Leo Kinnunen

Leo Juhani "Leksa" Kinnunen (5 August 1943 – 26 July 2017) was a Finnish racing driver, and the first Formula One driver from Finland.

Kinnunen won the Nordic Challenge Cup in 1969 and then was hired by the JWA team to drive one of the factory-backed Gulf-sponsored Porsche 917K in the 1970 World Sportscar Championship season endurance races, 1000km, 6 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours. Paired with Pedro Rodríguez, they won in Daytona, Brands Hatch, Monza, and Watkins Glen. When the Mexican was sick, the Flying Finn set the all-time fastest lap time at the 1970 Targa Florio at 33:36.0 (79.890 mph/128.571 km/h) for the 72km long lap in the Sicilian mountains as Kinnunen had to catch up to and pass a Ferrari.

When Jackie Oliver returned to JWA for 1971, Kinnunen continued elsewhere with sportscar racing, winning the European Interserie from 1971–1973. In 1974, he switched to Formula One, but in addition to the problems with the underpowered Surtees TS16, his team soon ran into financial problems. He was the last driver to compete in Formula One using an open-face helmet.

Early career

Kinnunen started his racing career on motorcycles, but switched to four wheels after receiving his driver's license in the early 1960s. He quickly gained success in rallying, autocross and ice racing. He finished runner-up in the Finnish Rally Championship and matched the points total of the winner Simo Lampinen. Kinnunen also participated in the Finnish F3 Championship with an outdated Brabham in 1967, and a Titan which he drove to several victories in 1968, including one at Ahvenisto Race Circuit in which he managed to beat Swedish future Formula One star Ronnie Peterson.

International breakthrough Two of the Gulf-JWA Porsches Kinnunen raced in 1970, the No. 40 908/03 of the '70 Targa, and the No. 21 917KK of '70 Le Mans In 1969, Kinnunen made a complete switch to circuit racing and won the Nordic Challenge Cup, predecessor of the popular Interserie, with two wins and a second place at Keimola Motor Stadium after a close battle with Jochen Rindt. In October he was then invited to test a Porsche 917 at Österreichring and made such an impression that he was hired by JWA to partner Pedro Rodriguez in the World Sportscar Championship. The pair surprised the racing world by winning the first race, 1970 24 Hours of Daytona, and went on to win three more rounds in the championship for Porsche. For Kinnunen, however, this was unsatisfying time. The car was built for Rodriguez' measurements and driving style, and after Kinnunen managed to quickly outpace him with his own set-ups, he wasn't allowed to modify the car to suit his style anymore.

Formula One Kinnunen was close to moving to Formula One already for the 1971 season. With the help of Jochen Rindt he was negotiating for a race seat with Team Lotus, which was dominating the series at the time and eventually won the World Constructors' Championship that season. After Rindt's sudden death at Monza, the negotiations came to a halt. According to Kinnunen, Bernie Ecclestone wanted him to drive for free. Kinnunen turned down the offer and demanded a wage for his services, as he was a professional racer. He remained in the sport in administration and lived in Turku.

Kinnunen was asked to drive in the film Le Mans personally by actor and racing enthusiast Steve McQueen, who himself drove for Porsche in North America. Kinnunen's contract with Porsche did not allow the performance and he was replaced by David Piper, who was severely injured during the filming.

Racing record Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Points 1974 AAW Racing Team Surtees TS16 Ford V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA NC 0

Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 WDC Points 1973 Leo Kinnunen Porsche Carrera MON SWE POR KEN MOR GRE POL FIN AUT ITA USA GBR FRA N/A N/A 1974 Fiat S.p.A. Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye MON SWE POR KEN GRE FIN N/A N/A Fiat ITA CAN USA GBR FRA 1977 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 MON SWE POR KEN NZL GRE FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR - 0 1979 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 MON SWE POR KEN GRE NZL FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV - 0 1981 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 SC MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE ARG BRA FIN ITA CIV GBR - 0 1982 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 SC MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL BRA FIN ITA CIV GBR - 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1970 J.W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. Pedro Rodriguez Porsche 917K S5.0 22 DNF DNF 1976 Egon Evertz K.G. Egon Evertz Porsche 908/3 Turbo Gp.63.0 124 DNF DNF

