Leo Kinnunen
Kinnunen in 1966
Born(1943-08-05)5 August 1943
Tampere, Pirkanmaa
Died26 July 2017(2017-07-26) (aged 73)
Turku, Southwest Finland
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityFinland Finnish
Active years1974
TeamsAAW Racing Team (non-works Surtees)
Entries6 (1 start)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1974 Belgian Grand Prix
Last entry1974 Italian Grand Prix

Leo Juhani "Leksa" Kinnunen (5 August 1943 – 26 July 2017)[1] was a Finnish racing driver, and the first Formula One driver from Finland.

Kinnunen won the Nordic Challenge Cup in 1969, the Interserie from 1971–1973, and helped Porsche to take the World Sportscar Championship for manufacturers in 1970 (drivers championships were not awarded until 1981). In 1974, he switched to Formula One, but in addition to the problems with the underpowered Surtees TS16, his team soon ran into financial problems. He was the last driver to compete in Formula One using an open-face helmet.[2]

Early career

Kinnunen (left) at the 1964 1000 Lakes Rally
Kinnunen in 1968

Kinnunen started his racing career on motorcycles, but switched to four wheels after receiving his driver's license in the early 1960s. He quickly gained success in rallying, autocross and ice racing. He finished runner-up in the Finnish Rally Championship and matched the points total of the winner Simo Lampinen. Kinnunen also participated in the Finnish F3 Championship with an outdated Brabham in 1967, and a Titan which he drove to several victories in 1968, including one at Ahvenisto Race Circuit in which he managed to beat Swedish future Formula One star Ronnie Peterson.[3]

International breakthrough

In 1969, Kinnunen made a complete switch to circuit racing and won the Nordic Challenge Cup, predecessor of the popular Interserie, with two wins and a second place at Keimola Motor Stadium after a close battle with Jochen Rindt. He was then invited to test a Porsche 917 at Österreichring and made such an impression that he was hired to partner Pedro Rodriguez in the World Sportscar Championship. The pair surprised the racing world by winning the first race, 24 Hours of Daytona, and went on to win the overall championship for Porsche. For Kinnunen, however, this was unsatisfying time. The car was built for Rodriguez' measurements and driving style, and after Kinnunen managed to quickly outpace him with his own set-ups, he wasn't allowed to modify the car to suit his style anymore.[3] His chance to shine finally came at Targa Florio with the new Porsche 908/03 as Rodriguez was ill on the race day. On the final lap of the race, Kinnunen set a time of 33'36min, breaking the old lap record by 1½ minutes. This is still the fastest ever time recorded for the Sicilian road circuit.[3]

Interserie

Kinnunen then moved on to drive Porsche 917 for Finnish AAW Racing Team in the Interserie. He won the championship in his debut year, despite withdrawing from the race at Norisring after seeing his former team-mate Rodriguez crash into the barriers and lose his life. He eventually went on to win the championship three times in a row, in 1971, 1972 and 1973, with a total of 18 heat and 11 outright wins. In 1973, he also participated in the World Rally Championship event 23rd 1000 Lakes Rally and finished third with his Porsche Carrera, behind Timo Mäkinen and Markku Alén.[4]

Formula One

Kinnunen was close to moving to Formula One already for the 1971 season. With the help of Jochen Rindt he was negotiating for a race seat with Team Lotus, which was dominating the series at the time and eventually won the World Constructors' Championship that season. After Rindt's sudden death at Monza, the negotiations came to a halt. According to Kinnunen, Bernie Ecclestone wanted him to drive for free. Kinnunen turned down the offer and demanded a wage for his services, as he was a professional racer.[3]

In 1974, Kinnunen was looking for a job and John Surtees offered him one of his new Formula One cars, Surtees TS16, on lease. Kinnunen accepted the offer since the Surtees TS14 had done well the previous season. After finally finding sponsorship, Kinnunen entered the series with a new team and a Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 litre engine. Antti Aarnio-Wihuri allowed the team to use the AAW Racing Team name, which was recognized and had a good reputation in racing circles.

