Harri Toivonen (born 22 October 1960) is a former rally and race car driver from Finland. He is the younger brother of the late Henri Toivonen and son of Pauli Toivonen.[1]
Rally career
editHis first World Rally Championship outcome was at the 1980 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland driving 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 accident at the Tour de Corse which cost Henri and co-driver Sergio Cresto their lives.
Harri continued competing later that year. He drove his Metro to 8th place at the 1000 Lakes Rally, but retired at the UK's 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 with some successes. He participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 finishing 9th overall, driving a Porsche 962 for Kremer Racing 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
editComplete WRC results
editYear | 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
editYear | 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 Jesús Pareja |
BRM P301-Nissan | LMP | 6 | DNF | DNF |
2001 | Team Ascari | Werner Lupberger Ben Collins |
Ascari A410-Judd | LMP900 | 134 | DNF | DNF |
References
edit- ^ "Pauli Toivonen and Harri Toivonen Profiles". www.thruxton.f9.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
External links
edit- (in Italian) Site dedicated Henri Toivonen