Harri Toivonen

Finnish rally driver (born 1960)

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.

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 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.

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 FINRet NZL ITA FRA GBR CIV NC 0 1981 Harri Toivonen Talbot Sunbeam Lotus MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC ARG BRA FINRet ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1982 David Sutton Cars Ltd. Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL BRA FINRet ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1983 Harri Toivonen Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FINRet ITA CIV NC 0 Mitsubishi Ralliart GBRRet 1986 Austin Rover WRT MG Metro 6R4 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN8 CIV ITA GBRRet USA 49th 3 1987 Harri Toivonen Mazda 323 4WD MON SWERet POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FINRet CIV ITA GBR NC 0 1988 Harri Toivonen Lancia Delta Integrale MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FINRet CIV ITA GBR NC 0

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