Timo Mäkinen
 Mäkinen (on the right) with Rauno Aaltonen and Pauli Toivonen |
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Finnish |
| Born | 18 May 1938 Helskinki, Finland |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1973 - 1981 |
| Teams | Ford |
| Rallies | 38 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 4 |
| Podiums | 7 |
| Stage wins | 71 |
| Total points | 7 |
| First rally | 1973 Monte Carlo Rally |
| Last rally | 1994 Monte Carlo Rally |
Timo Mäkinen (born 18 March 1938 in Helsinki, Finland) was one of the original "Flying Finns" of motor rallying. He is most famous for his hat-tricks of wins in the RAC Rally and the 1000 Lakes Rally
[edit] Career
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Mäkinen's start in international rallying came in the 1959 1000 Lakes Rally (now Rally Finland), in a Triumph TR3. He later drove works Austin-Healeys and Minis. In the big Healey, he finished fifth in the RAC Rally in 1963. Mäkinen drove Minis during most of 1964 but came second in the RAC Rally in a Healey, at the end of that year. He returned to the Mini Cooper S in 1965, winning the Monte Carlo Rally and the 1000 Lakes. He came second in the 1965 RAC Rally, again in a Healey.
In 1967, Timo Mäkinen drove his Mini at a high speed through the famous Ouninpohja stage of the 1000 Lakes with the car's bonnet open. Leather straps holding the bonnet were not thoroughly tightened, and they opened after a few rough bounces. He tried to put his head out of the side window but his helmet was too big and he could only stick his head halfway out. So he had to skid the car sideways continuously to see the road ahead. Even so Mäkinen was third fastest on that special stage and he also won the rally overall, for the third year in a row.
In 1975, Mäkinen won the RAC for the third time in a row, at the wheel of a Ford Escort, preceded only by Erik Carlsson (Saab 96) in that feat. Mäkinen won the Finnish Rally Championship three times, the ice track championship six times and the saloon car race championship three times.
In 1969, Mäkinen competed in the very first Round Britain Powerboat Race, which he won. In 1994, Mäkinen made a brief return as Mini celebrated the 30th anniversary of their 1964 Monte Carlo win by Paddy Hopkirk, who also participated in the race. Mäkinen retired on the second stage with a fuel system problem.
[edit] International wins
- 1964 Tulip Rally (Mini Cooper S)
- 1965 Monte Carlo Rally (Mini Cooper S)
- 1965 1000 Lakes Rally (Mini Cooper S)
- 1966 1000 Lakes Rally (Mini Cooper S)
- 1966 Three Cities Rally (Mini Cooper S)
- 1967 1000 Lakes Rally (Mini Cooper S)
- 1972 Hong Kong Rally (Ford Escort RS1600)
- 1973 Arctic Rally (Ford Escort RS1600)
- 1973 1000 Lakes Rally (Ford Escort RS1600)
- 1973 RAC Rally (Ford Escort RS1600)
- 1974 RAC Rally (Ford Escort RS1600)
- 1974 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire (Ford Escort RS1600)
- 1975 RAC Rally (Ford Escort RS1800)
- 1976 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire (Peugeot 504 V6)
[edit] External links
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