Mikaela putting Continental to the test

Extreme E's Official Tyre Supplier and Founding Partner Continental Tyres turned to swift Swede Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky when it needed a racer to provide developmental insight and feedback for its bespoke all-surface tyres.

As Continental’s Test Driver for the series, she is one of only three members of the Drivers’ Programme to have driven the ODYSSEY 21 electric SUV in anger, after joining compatriots Timmy and Kevin Hansen in the Autumn for what she described as an encouraging and productive test. The 27-year-old was also the first to drive the car in public back at its unveiling with a run up the famed hill-climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2019. 

In fact, Mikaela was involved with the project even before the ODYSSEY 21’s initial prototype was made physical – when it existed only as a series of CAD drawings and sketches on the desks of Spark Racing Technology’s engineers in their factory just south of Paris.

“When I got the call to be the test driver for Continental in the series, I couldn’t believe it,” she started. “I was overjoyed and very happy they put the faith in me.

“Joining the Drivers’ Programme and driving the car at Goodwood for the first time was huge for me personally – that’s when it all became real. I was involved before we had a car or even tyres so to see everything come to life, and get behind the wheel of such a unique vehicle was an amazing moment.

“Working with Continental is great and the project has really benefitted from their off-road knowledge and expertise. It’s a huge car but once you’re in it you feel one with it and you know exactly how to handle it, even from the very first test.”

Jumping out of the car following its first shakedown run at Chateau de Lastours near Carcassonne in the south of France – used by a number of World Rally Championship and Dakar outfits as a proving ground – Mikaela was full of compliments.

“As early as lap two I was able to push,” said the Swede after strapping into the E-SUV in October. “The car felt nimble, agile and responsive – it definitely didn’t feel its size. It drifted as you’d want a four-wheel drive car to do then it pulls and recovers nicely when you apply the throttle. I already feel comfortable in the driver’s seat.

“We tested the tyres to their maximum on a rough, off-road surface and it was a great opportunity to see how much we can push them, where the limit is and how we can improve them. They have to take big impacts, and work across multiple surfaces and in different environments.”

Mikaela has worked her way up the ladder as one of few females in what is a male-dominated sport, following her pioneering mother Susanne’s lead – a competitor of 20 years in the European Rally Championship, representing Opel, Volvo and Audi.

With Grandfather ‘Freddy’ a Paris-Dakar winner, father Jerry a successful European Rally Championship and brother Fredrik a rally driver, too, racing is evidently in the blood.

Mikaela believes Extreme E taking a lead on gender equality will open up avenues for others following their passion and looking to embark on the same journey.

“I love racing cars,” she added. “I love driving cars fast and I think that other females love to do. I don’t know if it’s that other females don’t think others would want them to do it or support them in getting into motorsport.

“I can say from my experience that it took me a while to be accepted. I had to really show that I had the technical knowledge and that I was quick as a driver – not only against competitors but to the team itself.

“Being clear about wanting more female drivers sends a signal that your series and motorsport wants more female drivers and then more will dare to take a chance and try it out. The Equality Programme is great for that, as well as holding up role models for the younger generation to show that it’s possible.

“The whole format of Extreme E is future thinking. The vehicles, the technology, the sustainability and now the equality programme – a first in history with a 50-50 split of male and female drivers – is all so ground-breaking.

“It’s a great platform for female drivers to grow. It’s about getting the chance to develop and become the best and fastest driver. Nobody gets into the car and is a champion at Round 1. You need to come into a great championship with a great team around you to win and this platform really encourages that.

“I remember getting questions not so long ago about when I thought we’d see 50-50 grids in motorsport. I thought it would take a lot of time but here we are, in 2021.”

With the male-female format now clear, Mikaela sees aspects of Extreme E’s formula that are ideally suited to both encouraging teamwork and rewarding different driving styles and perspectives. Ingrained knowledge of Swedish snow and ice is a weapon in the arsenal should she compete in Extreme E’s inaugural 2021 campaign.

“I’m incredibly thankful I have experience on ice,” she said. “It teaches you to be incredibly smooth and to find rhythm. This is really useful when it comes to electric vehicles because you get the full power and torque from the motor right away. You have to be really progressive on the throttle peddle and that can suit my style and the style I see from a lot of girls racing through karts up the rank. The ODYSSEY 21 rewards smoothness. 

“At the test with the Hansen brothers, we spoke together about the car and how to handle it and get the best out of it to try and develop the car and each other. I thought it was a really good day and now to find out that it’s going to be that way, with that collaborative nature in the series when it starts next year, is incredible.

“I have some off-road experience but the perfect complement to me would be someone whose focus has been off-road racing and someone that really likes working in a team as that’s what Extreme E is all about. That would be my wish-list for a team-mate.”