport. The squad will extend its presence to the Sprint Challenge in 2022 with a two car operation, as Olsson joins teammate Jonas Sjöström "It is a professional, serious and successful team that felt like the obvious choice when the plans for 2022 began to take shape." – commented the young Uppsala-native. "I am convinced that Fragus Motorsport with its knowledge and experience can give me good conditions to succeed." The 2022 schedule will see a 7-event calendar – with each round featuring a double-header – starting from the Anderstorp round on May 13-14. Drivecenter Arena and Falkenbergs will host races in June and July, while a second round will be held in August at Anderstorp. In the second half of the season, drivers will battle out in Karlskoga and Rudskogen Motorsenter, Norway, before the finale at Mantorp Park (Sep 30-Oct 1).