Other results in track racing (not Formula 1 or Le Mans) Day Race Car Drivers Manufacturer Classification 19.6.1966 Keimola [GT/S] Porsche 911 Kinnunen 11.9.1966 Artukainen [Specials] VW MAC-1 Kinnunen 4. 5.5.1967 II Helsingin Vauhtikisat Brabham BT21 Kinnunen Leo Kinnunen 4. 28.5.1967 I Helsingin Suurajot Leo Kinnunen (AAW Racing ?) 4. 6.8.1967 II Hämeenlinna Ajot Leo Kinnunen 2. 3.9.1967 Keimola Brabham BT18 Kinnunen Leo Kinnunen 11. 5.9.1967 Ahvenisto DNF 7.6.1968 Hämeenlinna Titan Mk 3 Kinnunen 1. 28.7.1968 Djursland Ring AAW Racing Team 2. 4.8.1968 XV Västkustloppet AAW Racing Team 3. 18.8.1968 VI Hämeenlinnan Ajot AAW Racing Team 2. 1.9.1968 Stockholmsloppet DNF 15.9.1968 Suomen Grand Prix DNF 11.5.1969 IV Helsingin Vauhtikisat AAW Racing Team 3. 15.6.1969 Hämeenlinnan Kansainväliset Ajot AAW Racing Team 3. 24.8.1969 Nordic Challenge Keimola Porsche 908/02 Kinnunen AAW 2. 31.8.1969 Nordic Challenge Mantorp Park AAW 1. 2.9.1969 Suomen Grand Prix Titan Mk 3 Kinnunen 2. 14.9.1969 Nordic Challenge Anderstorp Porsche 908/02 Kinnunen Racing Team AAW 1. 18.1.1970 200 mile Buenos Aires Kinnunen / van Lennep DNA 1.2.1970 24 Hours of Daytona Porsche 917 Rodriguez / Kinnunen / Redman J. W. Engineering 1. 21.3.1970 12 h Sebring Rodriguez / Kinnunen / Siffert J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. 4. 12.4.1970 1000 km Brands Hatch Rodriguez / Kinnunen J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. 1. 25.4.1970 1000 km Monza J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. 1. 3.5.1970 Targa Florio Porsche 908/03 Kinnunen / Rodriguez J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. 2. 17.5.1970 1000 km Spa Porsche 917 Rodriguez / Kinnunen J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. DNF 31.5.1970 1000 km Nürburgring J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. DNF 11.7.1970 6 h Watkins Glen J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. 1. 19.7.1970 GP Mugello Abarth 2000 SP Kinnunen Abarth & C. 2. 23.8.1970 Interserie Keimola McLaren M12 Kinnunen Bill Bradley Racing 8. 6.9.1970 500 km Nürburgring Abarth 2000 SP Kinnunen Abarth & Co. 3. 11.10.1970 1000 km Zeltweg Porsche 917 Rodriguez / Kinnunen J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. DNF 2.5.1971 Interserie Imola Porsche 917 Spyder Kinnunen A.A.W. Racing Team 3. 16.5.1971 Targa Florio Alfa Romeo T33/3 Stommelen / Kinnunen Autodelta S.p.a. DNF 30.5.1971 1000 km Nürburgring Porsche 911 S Kinnunen / Waldegård Leo Kinnunen 16. 6.6.1971 Interserie Zolder Porsche 917 Spyder Kinnunen Racing Team AAW 2. 4.7.1971 Interserie Hockenheim Racing Team AAW 2. 11.7.1971 Interserie Norisring AAW Racing Team DNF 22.8.1971 Interserie Keimola AAW Racing Team 1. 12.9.1971 500 km Imola A.A.W. Racing Team 4. 3.10.1971 Interserie Hockenheim A.A.W. Racing Team. 3. 17.10.1971 1000 km of Paris Larrousse / Kinnunen A.A.W. 2. 3.4.1972 Interserie Nürburgring Porsche 917/10 Kinnunen Racing Team AAW (Keimola Racing) 4. 1.5.1972 Interserie Imola Racing Team AAW DNF 21.5.1972 Interserie Silverstone Racing Team AAW 1. 