When a woman surprises everyone in a male-dominated sport by being successful, then the entire motor racing scene soon becomes aware of it. Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky is one such example. She lined up in the 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, won the round at the Norisring and became the first and only lady racing driver ever to take a win in the one-make cup which folded that same year after five seasons. Ahlin-Kottulinsky also competed in the follow-on series, the Audi Sport TT Cup, in 2015 - and was impressive once again. Whilst the granddaughter of Dakar Rally winner Freddy Kottulinsky did not manage to win, she showed that she was destined for higher things by securing a podium and posting two fastest laps.

She is now on the next rung of the ladder with Team Aust Motorsport, who are debuting this season in the 2016 ADAC GT Masters and have signed Ahlin-Kottulinsky as a driver. She shares one of two new Audi R8 LMS cars with the more experienced Italian partner, Marco Bonanomi. "I had some contact with Aust Motorsport in 2014," said Ahlin-Kottulinsky, explaining how the offer of a drive came about. "The team had asked me in 2015 if I wanted to race in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, but I said that I would prefer to drive an Audi. So, I switched to the Audi Sport TT Cup to begin with, and then the chance of a drive for Aust in the 2016 ADAC GT Masters in an R8 LMS popped up around the same time. Everything was agreed by the end of the year."

Apart from Rahel Frey, Ahlin-Kottulinsky is the only woman in a field of more than 60 entrants in the Super Sports Cars League. How does it feel to be a lone female surrounded by so many men? "I´m used to it. Men were always in the majority in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup and in the Audi Sport TT Cup too. I like to keep in touch with Rahel (Frey). She helped me a lot when I lined up for the first time with the Audi Driving Experience in the Audi R8 LMS."

Ahlin-Kottulinsky/Bonanomi are still waiting for their first points after four of 14 races in the current ADAC GT Masters season. Their best result to date is a P17 in the second race at Oschersleben. There´s no reason for Ahlin-Kottulinsky to get anxious: "I´ve raced front-wheel drive vehicles for years in one-make cups, but the Audi has rear-wheel drive. This is just one of many major differences. I´m learning more with every session. I´m not at all stressed, as the project is meant to last three years. 2016 is the season during which I´m on a learning curve, getting to grips with the team, with the car, with the series. I´m certain that we´ll rack up some points soon."