Timo Makinen 1938 - 2017

Rally trailblazer Timo Makinen has died at the age of 79.

The Finn enjoyed much of his success in the pre-WRC era, but was a four-time winner at the world championship level; three of which came at Rally Great Britain.

Born in Helsinki, Makinen appeared on the rallying stage with a third in class at the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland at the wheel of a Triumph TR3 in 1959. After a stint in Austin Healys he switched to Mini Coopers, and became a central figure in the tiny car's rallying success over the years that followed.

His first international win came at the Tulip Rally in Holland in 1964, but it was his victory at the Rallye Monte Carlo a year later that really put him on the map. He backed it up on the road with another win at the Monte the following year, only for it to be overturned because of a technical breach relating to his car's headlights.

From in 1968 he switched to Ford Focus RS and began an entirely new chapter of success, including his triumphant visits to Rally GB between 1973 and 1975. Later in his career he drove for Toyota, BMW, Fiat and Peugeot, and retired from the cockpit in 1981.

His talents with a wheel were equally evident away from the forest: he was a three-time touring car champion in Finland, and won the inaugural Round Britain Powerboat Race in 1969.