When rally fans hear the name Toivonen they immediately think of breathtaking performances and
glorious victories. But it is also hard to forget the accident on the 1986 Tour de Corse that
took the lives of Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto and which eventually brought
Group B rallying to an end. Henri was one of the most exceptional rally drivers in history. His
inspiring performances in the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Opel Ascona 400 Porsche 911 SCRS and
Lancia Rally 037 are all well-remembered. But it was the Lancia Delta S4 that really showcased
Henri's ability with victories in the RAC and Monte Carlo rallies the latter twenty years
after his father's own triumph in the Principality. This book tells the fascinating story of
the Toivonen family in rallying and racing. It starts with father Pauli's heroic drives in the
1950s and 1960s including winning the European Rally title of 1968 at the wheel of a Porsche
911. It moves on to include the first exploits of the next generation on frozen lakes right up
to the contrasting careers and fortunes of Henri and brother Harri in motor sport. Author Esa
Illoinen immersed himself deeply in the Toivonen family history and spoke to innumerable
friends and witnesses of those days. Amongst them were with Pauli's widow Ulla Henri's widow
Erja and even Henri's 95-year old English teacher. The result is an intimate and touching
portrait of Finland's fastest family wonderfully illustrated by the best images from the
inexhaustible McKlein archive.
