Kyösti Hämäläinen

Kyösti Hämäläinen (born 16 September 1945 in Helsinki) is a Finnish rally driver. He contested 19 World Rally Championship events, winning the 1977 1000 Lakes Rally overall. Hämäläinen also won 13 Finnish Rally Championship titles between 1973 and 1986.

Career Hämäläinen began his career in 1965 by taking part in ice racing events with rental cars. In 1969, he moved to rallying and in 1973 took his Finnish Rally Championship championship in group 1, driving an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV. He followed it up with four consecutive Group 1 titles between 1975 and 1978, using a Sunbeam Avenger(1975) and Ford Escort(1976,1977,1978). In 1978 Hämäläinen moved to Group 2 and won eight consecutive Finnish Championships with a Ford Escort, from 1979 to 1986.

Hämäläinen's career in the World Rally Championship consisted mainly of his entries into 1000 Lakes Rally, which was also part of the Finnish Rally Championship. His first WRC start was the 1973 1000 Lakes Rally, in which he retired. 1977 was the most successful year of Hämäläinen's WRC career, including an unexpected victory in the 1000 Lakes Rally, a 5th-place finish in International Swedish Rally and a 6th place in Lombard RAC Rally.

Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 WDC Points 1973 Kyösti Hämäläinen Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV MON SWE POR KEN MOR GRE POL FINRet AUT ITA USA GBR FRA N/A N/A 1974 Kyösti Hämäläinen Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV MONC SWEC POR KEN GREC FIN17 ITA CAN USA GBR FRA N/A N/A 1975 Kyösti Hämäläinen Sunbeam Avenger MON SWE KEN GRE MOR POR FIN9 ITA FRA GBR N/A N/A 1976 Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Escort RS 2000 MKII MON SWE POR KEN GRE MOR FINRet ITA FRA N/A N/A Kyösti Hämäläinen GBRRet 1977 Kyösti Hämäläinen Ford Escort RS 2000 MKII MON SWE5 POR KEN NZL GRE N/A N/A Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII FIN1 CAN ITA FRA Kyösti Hämäläinen GBR6 1978 Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII MON SWE KEN POR GRE FIN8 CAN ITA CIV FRA GBR - 0 1979 Kyösti Hämäläinen Mercedes-Benz 300 D MON SWE POR KEN GRE NZL FIN31 CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV - 0 1980 Kyösti Hämäläinen Lada VAZ 21011 MON SWE POR KEN GRE ARG FIN18 NZL ITA FRA GBR CIV - 0 1981 VMJ Racing Ford Escort RS MON SWERet POR KEN FRA GRE ARG BRA - 0 Team Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo FIN11 ITA CIV GBR 1982 Kyösti Hämäläinen Ford Escort RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL BRA FINRet ITA CIV GBR - 0 1985 Ford Finland Ford Escort RS Turbo MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN28 ITA CIV GBR - 0 1986 Kyösti Hämäläinen Ford Sierra XR MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FINRet CIV ITA GBR USA - 0 1987 Kyösti Hämäläinen Ford Sierra RS Cosworth MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FINRet CIV ITA GBR - 0 1988 Kyösti Hämäläinen Ford Sierra RS Cosworth MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN15 CIV ITA GBR - 0