Harri Toivonen

Harri Toivonen (born 22 October 1960) is a Finnish former rally and race car driver. He is the younger brother of the late Henri Toivonen and son of Pauli Toivonen.

Rally career

Toivonen's 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, Toivonen 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.

Toivonen continued competing later that year. He drove his Metro to eighth 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, Toivonen 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 ninth 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.

Toivonen is now involved with Ian's Dawsons Le Mans Prototype Eco Racing Team.

Racing record

Complete WRC results

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 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