Harri Toivonen
Harri Toivonen (born 22 October 1960) is a Finnish former rally and race car driver. He is the younger brother of Henri Toivonen and son of Pauli Toivonen.
His first World Rally Championship outcome was at the 1980 1000 Lakes Rally in a Chrysler Avenger, former car of his brother Henri.
In 1983 he drove a Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo, mainly for the Finnish Junior Rally Team. In 1986 he came to a deal with the Austin Rover works team to drive the British Rally open in an MG Metro 6R4. While competing at the Wales Rally in early May, he heard the news of his brother's unfortunate accident at the Tour de Corse which cost Henri and fellow co-driver Sergio Cresto their lives.
However he continued in competing later that year. He drove his Metro to a respective 8th place at the 1000 Lakes Rally, but retired at the RAC Rally in November. The rally his brother Henri won one year earlier.
After some unsuccessful years in rallying after 1986 he switched to circuit racing. He drove in several racing classes in which he managed some successes. He participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 finishing 9th overall driving a Kremer Racing Porsche 962 with JJ Lehto and Manuel Reuter.
In 2002, Toivonen hung up his helmet as a full-time driver.
In 2006, he opened an exhibition to tribute to his brother Henri at the Neste Oil Rally Finland.
Harri is now involved with Ian's Dawsons Le Mans Prototype Eco Racing Team.
Racing record
Complete WRC results
Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | WDC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Harri Toivonen | Chrysler Avenger | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | GRC | ARG | FIN Ret |
NZL | ITA | FRA | GBR | CIV | NC | 0 | |
1981 | Harri Toivonen | Talbot Sunbeam Lotus | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | ARG | BRA | FIN Ret |
ITA | CIV | GBR | NC | 0 | |
1982 | David Sutton Cars Ltd. | Ford Escort RS1800 | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | NZL | BRA | FIN Ret |
ITA | CIV | GBR | NC | 0 | |
1983 | Harri Toivonen | Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | NZL | ARG | FIN Ret |
ITA | CIV | NC | 0 | ||
Mitsubishi Ralliart | GBR Ret |
||||||||||||||||
1986 | Austin Rover WRT | MG Metro 6R4 | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | NZL | ARG | FIN 8 |
CIV | ITA | GBR Ret |
USA | 49th | 3 |
1987 | Harri Toivonen | Mazda 323 4WD | MON | SWE Ret |
POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | USA | NZL | ARG | FIN Ret |
CIV | ITA | GBR | NC | 0 |
1988 | Harri Toivonen | Lancia Delta Integrale | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | USA | NZL | ARG | FIN Ret |
CIV | ITA | GBR | NC | 0 |
24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Manuel Reuter JJ Lehto |
Porsche 962CK6 | C2 | 343 | 9th | 9th |
1992 | British Racing Motors | Wayne Taylor Richard Jones |
BRM P351 | C1 | 20 | DNF | DNF |
1996 | Kremer Racing | Christophe Bouchut Jürgen Lässig |
Kremer K8 Spyder | LMP1 | 110 | DNF | DNF |
1997 | Pacific Racing Ltd. | Eliseo Salazar Jésus Pareja |
BRM P301-Nissan | LMP | 6 | DNF | DNF |
2001 | Team Ascari | Werner Lupberger Ben Collins |
Ascari A410-Judd | LMP900 | 134 | DNF | DNF |
External links
- (Italian) Site dedicated Henri Toivonen