Finnish rally driver (1929–2005)
Toivonen (in the middle) with Rauno Aaltonen and Timo Mäkinen
Pauli Toivonen (22 August 1929 in Jyväskylä , Finland – 14 February 2005) was a Finnish rally car driver. He drove for Citroën , Lancia and Porsche and had many successes to his credit. Toivonen had two sons, Harri and Henri , both also rally drivers.[ 1]
Toivonen was awarded a controversial first place on the 1966 Monte Carlo Rally - the top three placing Minis of Timo Mäkinen , Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk and Roger Clark 's 4th place Ford Cortina were disqualified. Rally officials determined the headlamp bulbs were not homologated , following a last minute rule change.[ 2] The winner therefore became Toivonen's Citroën DS .
As a result, Toivonen did not brag about his victory in the prestigious Monte Carlo rally because he felt he had not deserved the victory.[citation needed ] However, when his son, Henri came in first at the same event twenty years later — this time in a convincing manner — Toivonen said, "Now the name of Toivonen has been cleared."[ 3]
Toivonen was European Rally champion in 1968 and won four other events for Porsche in the same year.[ 3]
While Toivonen was mainly known for driving rally cars, he also drove for Porsche in World Sportscar Championship races and for Renault in the 24 Hours of Le Mans .[ 4]
Notable results
Toivonen after winning the 1962 1000 Lakes Rally
Toivonen and co-driver Martti Tiukkanen in the Porsche 911 T with which they won the 1968 Rallye Sanremo
Year
Rally
Finish
Car
Co-driver
1961
1000 Lakes Rally
2nd
Citroën DS
Jaakko Kallio
1962
1000 Lakes Rally
1st
Citroën DS19
Jaakko Kallio
1963
Monte Carlo Rally
2nd
Citroën DS19
A. Jarvi
1965
1000 Lakes Rally
3rd
Volkswagen 1500S
Kalevi Leivo
1966
Monte Carlo Rally
1st
Citroën DS21
E. Mikander
1967
Swedish Rally
6th
Lancia
Ahava
Tour de Corse
2nd
Lancia
M. Tiukkanen
1000 Lakes Rally
7th
Lancia
Salonen
1968
Monte Carlo Rally
2nd
Porsche 911 T
M. Tiukkanen
Acropolis Rally
3rd
Porsche 911T
M. Kolari
West German Rally
1st
Porsche 911T
M. Kolari
East German Rally
1st
Porsche 911T
M. Kolari
San Remo Rally
1st
Porsche 911T
M. Tiukkanen
Castrol-Danube Rally
1st
Porsche 911T
M. Tiukkanen
Geneva Rally
1st
Porsche 911T
Vihervaara
European Champion
1969
Acropolis
1st
Porsche 911S
M. Kolari
24 Hours of Le Mans results
References
External links