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Hans Laine

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Hans Laine
Born(1945-04-25)25 April 1945
Helsinki, Finland
Died30 May 1970(1970-05-30) (aged 25)
Adenau, West Germany

Hans Laine (25 April 1945 – 30 May 1970) was a Finnish auto racer who was killed on the Nürburgring during training sessions.[1]

Hans Laine's career as an athlete was a legacy of his father, Holger Laine, who was the driving force behind the Eläintarhan ajot motor racing competition, both on and off the track. Holger Laine worked as a car dealer in Ruskeasuo, Helsinki.

Hans Laine started his racing career as a rally driver. He began to gain international reputation when he and his uncle Henry participated in the Acropolis Rally in 1967, where he ranked seventh. In the 1969 Jyväskylä Grand Rally, he was in the lead, with Hannu Mikkola being second, before an interruption due to a gear shift. In the same year, Laine participated in a sports car series for the first time at the Nürburgring with the Porsche 906, together with Sten Axelsson of Sweden.

In 1970, Laine joined the AAW racing team, owned by Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, for which the Porsche 908/02 sports car was purchased. Laine's partner was Gijs van Lennep of The Netherlands. At the start of the season, they achieved success in the UK at the BOAC 500 in Brands Hatch under difficult conditions. The two's successful season continued in the Italian Targa Florio, where they finished fourth with the Porsche 908.[2]

The AAW team announced two cars for the Nürburgring ADAC 1000 km race: the Porsche 917, driven by Pauli Toivonen and Sten Axelsson, and the Porsche 908/02 by Hans Laine and Gijs van Lennep. In qualifying, the pair attained a time of 8 minutes and 14 seconds, which would have justified a starting position of eighth. During free practices, however, on the Nordschleifen Dottinger Höhe straight, Laine jumped off a ramp and lost downforce, causing the car to spin around and catch fire. Despite the efforts of rescuers and other competitors, the fire was not put out in time and Laine died from his injuries.

Hans Laine had become a favorite of the people and his death was a shock to the public as well as to his rivals. Laine's funeral was held at Espoo Cathedral. His coffin was carried by Holger and Henry Laine, and, among others, Timo Mäkinen, Hannu Mikkola and Gijs van Lennep.

Racing results in track competitions

Date Race Car Driver/drivers Team Position
5 June 1966 Artukainen [Specials] Plymouth Valiant Laine raced
11 September 1966 Artukainen [Specials] Volvo PV544 Laine raced
23 April 1967 Artukainen [Specials] Alfa Romeo GTA Laine DNF
1 June 1969 1000 km Nürburgring Porsche 906 Sten Axelsson / Laine Sten Axelsson Road Racing 13.
24 August 1969 Nordic Challenge Keimola Porsche 906 Laine 3.
7 September 1969 GP Finland Porsche 906 Laine 2.
12 October 1969 1000 km Paris Porsche 908/02 Laine / Gérard Larousse AAW Racing Team DNF
11 January 1970 1000 km Buenos Aires Porsche 908/02 Laine / Gijs van Lennep Racing Team AAW 9.
18 January 1970 200 mile Buenos Aires Porsche 908/02 Laine / van Lennep Racing Team AAW 7.
1 February 1970 24 h Daytona Porsche 908/02 Laine / van Lennep AAW Racing Team DNF
21 March 1970 12 h Sebring Porsche 908/02 Laine / van Lennep AAW Racing Team DNF
12 April 1970 1000 km Brands Hatch Porsche 908/02 van Lennep / Laine AAW Racing Team 4.
25 April 1970 1000 km Monza Porsche 917 Laine / van Lennep AAW Racing Team 11.
3 May 1970 Targa Florio Porsche 917 van Lennep / Laine AAW Racing Team DNA
3 May 1970 Targa Florio Porsche 908/02 van Lennep / Laine AAW Racing Team 4.
17 May 1970 1000 km Spa Porsche 917 Laine / van Lennep AAW Racing Team 7.
31 May 1970 1000 km Nürburgring Porsche 908/02 van Lennep / Laine AAW Racing Team DNS
31 May 1970 1000 km Nürburgring Porsche 917 In entry list only AAW Racing Team DNS

Racing results in rally competitions

Date Race Co-driver Car Position
13.11.–14 November 1965 Helsinki Rally Hagström Reijo Volvo PV544 13.
5.1.–6.1.1966 Riihimäki-Rally Laine Henry Volvo PV544 6.
25.2.–27 February 1966 Hankiralli Laine Henry Volvo PV544 12.
14.5.–15 May 1966 Salpausselkä Rally Laine Henry Volvo PV544 2.
9.7.–10.7.1966 Itäralli Laine Henry Volvo PV544 7.
19.8.–21 August 1966 Jyväskylä Grand Rally Laine Henry Volvo PV544 DNF
5.1.–6.1.1967 Riihimäki-Rally Laine Henry Datsun 1600 23.
24.2.–26 February 1967 Hankiralli Laine Henry Datsun 1600 DNF
25.5.–28 May 1967 Acropolis Rally Järvi Anssi Datsun 1600 SSS 7.
18.8.–20 August 1967 Jyväskylä Grand Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 20.
9.9.–10.9.1967 Tampere Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 7.
11.11.–12.11.1967 Helsinki Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 5.
20.1.–25 January 1968 Monte Carlo Rally Keskitalo Pekka Porsche 911 S DNF
23.2.–25 February 1968 Hankiralli Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 4.
9.3.–10.3.1968 Arctic Lapland Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 1.
25.5.–26 May 1968 Salpausselkä Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L DNF
5.7.–7 July 1968 Itäralli Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 11.
16.8.–18 August 1968 Jyväskylä Grand Rally Kolari (First name unknown) Porsche 911 S DNF
25.10.–27 October 1968 Northern Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L DNF
4.1.–5.1.1969 Riihimäki-Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 3.
17.1.–24 January 1973 Monte Carlo Rally Aho Atso Porsche 911 L DNF
21.2.–23 February 1969 Hankiralli Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 5.
14.5.–15 May 1969 West-Coast Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1600 L 6.
15.8.–17 August 1969 Jyväskylä Grand Rally Laine Henry Porsche 911 S DNF
30.8.–31 August 1969 Tott-Porrassalmi Rally Laine Henry Porsche 911 S 1.
28.11.–30 November 1969 Northern Rally Laine Henry Porsche 911 S DNF
6.2.–8.2.1970 Arctic Lapland Rally Laine Henry Volkswagen 1500 DNF
20.2.–22 February 1970 Hankiralli Laine Henry Volkswagen 1500 9.
7.3.–8.3.1970 Teekkariralli Laine Henry Volkswagen 1500 DNF

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Porsche Road & Race: Porsche 917-021 The Fabulous Story | Porsche Road & Race, accessdate: 20. April 2019
  2. ^ Stuttcars.com: Porsche 908/03 Spyder ’70 – Stuttcars.com, accessdate: 20. April 2019