When Toivonen’s Portuguese stormer went south

It was a dream Lancia debut that turned sour soon after Sintra.

Four decades ago, Henri Toivonen’s career was at something of a crossroads. David Richards wanted him. And so did Cesare Fiorio – which is how he ended up with a 1984 split between a Rothmans 911 and a Martini 037.  

Portugal was the first of a limited program of world championship events (originally thought to be five but ended up being three) with the factory Lancia squad.

Toivonen was no stranger to Italian rally cars, having driven a Ferrari 308 at the previous year’s San Marino and Monza Rallies. But the 037 was an entirely different animal. It was the car which had edged Audi’s quattro to an entirely unexpected manufacturers’ title.

But every time Toivonen rocked up in Italy to test his new steed, the weather was against him.

“It snowed when I was trying to test,” he said, ahead of the start of Rallye de Portugal, 1984. “So I don’t know where the limits of the car are.”

He found them on the first leg around Sintra. Fastest on all six asphalt stages, he was loving the Lancia.

“It’s like a Group C car,” he said. “It’s absolutely the fastest thing.”

Henri would know – he’d joined the Richard Lloyd Racing Team for a stint in a Porsche 956 at a six-hour race in Mugello the previous year. Sharing the car with Derek Bell, they finished third.

There would be no podium in Portugal.

Co-driver Juha Piironen takes up the story: “He was hanging the tail out between stone walls without leaving any margin. There was a tree growing out of the wall on the outside of a bend and the rear corner swiped that which sent the car bouncing between the walls, shedding bodywork on every hit.”

Toivonen was devastated – as you can see from his body language in Girardo’s picture. Months later, he would find himself a full-time Lancia driver. And in court with Richards.

Another story for another day.