9.7.1972 Interserie Zeltweg Racing Team AAW 9. 16.7.1972 Interserie Hockenheim Racing Team AAW 1. 6.8.1972 Interserie Norisring Racing Team AAW 1. 27.8.1972 Interserie Keimola Racing Team AAW 1. 24.9.1972 Interserie Nürburgring Racing Team AAW 1. 1.10.1972 Interserie Hockenheim Racing Team AAW 1. 1.4.1973 Interserie Nürburgring Porsche 917/10 Kinnunen Motorsportclub Stuttgart – Racing Team AAW 2. 1.5.1973 Interserie Imola Motorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW 2. 13.5.1973 Targa Florio Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Kinnunen / Haldi Martini Racing 3. 20.5.1973 Interserie Silverstone Porsche 917/10 Kinnunen Motorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW 1. 24.6.1973 Interserie Norisring Motorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW 1. 1.7.1973 Mainz-Finthen [S+1.6] Leo Kinnunen 1. 15.7.1973 Interserie Hockenheim Motorsport-Club Stuttgart e. V. Racing Team AAW 9. 19.8.1973 Interserie Misano Motorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW 1. 30.9.1973 Interserie Hockenheim MSC Stuttgart 1. 29.9.1974 Interserie Hockenheim Martini Racing Team 1. 23.3.1975 1000 km Mugello Porsche 908/3 Kinnunen / Müller / van Lennep Team Dr. Dannesberger 16. 6.4.1975 800 km Dijon Kinnunen Julio Gargallo DNA 4.5.1975 1000 km Spa Müller / Kinnunen Martini Racing DNF 18.5.1975 Coppa Florio Kinnunen / Müller Dr. H. Dannesberger 7. 1.6.1975 1000 km Nürburgring Müller / Kinnunen Martini-Racing-Team Dr. H. Dannesberger 3. 15.6.1975 24 h Le Mans Herbert Müller DNA 29.6.1975 Interserie Misano Dr. H. Dannesberger 9. 21.3.1976 6 h Mugello Porsche 934 Kinnunen / Evertz Egon Evertz Solingen 3. 4.4.1976 6h Vallelunga Egon Evertz K.G. DNF 25.4.1976 4h Monza Porsche 908/3 Egon Evertz DNS 9.5.1976 6h Silverstone Porsche 934 Egon Evertz 3. 30.5.1976 1000 km Nürburgring Egon Evertz KG, Sollingen DNF 27.6.1976 6h Zeltweg Porsche 934 Kinnunen / Schurti / Evertz Egon Evertz KG DNF 10.7.1976 6h Watkins Glen Kinnunen / Hezemans / Evertz Egon Evertz K.G. 2. 1.8.1976 Euro GT Misano Kinnunen NC 29.8.1976 Interserie Hockenheim Porsche 908/3 Kinnunen Egon Evertz KG. DNA 4.9.1976 6h Dijon Porsche 934 Kinnunen / Evertz Egon Evertz 4. 5.9.1976 500 km Dijon Porsche 908/3 Kinnunen Egon Evertz DNF 12.9.1976 DRM Nürburgring Supersprint Porsche 934 Kinnunen Egon Evertz KG Schwießtechnik 2. 19.9.1976 200 mile Salzburgring Porsche 908/3 Evertz / Kinnunen Evertz KG DNA 26.9.1976 DRM Hockenheim Porsche 934 Kinnunen Egon Evertz Schwießtechnik Solingen 6. 31.10.1976 Euro GT Hockenheim Schweißtechnik Egon Evertz KG DNA 20.3.1977 6h Mugello Evertz / Kinnunen Egon Evertz DNA 29.5.1977 1000 km Nürburgring Porsche 935 Kinnunen / Neuhaus / Krebs Josef Brambring DNF 5.5.1985 National SS Ahvenisto Saab 900 Kinnunen DNA 26.5.1985 Nordic SS Kemora DNA 26.5.1985 National SS Kemora 11. 9.6.1985 National SS Ahvenisto II TUA DNF 1985 Kemora 6. 9.6.1985 Nordic SS Ahvenisto II DNS 11.8.1985 National SS Ahvenisto III DNS 11.8.1985 Nordic SS Ahvenisto III 9. 1.9.1985 National SS Kemora II DNA

