Henri Toivonen

Henri Pauli Toivonen was a Finnish rally driver born in Jyvskyl, the home of Rally Finland. His father, Pauli, was the 1968 European Rally Champion for Porsche and his brother, Harri, became a professional circuit racer.

Toivonen had strong ties to rallying at an early age. He was born in Jyvskyl, the city which has hosted the Rally Finland since 1951. His father, Pauli Toivonen, was a successful international rally driver who would go on to win the Monte Carlo, 1000 Lakes and Acropolis rallies and become the 1968 European Rally Champion. Henri Toivonen learned to drive when he was five years old, but despite his rallying connections, started competition in circuit racing. He began with karts and won the Finnish Cup in touring cars before switching to Formula Vee, winning one round of the Scandinavian Championship in his first year. Toivonen graduated to Formula Super Vee the following year and won a round of the European Championship, as well as becoming the 1977 Finnish Champion in the Formula Vee class. Due to his familys concerns about the safety of circuit racing, he switched to rallying fulltime. Toivonens kart was purchased by the parents of a 6yearold Mika Hkkinen, who would later be a twotime

Source: Wikipedia