Rauno Aaltonen
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Rauno Aaltonen (born January 7, 1938) is a Finnish former professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship throughout the 1970s. Before WRC was established Aaltonen competed in the European Rally Championship. He won the championship in 1965, with Tony Ambrose as his co-driver. He also won the Finnish Rally Championship in 1961 and 1965. In 1966 he partnered Bob Holden in Australia to win the premier touring car race, the Gallaher 500, in a Mini Cooper S at Mount Panorama in New South Wales.
Aaltonen finished second on six occasions in the Safari Rally, which is considered one of the most difficult courses in rally racing. In 1985, he was leading the rally by two hours when his engine broke down before the last few special stages. His other merits include winning the RAC Rally in 1965, the Monte Carlo Rally in 1967 and the Southern Cross Rally in 1977.
Despite now being remembered as one of the Flying Finns of rallying, Aaltonen started his career on speed boats and later moved on to motorcycles competing in road racing, speedway and motocross. Before he become the first Finnish European Rally Champion, he was the first Finn to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing competition.
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| Preceded by Barry Seton Midge Bosworth |
Winner of the Bathurst 1000 1966 (with Bob Holden) |
Succeeded by Harry Firth Fred Gibson |
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