Background
Carlsson, who was born in Örebro, began his rallying career in the late 1960s, competing in national rallies in a Volvo PV544.
Carlsson, who was born in Örebro, began his rallying career in the late 1960s, competing in national rallies in a Volvo PV544.
Carlsson"s first World Rally Championship (WRC) event came in 1974, when he drove a works Datsun 260Z on Rally de Portugal. He then drove for Fiat in an Abarth 124 on that year"s Royal Automobile Club Rally and the 1975 Swedish Rally, where he finished fifth, ahead of teammate Markku Alen. He then spent many years driving for Bayerische Motoren Werke, although he also drove for Mercedes in 1980.
In 1984 he joined Mazda, initially playing a key role in developing the rear-wheel drive Group B RX-7.
In 1987 Mazda introduced the Group A 323 4WD. At the end of 1991 Mazda pulled the plug on its rally programme and Carlsson retired from the WRC. He also drove for Toyota in the European Rallycross Championship in 1995 and 1996. He finished fifth in 1995 and fourth in 1996.
Carlsson died on 28 October 2009, aged 62.