AAW Racing's first Grand Prix at Nivelles turned out to be a disaster. The TS16 arrived in time for the race weekend, but Kinnunen had never even sat in the car before. It also turned out that the car had been used as a mobile testbed by the factory, and it already had a damaged monocoque and rear suspension. On top of that, it was 80 kilos overweight, the engine lacked power and the team was not allowed to get the top quality tires used by the top teams. When Kinnunen took the car on track, its gearbox broke after three laps. The team, consisting of only three mechanics, had no spare parts and repair work turned out to be unsuccessful, as the gearbox broke again in qualifying, leaving Kinnunen without a recorded time and the only driver not to qualify for the race.[3]

After Nivelles, the team concentrated on testing and fixing the car. They did not travel to Monaco but entered the next race in Sweden. Kinnunen qualified 25th, and while usually only 24 drivers would be allowed to start, Kinnunen's good standing within the Swedish motorsport circle meant an exception was made for him and he was allowed to start.

The AAW team knew that the car would not last the whole race, so they fueled it for only ten laps in order to make a quick press run. This compensated for the TS16's heavy weight, and Kinnunen managed to overtake five cars in eight laps before a spark plug problem forced him to retire.[3] Kinnunen later stated that a spark plug thread in the cylinder head had been stripped prior to the race. A Ferrari mechanic had loaned them a threaded insert kit to fix it, but a mechanic inadvertently damaged the threads while installing the plug and it never seated properly.

The rest of the season did not go well for the team either. They were not allowed to take part in the Dutch Grand Prix, and failed to qualify for the races in France, Great Britain, Italy or Austria. Lack of funding then forced the team to retire from Formula One.

Later career

Kinnunen driving a Porsche 935 at the 1977 1000 km Nürburgring

After his short stint in Formula One, Kinnunen went back to the Interserie for the series' last event in Hockenheim. He won both heats, and placed sixth overall in the championship just for the points from this race. Kinnunen was then hired by Martini Racing to drive a Porsche 908 Turbo in the World Sportscar Championship in 1975. Partnered with Herbert Müller, his best result of the season was third at Nürburgring. In 1976, he switched teams and raced a Porsche 934 Turbo with Egon Evertz. They managed to collect three podium places and the highlight of the season was a second place at Watkins Glen. After the season the team quit in racing due to financial problems. Kinnunen quit his circuit racing career in 1977, but still raced in a few rally events in Finland, winning the 1979 Arctic Rally.[5] He remained in the sport in administration and lived in Turku.

Kinnunen was asked to drive in the film Le Mans personally by actor and racing enthusiast Steve McQueen, who himself drove for Porsche in North America. Kinnunen's contract with Porsche did not allow the performance and he was replaced by David Piper, who was severely injured during the filming.[6]

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Points
1974 AAW Racing Team Surtees TS16 Ford V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL
DNQ		 MON SWE
Ret		 NED FRA
DNQ		 GBR
DNQ		 GER AUT
DNQ		 ITA
DNQ		 CAN USA NC 0

Complete WRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 WDC Points
1973 Leo Kinnunen Porsche Carrera MON SWE POR KEN MOR GRE POL FIN
3		 AUT ITA USA GBR FRA N/A N/A
1974 Fiat S.p.A. Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye MON
C		 SWE
C		 POR KEN GRE
C		 FIN
6		 N/A N/A
Fiat ITA CAN USA GBR
14		 FRA
1977 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 MON SWE POR KEN NZL GRE FIN
Ret		 CAN ITA FRA GBR - 0
1979 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 MON SWE POR KEN GRE NZL FIN
Ret		 CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV - 0
1981 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 SC MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE ARG BRA FIN
Ret		 ITA CIV GBR - 0
1982 Leo Kinnunen Porsche 911 SC MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL BRA FIN
Ret		 ITA CIV GBR - 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1970 United Kingdom J.W. Automotive Engineering Ltd. Mexico Pedro Rodriguez Porsche 917K S
5.0		 22 DNF DNF
1976 Germany Egon Evertz K.G. Germany Egon Evertz Porsche 908/3 Turbo Gp.6
3.0		 124 DNF DNF

Other results in track racing (not Formula 1 or Le Mans)

