DOWN THE PUB WITH TAPIO MAKINEN

His brother was Timo “When my big brother Timo was driving in the rally world and making a name for himself in the 1960s, I took responsibility of the family transport company. I participated in a few rallies in the late 1960s but it was just as a hobby.”

He is doing the Historic Monte “On my 70th birthday my children showed me a picture of myself taken in Alastaro circuit and said that was the last time I looked relaxed. They said they want the same look back on my face and that’s why they signed me up for Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.”

He’s never been before “I have never been in Rallye Monte Carlo or even to Monte Carlo for a Formula 1 race. Work took all of my time when Timo was at the top of the rally world. Timo died in 2017.”

His brother won in 1965 “The race is driven with the rules from Automobile Club Monaco for cars built between 1955 and 1980. Rallye Historique is also reserved only to car models, which have participated in Rallye Monte Carlo between these years. My brother Timo won the competition in 1965 in a Mini Cooper S with his British co-driver Paul Easter. Our main goal is to finish the rally.”

He’s in a Triumph TR3 “The Triumph TR3 is small, low, narrow and heavy. Timo praised Triumph’s torque of the engine. He said the car’s low centre of gravity was a benefit, except the jumping qualities were non-existent.”

It will be an adventure “I have heard that it is a fine event honouring the old rally traditions. This competition is a valuable cultural event. I haven’t driven at all in the Alpes Maritimes. I’ve visited a few times as a tourist. It’s nice to feel the atmosphere of the golden times of my brother’s career in a car he started his journey with. We go to support this fine rally event’s culture.”