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 Germany Porsche Kremer Racing Germany Manuel Reuter
Finland JJ Lehto
Porsche 962CK6 C2 343 9th 9th
1992 United Kingdom British Racing Motors South Africa Wayne Taylor
United Kingdom Richard Jones
BRM P351 C1 20 DNF DNF
1996 Germany Kremer Racing France Christophe Bouchut
Germany Jürgen Lässig
Kremer K8 Spyder LMP1 110 DNF DNF
1997 United Kingdom Pacific Racing Ltd. Chile Eliseo Salazar
Spain Jésus Pareja
BRM P301-Nissan LMP 6 DNF DNF
2001 United Kingdom Team Ascari South Africa Werner Lupberger
United Kingdom Ben Collins
Ascari A410-Judd LMP900 134 DNF DNF

External links

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