Day Race Car Drivers Manufacturer Classification
19.6.1966Keimola [GT/S]Porsche 911Kinnunen
11.9.1966Artukainen [Specials]VW MAC-1Kinnunen4.
5.5.1967II Helsingin VauhtikisatBrabham BT21KinnunenLeo Kinnunen4.
28.5.1967I Helsingin SuurajotLeo Kinnunen (AAW Racing ?)4.
6.8.1967II Hämeenlinna AjotLeo Kinnunen2.
3.9.1967KeimolaBrabham BT18KinnunenLeo Kinnunen11.
5.9.1967AhvenistoDNF
7.6.1968HämeenlinnaTitan Mk 3Kinnunen1.
28.7.1968Djursland RingAAW Racing Team2.
4.8.1968XV VästkustloppetAAW Racing Team3.
18.8.1968VI Hämeenlinnan AjotAAW Racing Team2.
1.9.1968StockholmsloppetDNF
15.9.1968Suomen Grand PrixDNF
11.5.1969IV Helsingin VauhtikisatAAW Racing Team3.
15.6.1969Hämeenlinnan Kansainväliset AjotAAW Racing Team3.
24.8.1969Nordic Challenge KeimolaPorsche 908/02KinnunenAAW2.
31.8.1969Nordic Challenge Mantorp ParkAAW1.
2.9.1969Suomen Grand PrixTitan Mk 3Kinnunen2.
14.9.1969Nordic Challenge AnderstorpPorsche 908/02KinnunenRacing Team AAW1.
18.1.1970200 mile Buenos AiresKinnunen / van LennepDNA
1.2.197024 Hours of DaytonaPorsche 917Rodriguez / Kinnunen / RedmanJ. W. Engineering1.
21.3.197012 h SebringRodriguez / Kinnunen / SiffertJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.4.
12.4.19701000 km Brands HatchRodriguez / KinnunenJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.1.
25.4.19701000 km MonzaJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.1.
3.5.1970Targa FlorioPorsche 908/03Kinnunen / RodriguezJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.2.
17.5.19701000 km SpaPorsche 917Rodriguez / KinnunenJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.DNF
31.5.19701000 km NürburgringJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.DNF
11.7.19706 h Watkins GlenJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.1.
19.7.1970GP MugelloAbarth 2000 SPKinnunenAbarth & C.2.
23.8.1970Interserie KeimolaMcLaren M12KinnunenBill Bradley Racing8.
6.9.1970500 km NürburgringAbarth 2000 SPKinnunenAbarth & Co.3.
11.10.19701000 km ZeltwegPorsche 917Rodriguez / KinnunenJ. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.DNF
2.5.1971Interserie ImolaPorsche 917 SpyderKinnunenA.A.W. Racing Team3.
16.5.1971Targa FlorioAlfa Romeo T33/3Stommelen / KinnunenAutodelta S.p.a.DNF
30.5.19711000 km NürburgringPorsche 911 SKinnunen / WaldegårdLeo Kinnunen16.
6.6.1971Interserie ZolderPorsche 917 SpyderKinnunenRacing Team AAW2.
4.7.1971Interserie HockenheimRacing Team AAW2.
11.7.1971Interserie NorisringAAW Racing TeamDNF
22.8.1971Interserie KeimolaAAW Racing Team1.
12.9.1971500 km ImolaA.A.W. Racing Team4.
3.10.1971Interserie HockenheimA.A.W. Racing Team.3.
17.10.19711000 km of ParisLarrousse / KinnunenA.A.W.2.
3.4.1972Interserie NürburgringPorsche 917/10KinnunenRacing Team AAW (Keimola Racing)4.
1.5.1972Interserie ImolaRacing Team AAWDNF
21.5.1972Interserie SilverstoneRacing Team AAW1.
