Timo Mäkinen
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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 2nd 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 RAC of 1965, again in a Healey. He was later to dominate that event, with the Ford Escort RS (1973-1975).
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 Finnish Rally Championship three times, Ice Track Championship six times and Saloon Car Race Championship three times.
