Henri Toivonen's 1982 F1 tests

[redhawkk]

In 1982, Henri Toivonen tested in both a McLaren and March car. In his March test, he apparently had lapped Raul Boesel by more than a second.

I have struggled to find much on either of these outside photos from his F3 career..

[PTRACER]

There's lots of F3 pictures around, but none from his F1 tests it seems...

[Everso Biggyballies]

There's lots of F3 pictures around, but none from his F1 tests it seems...

My understanding was it was a Rothmans March.... HT was I believe at the time a Rothmans backed driver in Rallying. Dont ask me how I know or where I read about it. I havent a clue, its just something that was in a dark corner of my distant memory and may be not 100% correct. But I think so..

[PTRACER]

There's lots of F3 pictures around, but none from his F1 tests it seems...

My understanding was it was a Rothmans March.... HT was I believe at the time a Rothmans backed driver in Rallying. Dont ask me how I know or where I read about it. I havent a clue, its just something that was in a dark corner of my distant memory and may be not 100% correct. But I think so..

Yup you are right. He drove the March 821 at a very wet Silverstone, which might be why there are no photos.

[erwin greven]

There's lots of F3 pictures around, but none from his F1 tests it seems...

My understanding was it was a Rothmans March.... HT was I believe at the time a Rothmans backed driver in Rallying. Dont ask me how I know or where I read about it. I havent a clue, its just something that was in a dark corner of my distant memory and may be not 100% correct. But I think so..

Toivonen/Piironen ran in 1984 with Rothmans Porsche rallies in the European Championship.

[Everso Biggyballies]

There's lots of F3 pictures around, but none from his F1 tests it seems...

My understanding was it was a Rothmans March.... HT was I believe at the time a Rothmans backed driver in Rallying. Dont ask me how I know or where I read about it. I havent a clue, its just something that was in a dark corner of my distant memory and may be not 100% correct. But I think so..

Toivonen/Piironen ran in 1984 with Rothmans Porsche rallies in the European Championship.

He also ran in a Rothmans backed Opel immediately prior to that

[hollie3sa]

This is supposedly a photo taken (during a test?) at Ahvenisto race circuit



Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9607314 ... 6684930855& (private group)

[Everso Biggyballies]

This is supposedly a photo taken (during a test?) at Ahvenisto race circuit



Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9607314 ... 6684930855& (private group)

That looks like a M26 McLaren, which was their car from 1976 through 1978 plus a couple of odd races in 1979 for Tambay.
Given that in 1978 Henri was not even a regular WRC driver, and had just finished doing Formula Vee and Super Vee. I am not sure he would have been unleashed in an F1 McLaren. I note the car is on a trailer. You cant really tell if he has a driving suit on but it could have been just him there watching the test and having a sit in the car rather than being part of the test.

I know he started racing karts (in fact he sold his kart to Mika Hakkinen when he finished karting). At some stage he moved ro racing cars and took up Formula Vee . Eventually he moved up to Formula Super Vee and was Finnish Champion in 1977. (in a Veemax car I believe)

I know he also had a (very) brief foray into British F3 in 1982....he raced an Eddie Jordan-entered Ralt RT3 in the 1982 TV 'special British F3 Championship round at Thruxton on 13th November 1982,

He came 4th at Thruxton: (a bloke called Senna won). Results: https://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/formula2/F382_GB31.htm

Actually just noticed he also ran in the final round of the Marlboro F3 Round also at Thruxton a couple of weeks before. Brundle won that race from Tommy Byrne with Henri 10th
Results: https://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/formula2/F382_GB29.htm






Of course in 1983 he did a couple of WEC races, one at Imola and one at Mugello co driving a Canon Porsche 956 with Jonathon Palmer and Derek Bell. A 4th and a 3rd were the results.








However pictures of him actually testing an F1 car remain elusive.

[PTRACER]

Is it possible he was just a fan/spectator on that day who got a chance to sit in the car and pose for a photo?

[Michael Ferner]

This is supposedly a photo taken (during a test?) at Ahvenisto race circuit



Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9607314 ... 6684930855& (private group)

That looks like a M26 McLaren...

Actually, it's an M23 which by 1982 was positively ancient, more like a Historic Grand Prix car. I know one of the M23s ran in British Club racing in the early eighties still, and another one ran as an ANF1 car in Australia (well) into the eighties, but it would be interesting to know which one this was - someone with full ownership records could perhaps offer a clue.

[Everso Biggyballies]

That looks like a M26 McLaren...

Actually, it's an M23 which by 1982 was positively ancient, more like a Historic Grand Prix car. I know one of the M23s ran in British Club racing in the early eighties still, and another one ran as an ANF1 car in Australia (well) into the eighties, but it would be interesting to know which one this was - someone with full ownership records could perhaps offer a clue.

As usual you are right.... I was thinking the M23 had an airbox.... which it did when it was launched, and up until 1976 when airboxes were out and they changed to the twin intake vents behind the driver.

So I stand corrected. But it is a late M23