''The first Finnish motorsport superstar''Last year AKK Sports Ltd, the organisers of the Finnish round of the World Rally Championship, started a new tradition during Neste Oil Rally Finland, one that aims at honouring the success of Finnish drivers.
Each year
the rally organisers nominate a 'Flying Finn' whose career will be remembered in the exhibition held in the Paviljonki Rally HQ. This year's hero is Timo Mäkinen, one of the original Flying Finns, whose driving helped put Finland and 'Finnishness' on the map in the 1960's and 70's.
The motorsport career of Timo Mäkinen (born in 1938) began in 1957 when he tried out racing on an ice track race on lake Lohjanjärvi, driving a Citroën Berline. The first hints of Mäkinen's true speed came in 1960 when he competed in Finnish national rallies with his mother's 850cc Mini.
A Finnish Mini dealer became interested, and thus Mäkinen took part in his first Rally Monte Carlo as early as 1962. The result was not that impressive but the Finn did set the fastest time on the final speed test, driven on the Monaco Grand Prix track, and beat the BMC factory drivers.
That aroused the interest of the British manufacturer. Later that year Mäkinen got to drive a works Mini Cooper in the RAC Rally where, as a first-timer, he won his group and finished fifth overall.
This kick-started Mäkinen's rise towards international rally stardom. Two years later the combination of Timo Mäkinen and Mini had already become a concept in Europe. In 1965 Mäkinen won Rally Monte Carlo. Later that year he also secured the first of his three consecutive victories in the 1000 Lakes Rally.
In 1967 the legend of Mäkinen and Mini only grew in strength as pictures of the madcap Finn driving his Mini at a furious speed through Ouninpohja - with the car's bonnet open - spread around the world. Mäkinen was third fastest on that special stage, and he also won the entire rally.
During his long career Timo Mäkinen competed a total of 20 times in the 1000 Lakes Rally, also known as 'the Grand Prix on Gravel.' On four occasions he was presented with the winner's trophy.
If Mini and Mäkinen were a legendary pairing, the partnership of Mäkinen and Ford that began in 1968 can be regarded as almost as legendary. Mäkinen took part in the 1000 Lakes Rally at the wheel of a Ford in 1970 and 1972-1976. He finished 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.
In 1973, driving a Ford Escort, Mäkinen secured his first RAC Rally victory and in the following two years continued his winning streak in the UK's biggest rally competition.
Whether it was a question of a big international rally event or of a small local club meet, Mäkinen always enjoyed driving. He was successful in both national and international competitions, and if rallying hadn't prevailed over his driving, he could have built a career in racing formula-style cars also.
Timo Mäkinen is a living motorsport legend who excelled both on land and at sea. He was as fast racing powerboats as he was at the wheel of a rally or race car. During his career he scored several wins with different boats and set many route records.
"In my opinion Timo Mäkinen is the first Finnish motorsport superstar and he has played a key role in the creation of the the Flying Finn concept. It is therefore only natural that our choice this year is Timo Mäkinen," said Risto Laine, the Neste Oil Rally Finland Clerk of the Course.
The Finnish round of the World Rally Championship, Neste Oil Rally Finland, will take place in Jyväskylä 2-5 August 2007.
The Flying Finns exhibition that showcases the career of legendary Timo Mäkinen, located in the Paviljonki Rally HQ, will be open throughout the rally weekend.
Source Rally Finland
