 At his first Monte Carlo rally in 2002 he promptly came in 4th just off the podium driving a Ford Puma S1600.At his home rally of Sweden, driving a Mitsubishi in the group N class, he finished 1st.In the 2005 WRC season Carlsson was asked to stand in for Markko Märtin after the Wales Rally GB, in which Märtin's co-driver was killed.