Celebrating the life of Susanne Kottulinsky, pioneering Swedish rally driver who broke barriers for women in motorsport in the 1980s, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire the next generations.
With a message on social media on Wednesday 12th March 2025, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and her brother Fredrik Åhlin announced the passing of their mother, Susanne Kottulinsky, aged 64.
A trailblazer in motorsport, Susanne leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire women in rallying and in motorsport.
Born in 1960, Susanne Kottulinsky became Sweden’s leading female rally driver in the 1980s, competing at the highest levels in both the European and World Rally Championship events. Her best WRC result came in 1986 when she finished 13th in the Swedish Rally, driving a Volvo 240. Over the course of her career, she participated in ten WRC events—five in Sweden and five in the UK.
Motorsport ran in Susanne’s blood: her father, Freddy Kottulinsky, was a successful rally driver himself, winning the Dakar Rally in 1980. Her passion for racing started to grow, and she decided to forge her own path in the sport. She pursued studies in automotive mechanics, as the only woman in her program, and proved her determination to break down gender barriers early on in her life.
Kottulinsky's journey in rallying began as a co-driver before transitioning to driving herself. Her early years saw her competing in an Opel Ascona, sharing driving and co-driving duties with Lotta Wennberg, with whom she had purchased her first rally car. By 1982, she had earned a spot in Sweden’s first junior national rally team and competed in her first WRC event, the RAC Rally in the UK.
Her rising reputation led to multiple manufacturers vying for her talent, and by 1984, she had become a factory driver for Volvo, competing successfully both nationally and internationally.
She achieved her first international top-ten finish in 1983 at the Eisenwurzen Pyhrn Rally in Austria, followed by a career-best sixth place in the same event the next year. She continued to build on these successes, securing top-ten finishes in Germany, including eighth place in the ADAC 3-Städte Rally.
In 1986, she transitioned to Audi as a works-supported driver for VAG Sweden, following in the footsteps of rally legend Michèle Mouton. That same year, she secured a fifth-place finish in the Sachs Winter Rally, also taking the Group N class victory, a performance that helped her secure fifth place in the German championship standings. Kottulinsky also competed with an Audi 200 Quattro in 1987 and 1988, earning multiple top-ten finishes.
Beyond her competitive career, Susanne remained deeply involved in motorsport. She became a driver coach for Audi and worked extensively within the FIA, notably as a member of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission alongside Michèle Mouton from 2016.
She was also a respected board member of the Swedish Motorsport Association and played an essential role in the organization of Rally Sweden. Her commitment to advancing women in motorsport was instrumental in increasing opportunities for female drivers.
A six-time winner of the Swedish Girls' Championship/Regional Rally Championship (1983, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, and 1995), Kottulinsky’s impact on women in motorsport extended beyond the track. Her dedication inspired the next generation of female racers, including her daughter Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, who has built a successful career in circuit racing and off-road competitions such as Extreme E. Her son, Fredrik Åhlin, also pursued a career in rallying, continuing the family’s motorsport tradition.
Her legacy is one of great passion for the sport and groundbreaking achievements. Susanne Kottulinsky was not just a successful rally driver - she was a pioneer for women in motorsport and her contributions to the sport, both on and off the track, will be remembered for generations to come.
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