Rally de Portugal
Carlsson began his rallying career in 1966, competing in national rallies in a Volvo PV544. He won his fourth rally. 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 RAC Rally and the 1975 Swedish Rally, where he finished fifth, ahead of teammate Markku Alen. He then spent many years driving for BMW, although he also drove for Mercedes in 1980, gaining a fifth place in Rally de Portugal as his best finish.