9.7.1972Interserie ZeltwegRacing Team AAW9.
16.7.1972Interserie HockenheimRacing Team AAW1.
6.8.1972Interserie NorisringRacing Team AAW1.
27.8.1972Interserie KeimolaRacing Team AAW1.
24.9.1972Interserie NürburgringRacing Team AAW1.
1.10.1972Interserie HockenheimRacing Team AAW1.
1.4.1973Interserie NürburgringPorsche 917/10KinnunenMotorsportclub Stuttgart – Racing Team AAW2.
1.5.1973Interserie ImolaMotorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW2.
13.5.1973Targa FlorioPorsche 911 Carrera RSRKinnunen / HaldiMartini Racing3.
20.5.1973Interserie SilverstonePorsche 917/10KinnunenMotorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW1.
24.6.1973Interserie NorisringMotorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW1.
1.7.1973Mainz-Finthen [S+1.6]Leo Kinnunen1.
15.7.1973Interserie HockenheimMotorsport-Club Stuttgart e. V. Racing Team AAW9.
19.8.1973Interserie MisanoMotorsport-Club Stuttgart/Racing Team AAW1.
30.9.1973Interserie HockenheimMSC Stuttgart1.
29.9.1974Interserie HockenheimMartini Racing Team1.
23.3.19751000 km MugelloPorsche 908/3Kinnunen / Müller / van LennepTeam Dr. Dannesberger16.
6.4.1975800 km DijonKinnunenJulio GargalloDNA
4.5.19751000 km SpaMüller / KinnunenMartini RacingDNF
18.5.1975Coppa FlorioKinnunen / MüllerDr. H. Dannesberger7.
1.6.19751000 km NürburgringMüller / KinnunenMartini-Racing-Team Dr. H. Dannesberger3.
15.6.197524 h Le MansHerbert MüllerDNA
29.6.1975Interserie MisanoDr. H. Dannesberger9.
21.3.19766 h MugelloPorsche 934Kinnunen / EvertzEgon Evertz Solingen3.
4.4.19766h VallelungaEgon Evertz K.G.DNF
25.4.19764h MonzaPorsche 908/3Egon EvertzDNS
9.5.19766h SilverstonePorsche 934Egon Evertz3.
30.5.19761000 km NürburgringEgon Evertz KG, SollingenDNF
27.6.19766h ZeltwegPorsche 934Kinnunen / Schurti / EvertzEgon Evertz KGDNF
10.7.19766h Watkins GlenKinnunen / Hezemans / EvertzEgon Evertz K.G.2.
1.8.1976Euro GT MisanoKinnunenNC
29.8.1976Interserie HockenheimPorsche 908/3KinnunenEgon Evertz KG.DNA
4.9.19766h DijonPorsche 934Kinnunen / EvertzEgon Evertz4.
5.9.1976500 km DijonPorsche 908/3KinnunenEgon EvertzDNF
12.9.1976DRM Nürburgring SupersprintPorsche 934KinnunenEgon Evertz KG Schwießtechnik2.
19.9.1976200 mile SalzburgringPorsche 908/3Evertz / KinnunenEvertz KGDNA
26.9.1976DRM HockenheimPorsche 934KinnunenEgon Evertz Schwießtechnik Solingen6.
31.10.1976Euro GT HockenheimSchweißtechnik Egon Evertz KGDNA
20.3.19776h MugelloEvertz / KinnunenEgon EvertzDNA
29.5.19771000 km NürburgringPorsche 935Kinnunen / Neuhaus / KrebsJosef BrambringDNF
5.5.1985National SS AhvenistoSaab 900KinnunenDNA
26.5.1985Nordic SS KemoraDNA
26.5.1985National SS Kemora11.
9.6.1985National SS Ahvenisto IITUADNF
1985Kemora6.
9.6.1985Nordic SS Ahvenisto IIDNS
11.8.1985National SS Ahvenisto IIIDNS
11.8.1985Nordic SS Ahvenisto III9.
1.9.1985National SS Kemora IIDNA

