Harri Toivonen

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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]

Contents

Rally career

His 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 pay 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

YearEntrantCar12345678910111213WDCPoints
1980 Harri Toivonen Chrysler Avenger MON SWE POR KEN GRC ARG FIN
Ret
NZL ITA FRA GBR CIV NC0
1981 Harri Toivonen Talbot Sunbeam Lotus MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC ARG BRA FIN
Ret
ITA CIV GBR NC0
1982 David Sutton Cars Ltd. Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL BRA FIN
Ret
ITA CIV GBR NC0
1983 Harri Toivonen Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN
Ret
ITA CIV NC0
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 49th3
1987 Harri Toivonen Mazda 323 4WD MON SWE
Ret
POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN
Ret
CIV ITA GBR NC0
1988 Harri Toivonen Lancia Delta Integrale MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN
Ret
CIV ITA GBR NC0

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
1991 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Kremer Racing Flag of Germany.svg Manuel Reuter
Flag of Finland.svg JJ Lehto
Porsche 962CK6C23439th9th
1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Racing Motors Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Wayne Taylor
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Jones
BRM P351 C120DNFDNF
1996 Flag of Germany.svg Kremer Racing Flag of France.svg Christophe Bouchut
Flag of Germany.svg Jürgen Lässig
Kremer K8 Spyder LMP1110DNFDNF
1997 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pacific Racing Ltd. Flag of Chile.svg Eliseo Salazar
Flag of Spain.svg Jesús Pareja
BRM P301-Nissan LMP6DNFDNF
2001 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Ascari Flag of South Africa.svg Werner Lupberger
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins
Ascari A410-Judd LMP900134DNFDNF

References

  1. "Pauli Toivonen and Harri Toivonen Profiles". www.thruxton.f9.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2020.