Kyösti Hämäläinen Explained

Kyösti Hämäläinen
Nationality: Finnish
Years:1973–1982, 1985 - 1988
Teams:Ford
Races:19
Championships:0
Wins:1
Podiums:1
Points:0
First Race:1973 1000 Lakes Rally
Last Race:1988 1000 Lakes Rally

Kyösti Hämäläinen (born 16 September 1945 in Helsinki) is a Finnish rally driver. He contested 19 World Rally Championship events, winning the 1977 1000 Lakes Rally overall. Hämäläinen also won 13 Finnish Rally Championship titles between 1973 and 1986.

Career

Hämäläinen began his career in 1965 by taking part in ice racing events with rental cars. In 1969, he moved to rallying and in 1973 took his Finnish Rally Championship championship in group 1, driving an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV. He followed it up with four consecutive Group 1 titles between 1975 and 1978, using a Sunbeam Avenger(1975) and Ford Escort(1976,1977,1978). In 1978 Hämäläinen moved to Group 2 and won eight consecutive Finnish Championships with a Ford Escort, from 1979 to 1986.

Hämäläinen's career in the World Rally Championship consisted mainly of his entries into 1000 Lakes Rally, which was also part of the Finnish Rally Championship. His first WRC start was the 1973 1000 Lakes Rally, in which he retired. 1977 was the most successful year of Hämäläinen's WRC career, including an unexpected victory in the 1000 Lakes Rally, a 5th-place finish in International Swedish Rally and a 6th place in Lombard RAC Rally.

Complete WRC results

YearEntrantCar12345678910111213WDCPoints
1973Kyösti HämäläinenAlfa Romeo 2000 GTVMONSWEPORKENMORGREPOLFIN
Ret
AUTITAUSAGBRFRAN/AN/A
1974Kyösti HämäläinenAlfa Romeo 2000 GTVMON
C
SWE
C
PORKENGRE
C
FIN
17
ITACANUSAGBRFRAN/AN/A
1975Kyösti HämäläinenSunbeam AvengerMONSWEKENGREMORPORFIN
9
ITAFRAGBRN/AN/A
1976Ford Motor Co LtdFord Escort RS 2000 MKIIMONSWEPORKENGREMORFIN
Ret
ITAFRAN/AN/A
Kyösti HämäläinenGBR
Ret
1977Kyösti HämäläinenFord Escort RS 2000 MKIIMONSWE
5
PORKENNZLGREN/AN/A
Ford Motor Co LtdFord Escort RS 1800 MKIIFIN
1
CANITAFRA
Kyösti HämäläinenGBR
6
1978Ford Motor Co LtdFord Escort RS 1800 MKIIMONSWEKENPORGREFIN
8
CANITACIVFRAGBR-0
1979Kyösti HämäläinenMercedes-Benz 300 DMONSWEPORKENGRENZLFIN
31
CANITAFRAGBRCIV-0
1980Kyösti HämäläinenLada VAZ 21011MONSWEPORKENGREARGFIN
18
NZLITAFRAGBRCIV-0
1981VMJ RacingFord Escort RSMONSWE
Ret
PORKENFRAGREARGBRA-0
Team RalliartMitsubishi Lancer 2000 TurboFIN
11
ITACIVGBR
1982Kyösti HämäläinenFord Escort RSMONSWEPORKENFRAGRENZLBRAFIN
Ret
ITACIVGBR-0
1985Ford FinlandFord Escort RS TurboMONSWEPORKENFRAGRCNZLARGFIN
28
ITACIVGBR-0
1986Kyösti HämäläinenFord Sierra XRMONSWEPORKENFRAGRCNZLARGFIN
Ret
CIVITAGBRUSA-0
1987Kyösti HämäläinenFord Sierra RS CosworthMONSWEPORKENFRAGRCUSANZLARGFIN
Ret
CIVITAGBR-0
1988Kyösti HämäläinenFord Sierra RS CosworthMONSWEPORKENFRAGRCUSANZLARGFIN
15
CIVITAGBR-0

External links