Complete Rally results (including WRC races mentioned before)

Day Race Co-driver Car Classification
18.7.–19.7. 1964Kuopio RalliCharles LindholmVolvo PV5442.
14.8.–16.8. 1964Jyväskylän SuurajotLindholm35.
16.1.–25.1. 1965Monte Carlo RallyTimo KarlssonVolvo 122 SDNF
10.7.–11.7. 1965ItäralliIlkka RepoFiat Abarth 1000DNF
5.1.–6.1. 1966Riihimäki-RalliTapio KlenVolkswagen 1600 TL1.
25.2.–27.2. 1966HankiralliKlen6.
14.5.–15.5. 1966Salpausselkä RalliKlenDNF
9.7.–10.7. 1966ItäralliKlenDNF
19.8.–21.8. 1966Jyväskylän SuurajotKalevi LeivoVolkswagen 1600 L37.
29.10.–3010. 1966Pohjola RalliLeivoDNF
5.1.–6.1. 1967Riihimäki-RalliLeivoVolkswagen 15003.
24.2.–26.2. 1967HankiralliKlen4.
8.7.–9.7. 1967ItäralliMartti KolariVolkswagen 1600 L1.
18.8.–20.8. 1967Jyväskylän SuurajotKolariDNF
9.9.–10.9. 1967Tampere RalliKolariDNF
11.11.–12.11. 1967Helsinki RalliKolari3.
23.2.–25.2. 1968HankiralliKolari2.
9.3.–10.3. 1968TunturiralliJyrki AhavaDNF
25.5.–26.5. 1968Salpausselkä RalliAhavaDNF
5.7.–7.7. 1968ItäralliKolariDNF
16.8.–18.8. 1968Jyväskylän SuurajotKolariPorsche 911 TDNF
25.10.–27.10. 1968Pohjola RalliAhavaVolkswagen 1600 L5.
4.1.–5.1. 1969Riihimäki-RalliAhava21.
21.2.–23.2. 1969HankiralliKolari4.
14.5.–15.5. 1969Länsirannikon RalliKolariDNF
15.8.–17.8. 1969Jyväskylän SuurajotKolariPorsche 911 SDNF
28.11.–30.11. 1969Pohjola RalliKolari1.
20.2.–22.2. 1970HankiralliErkki SalonenSaab 96DNF
20.8.–23.8. 1970Jyväskylän SuurajotSalonenDNF
12.9.–13.9. 1970Kesoil RalliSalonen11.
26.2.–28.2. 1971HankiralliUrpo VihervaaraDatsun 1600DNF
26.11.–28.11. 1971Pohjola RalliAtso AhoVolkswagen 1302 S1.
4.2.–6.2. 1972Arctic TunturiralliAhoPorsche 911 S1.
3.3.–5.3. 1972HankiralliAhoDNF
2.2.–4.2. 1973Arctic TunturiralliJaakko MarkulaAlfa Romeo 2000 GTVDNF
3.8.–5.8. 1973Jyväskylän SuurajotAhoPorsche Carrera3.
24.11.–25.11. 1973Pohjola RalliAhoVolkswagen 1302 SDNF
31.1.–2.2. 1974Marlboro Arctic RallyAhoDNF
2.8.–4.8. 1974Jyväskylän SuurajotAhoFiat 124 Abarth Rallye6.
16.11.–20.11. 1974Lombard RAC RallyAho14.
31.1.–2.2. 1975Marlboro Arctic RallyVihervaaraToyota CorollaDNF
28.2.–2.3. 1975HankiralliVihervaaraDatsun 160JDNF
20.9.–21.9. 1975Kesoil RalliTapio PinomäkiVolkswagen 1302 SDNF
29.1.–1.2. 1976Marlboro Arctic RallyAhoVolvo 66DNF
14.2.–15.2. 1976Mänttä 200-ajoJorma PulkkinenDNF
5.3.–7.3. 1976HankiralliPulkkinenDNF
19.6.–20.6. 1976Oulujärven RalliPulkkinen7.
13.11.–14.11. 1976Pohjola RalliPulkkinen1.
8.1.–9.1. 1977Riihimäki-RalliPulkkinen63.
4.2.–6.2. 1977Marlboro Arctic RallyRoman FehrmannDNF
18.2.–20.2. 1977HankiralliFehrmann11.
26.8.–28.8 1977Jyväskylän SuurajotPulkkinenPorsche 911DNF
17.9.–18.9. 1977Länsirannikon RalliFehrmann2.
29.10.–30.10. 1977Teboil RalliFehrmannDNF
12.11.–13.11. 1977Helsinki RalliFehrmannDNF
26.11.–27.11. 1977Pohjola RalliFehrmann3.
3.2.–5.2. 1978Marlboro Arctic RallyFehrmannDNF
2.2.–3.2. 1979Arctic RallyJussi Kuukkala1.
24.8.–28.8. 1979Jyväskylän SuurajotSalonenDNF
15.9.–16.9. 1979Länsirannikon RalliSalonenPorsche CarreraDNF
20.10.–21.10. 1979Teboil RalliPentti Kuukkala3.
24.11.–25.11. 1979Pohjola RalliKuukkalaDNF
2.2.–3.2. 1980Arctic RallySalonenDNF
29.2.–2.3. 1980HankiralliKuukkalaDNF
31.1.–1.2. 1981Arctic RallyKuukkalaDNF
28.8.–30.8. 19811000 Lakes RallyRisto AnttilaPorsche 911 SCDNF
27.8.–29.8. 19821000 Lakes RallyAnttilaDNF

References

  1. ↑ Lempinen, Marko; Koivunen, Tommi (26 July 2017). "Ensimmäinen suomalainen F1-kuljettaja Leo Kinnunen on kuollut" [Finland's first F1 driver Leo Kinnunen is dead]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Tiesitkö? Leo Kinnunen oli F1-historiassa lajinsa viimeinen – "Ihmiset olivat hulluja"". MTV. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Liikanen, Sami. "8W – Who? – Leo Kinnunen". Forix. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  4. ↑ "23rd 1000 Lakes Rally". RallyBase. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  5. ↑ "14th Arctic Rally". RallyBase. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  6. ↑ Keranen, Jouko. "Leo Kinnunen". VPRacing.com. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
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