Complete Rally results (including WRC races mentioned before) Day Race Co-driver Car Classification 18.7.–19.7. 1964 Kuopio Ralli Charles Lindholm Volvo PV544 2. 14.8.–16.8. 1964 Jyväskylän Suurajot Lindholm 35. 16.1.–25.1. 1965 Monte Carlo Rally Timo Karlsson Volvo 122 S DNF 10.7.–11.7. 1965 Itäralli Ilkka Repo Fiat Abarth 1000 DNF 5.1.–6.1. 1966 Riihimäki-Ralli Tapio Klen Volkswagen 1600 TL 1. 25.2.–27.2. 1966 Hankiralli Klen 6. 14.5.–15.5. 1966 Salpausselkä Ralli Klen DNF 9.7.–10.7. 1966 Itäralli Klen DNF 19.8.–21.8. 1966 Jyväskylän Suurajot Kalevi Leivo Volkswagen 1600 L 37. 29.10.–3010. 1966 Pohjola Ralli Leivo DNF 5.1.–6.1. 1967 Riihimäki-Ralli Leivo Volkswagen 1500 3. 24.2.–26.2. 1967 Hankiralli Klen 4. 8.7.–9.7. 1967 Itäralli Martti Kolari Volkswagen 1600 L 1. 18.8.–20.8. 1967 Jyväskylän Suurajot Kolari DNF 9.9.–10.9. 1967 Tampere Ralli Kolari DNF 11.11.–12.11. 1967 Helsinki Ralli Kolari 3. 23.2.–25.2. 1968 Hankiralli Kolari 2. 9.3.–10.3. 1968 Tunturiralli Jyrki Ahava DNF 25.5.–26.5. 1968 Salpausselkä Ralli Ahava DNF 5.7.–7.7. 1968 Itäralli Kolari DNF 16.8.–18.8. 1968 Jyväskylän Suurajot Kolari Porsche 911 T DNF 25.10.–27.10. 1968 Pohjola Ralli Ahava Volkswagen 1600 L 5. 4.1.–5.1. 1969 Riihimäki-Ralli Ahava 21. 21.2.–23.2. 1969 Hankiralli Kolari 4. 14.5.–15.5. 1969 Länsirannikon Ralli Kolari DNF 15.8.–17.8. 1969 Jyväskylän Suurajot Kolari Porsche 911 S DNF 28.11.–30.11. 1969 Pohjola Ralli Kolari 1. 20.2.–22.2. 1970 Hankiralli Erkki Salonen Saab 96 DNF 20.8.–23.8. 1970 Jyväskylän Suurajot Salonen DNF 12.9.–13.9. 1970 Kesoil Ralli Salonen 11. 26.2.–28.2. 1971 Hankiralli Urpo Vihervaara Datsun 1600 DNF 26.11.–28.11. 1971 Pohjola Ralli Atso Aho Volkswagen 1302 S 1. 4.2.–6.2. 1972 Arctic Tunturiralli Aho Porsche 911 S 1. 3.3.–5.3. 1972 Hankiralli Aho DNF 2.2.–4.2. 1973 Arctic Tunturiralli Jaakko Markula Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV DNF 3.8.–5.8. 1973 Jyväskylän Suurajot Aho Porsche Carrera 3. 24.11.–25.11. 1973 Pohjola Ralli Aho Volkswagen 1302 S DNF 31.1.–2.2. 1974 Marlboro Arctic Rally Aho DNF 2.8.–4.8. 1974 Jyväskylän Suurajot Aho Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye 6. 16.11.–20.11. 1974 Lombard RAC Rally Aho 14. 31.1.–2.2. 1975 Marlboro Arctic Rally Vihervaara Toyota Corolla DNF 28.2.–2.3. 1975 Hankiralli Vihervaara Datsun 160J DNF 20.9.–21.9. 1975 Kesoil Ralli Tapio Pinomäki Volkswagen 1302 S DNF 29.1.–1.2. 1976 Marlboro Arctic Rally Aho Volvo 66 DNF 14.2.–15.2. 1976 Mänttä 200-ajo Jorma Pulkkinen DNF 5.3.–7.3. 1976 Hankiralli Pulkkinen DNF 19.6.–20.6. 1976 Oulujärven Ralli Pulkkinen 7. 13.11.–14.11. 1976 Pohjola Ralli Pulkkinen 1. 8.1.–9.1. 1977 Riihimäki-Ralli Pulkkinen 63. 4.2.–6.2. 1977 Marlboro Arctic Rally Roman Fehrmann DNF 18.2.–20.2. 1977 Hankiralli Fehrmann 11. 26.8.–28.8 1977 Jyväskylän Suurajot Pulkkinen Porsche 911 DNF 17.9.–18.9. 1977 Länsirannikon Ralli Fehrmann 2. 29.10.–30.10. 1977 Teboil Ralli Fehrmann DNF 12.11.–13.11. 1977 Helsinki Ralli Fehrmann DNF 26.11.–27.11. 1977 Pohjola Ralli Fehrmann 3. 3.2.–5.2. 1978 Marlboro Arctic Rally Fehrmann DNF 2.2.–3.2. 1979 Arctic Rally Jussi Kuukkala 1. 24.8.–28.8. 1979 Jyväskylän Suurajot Salonen DNF 15.9.–16.9. 1979 Länsirannikon Ralli Salonen Porsche Carrera DNF 20.10.–21.10. 1979 Teboil Ralli Pentti Kuukkala 3. 24.11.–25.11. 1979 Pohjola Ralli Kuukkala DNF 2.2.–3.2. 1980 Arctic Rally Salonen DNF 29.2.–2.3. 1980 Hankiralli Kuukkala DNF 31.1.–1.2. 1981 Arctic Rally Kuukkala DNF 28.8.–30.8. 1981 1000 Lakes Rally Risto Anttila Porsche 911 SC DNF 27.8.–29.8. 1982 1000 Lakes Rally Anttila DNF