Timo Mäkinen

WRC driver
Name = Timo Mäkinen


Caption =
Nationality = flagicon|Finland Finnish
Years = 1973 - 1981
Teams = Ford
Races = 38
Championships = 0
Wins = 4
Podiums = 7
Stagewins = 71
Points = 7
First race = 1973 Monte Carlo Rally
Last race = 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-trick of wins in the RAC Rally, at the wheel of a Ford Escort, preceded only by Erik Carlsson (Saab 96) in that feat.

His start in international rallying came in the 1959 1000 Lakes, in a Triumph TR3. He later drove works Austin-Healeys and Minis. In the big Healey, he finished 5th in the RAC Rally in 1963, 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 2nd in the 1965 RAC Rally, again in a Healey. He was later to dominate that event, with the Ford Escort RS (1973-1975).

In 1967 Timo Mäkinen became a true rally legend when pictures emerged of the Finn driving his Mini at a furious speed through Ouninpohja 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 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.

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.

[http://www.hs.fi/english/picture/1056721037400 Picture of Mäkinen driving his Mini with open bonnet (Helsingin Sanomat)]

Timo Mäkinen's international rally wins were:
* 1964 Tulip Rally (Mini Cooper S)
* 1965 Monte Carlo Rally (Mini Cooper S)
* 1965 1000 Lakes (Mini Cooper S)
* 1966 1000 Lakes (Mini Cooper S)
* 1966 Three Cities Rally (Mini Cooper S)
* 1967 1000 Lakes (Mini Cooper S)
* 1972 Hong Kong Rally (Ford Escort RS)
* 1973 Arctic Rally (Ford Escort RS)
* 1973 1000 Lakes (Ford Escort RS)
* 1973 RAC Rally (Ford Escort RS)
* 1974 RAC Rally (Ford Escort RS)
* 1974 Ivory Coast Rally (Ford Escort RS)
* 1975 RAC Rally (Ford Escort RS)
* 1976 Ivory Coast Rally (Peugeot 504 V6)

Timo won the Finnish Rally Championship three times, Ice Track Championship six times and Saloon Car Race Championship three times. He also won the 1969 Round Britain offshore powerboat race.