Henri Toivonen
Discussion
I was 12 when I heard about his accident in Corsica. First person I 'knew' that had died.
I was under the impression that there were no witnesses to his accident..
but it seems not
please do not follow link if easily upset:
[url]www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIxX7_kYg9U&mode=related&search=[/url]
[url]www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkLH56Jx6qI&mode=related&search=[/url]
RIP Henri
I was under the impression that there were no witnesses to his accident..
but it seems not
please do not follow link if easily upset:
[url]www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIxX7_kYg9U&mode=related&search=[/url]
[url]www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkLH56Jx6qI&mode=related&search=[/url]
RIP Henri
there is a good article about gp B cars in this months Car magazine. quite interesting as they match the cars with the development of Gp B, from the Quattro, to the 205, to the Delta S4 and then the RS200. some good intervoews to from the likes of Timo Makinen and Walter Rohl, especially concerning the enthusiasm of the spectators parting as the cars approach.
i never want to see any form of motorsport santitised, but sadly Gp B was too fast and too dangerous and the FIA had to do something to change it. there could have been many more tragic accidents.
i never want to see any form of motorsport santitised, but sadly Gp B was too fast and too dangerous and the FIA had to do something to change it. there could have been many more tragic accidents.
stockhatcher said:
That gave me goose bumps.
Rally drivers - amazing skills and complete nutters.
RIP Henri.
Winning the british rally in 1985....just getting to grips with the car..a great late driver...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFzuNdUNH8s
Lancia...pity the marque fell away...some nice models towards the late 70`s and into the 80`s..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk2Eq_D-Pgk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFzuNdUNH8s
Lancia...pity the marque fell away...some nice models towards the late 70`s and into the 80`s..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk2Eq_D-Pgk
Edited by F.M on Thursday 21st December 11:33
It seems that Pistonheads is the font of all knowledge...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_To
...scroll down to the References section near the bottom of the page and look at number 6.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_To
...scroll down to the References section near the bottom of the page and look at number 6.
I have some satellite TV footage from the event and Toivonen was in a pretty bad way with the flu.
I remember his comment about "if we have a problem we are as good as dead"
At one of the service areas the mechanics readied the cars for the next batch of stages, when Toivonen went to leave the service area he got into the wrong car.......
There were rumours for several years after his death that Lancia had filled the fire extiguishers of the S4s with nitrous oxide. These rumours were given credence by the fact that mechanics were seen changing the extinguishers between stages.
Possibly more "incriminating" was the fact that all the remaining S4s (which were withdrawn from the event as a mark of respect) were removed from the island before nightfall on the day of Toivonens death. Thus the FIA were unable to inspect them.
IIRC Martin Short from Car and Car Conversions followed the Lancia team around on the RAC rally some years later (during the Group A days) He wondered why the mechanics kept replacing the fire extiguishers at service halts. When he asked the team why this was, they responed with a wry smile and said "it's a safety issue"..............
I remember his comment about "if we have a problem we are as good as dead"
At one of the service areas the mechanics readied the cars for the next batch of stages, when Toivonen went to leave the service area he got into the wrong car.......
There were rumours for several years after his death that Lancia had filled the fire extiguishers of the S4s with nitrous oxide. These rumours were given credence by the fact that mechanics were seen changing the extinguishers between stages.
Possibly more "incriminating" was the fact that all the remaining S4s (which were withdrawn from the event as a mark of respect) were removed from the island before nightfall on the day of Toivonens death. Thus the FIA were unable to inspect them.
IIRC Martin Short from Car and Car Conversions followed the Lancia team around on the RAC rally some years later (during the Group A days) He wondered why the mechanics kept replacing the fire extiguishers at service halts. When he asked the team why this was, they responed with a wry smile and said "it's a safety issue"..............
stuttgartmetal said:
wikipedia text said:
During the Portuguese rally, Toivonen also tested his Delta S4 at the Estoril circuit. He set such a fast time that he would have qualified sixth for the Portuguese GP
I have heard that claim before, but have never been able to find an authoritative source to back it up. It doesn't seem likely when you look at the facts - The car is heavier than a contemporary F1 car, with less power and poorer aerodynamics.
tank slapper said:
stuttgartmetal said:
wikipedia text said:
During the Portuguese rally, Toivonen also tested his Delta S4 at the Estoril circuit. He set such a fast time that he would have qualified sixth for the Spanish GP
correction, Spanish GP
I have heard that claim before, but have never been able to find an authoritative source to back it up. It doesn't seem likely when you look at the facts - The car is heavier than a contemporary F1 car, with less power and poorer aerodynamics.
Its here..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_To
Quite a long way down, but thats what it said.
This car was almost all carbon fibre, and the power output in S4's was awesome, almost undrive-able.
Edited by stuttgartmetal on Sunday 24th December 14:10
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