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  International rallying since 1983  
     
 
Highslide JS
 
Highslide JS
 
Highslide JS
 
Highslide JS
 
Highslide JS
 
A Motorsport fly bit Kari Hytönen by all its' unreversable power at the time he was ten years old and spectating legendary Rally of Thousand Lakes. When Kari could reach car pedals he started practice driving with his fathers car.

Kari had his first experience in a motorsport vechicle at the age of 14 in early 80'ies as a co-driver in car navigation sport. From his first wage Kari purchased group-1 Fiat 850 Special at summer 1984.

For next five years Kari rallyed with several rally cars and improved his skills. In season 1989 he build old rallye Izuzu Bellett into rally sprint usage and immediately it was proven to be a successful selection. Stepping up from junior groups gave Kari a dream of entering into his first ever World Rally Championship event in his home rally at legendary Rallye of Thousand Lakes.

In August 1994 his 20-years of dream became true and Kari drove up to the start ramp of WRC Rally Finland. An incredible rallye adventure brought third position in his group. However the rally caused a serious setback in budget and therefore Kari was forced to continue his rally career as a co-driver.

In seasons 1995-2002 Kari co-drove several rally drivers in Finnish Rally Championship aswell as in multiple other rallyes. Furthermore Kari with his younger brother Timo build Izuzu Bellet 1600 GTR for Historic rallyes. The car was used between seasons 1996-2003 in f.ex International Historic Rallyes in Czech, Italy and England (Read more from historic page). Also one of the memorable rallyes Kari had was in season 1999 when he co-drove his brother in WRC Rally Finland with Mercedes-Benz 190 rally car.

A thought of returning behind the steering wheel of a rally car happened in August 2002 when Kari purchased victorious Volkswagen Polo from legendary Finnish rally driver "Jore" Laakso. The deal included also co-driving as Kari guided Jaris' son in Canary Islands and in Polo Cup which was rallyed in British Rally Championship at season 2003. Kari also rallyed in Finnish Rally Championship with VW Polo with his good friend Heikki Salmèn.

Season 2003 was a learning year for rallying with FWD rally car. For season 2004 aim was to increase speed and gaining Top-5 position in the Championship. By all surprise before final round Kari and Heikki were rallying for bronze medal but was forced to satisfy for fourth position.

In season 2005 Kari set himself goals for gaining a medal in the Championship. He also participated into WRC Rally Finland which was ended in celebration party. In final round of the Championship series Kari along six fellow competitors rallyed for positions 2-7. However at the final special stage of first rally day team suffered a technical setback and was forced to retire the event due engine problems. Season ended into dissapointment and sixth position in Championship.

In the middle of the 2005 rally season Kari decided to seek new challenges. He wanted to rally abroad and after a lot of consideration a decision was made to drive the 2006 German Suzuki Rally Cup with a Suzuki Ingnis Sport. The series was run with normal street tires and this proved to be difficult for Kari as he suffered from many punctures during the rallies. The hope for success was ruined.

Rally calendar and success in season 2006:


Time of rally
Rally name and location
Result
13-14.01.2006
Vanajanlinna rally, Hämeenlinna
1st
10-11.03.2006
ADAC Bayern-Rallye Oberland
3rd
21-22.04.2006
ADAC Hessen-Rallye Vogelsberg, Schlitz
9th
05-06.05.2006
ADAC Rallye Sulinger Land
10th
26-27.05.2006
ADAC Schotter-Rallye Bayreuth
12th
14-15.07.2006
AvD Rallye Helfenstein Baden-Württemberg
Retirement
17-20.08.2006
WRC Finland, Jyväskylä
-
25-26.08.2006
AvD Rallye Franken
10th
29-30.09.2006
ADAC Rallye Thüringen
10th
13-14.10.2006
ADAC Rallye St. Wendeler Land
8th

Highslide JS
 
Next year, gaining from last year's experiences, Hytönen started to push harder for success. Second season in the German Suzuki Rally Cup series resulted in two podium finishes and fifth overall in the series. But again punctures and other technical problems sidelined the rallies. In WRC Rally Sweden Hytönen spent too much time in the snow banks and during the Neste Rally Finland transmission problems kept the service team busy.

Rally calendar and success in season 2007:

Time of rally
Rally name and location
Result
08-11.02.2007 WRC Sweden, Karlstad 41th
16-17.02.2007 Tahko SPA SM-rally, Nilsiä Retirement
09-10.03.2007 SM Peurunka rally, Laukaa 4th
20-21.04.2007 ADAC Hessen-Rallye Vogelsberg, Schlitz Retirement
18-19.05.2007
AvD Sachsen-Rallye
5th
15-16.06.2007
ADAC Saarland Rallye
3rd
20-21.07.2007
AvD Rallye Baden-Wurttemberg
6th
04-08.08.2007 WRC Finland, Jyväskylä 5th
24-25.08.2007
AvD Rallye Franken
2nd
14-15.09.2007 Thüringen Rallye 6th
19-20.10.2007
ADMV Lausitz-Rallye
Retirement

Highslide JS
 
In season 2008 Hytönen rallyed selected events in Finland aswell as in abroad. Season started in WRC Rally Sweden, where Kari took 4th position in his class. Summer was maybe best ever in Kari's career as he took class wins both in local rally sprint in Jyväskylä and the Neste Rally Finland. The first win in the German Suzuki Rally Cup was also very close, but after an unbelievable battle Hytönen had to settle for third position. The 2008 season was however very successful and gave lots of confidence for the 2009 season.

Rally calendar and success in season 2008:

Time of rally
Rally name and location
Result
07-10.02.2008 WRC Sweden, Karlstad 4th
08.06.2008 Jyväskylä tarmac rallysprint 1st
13-14.06.2008 Keski Uusimaa SM-rally, Kerava Retirement
01-03.08.2008
WRC Finland, Jyväskylä
1st
23-24.08.2008
Rallye Franken, Germany
3rd
19-20.09.2008 SM Vaakuna rally, Mikkeli 1st

Highslide JS
 
A new Suomi Cup rally Championship series was introduced for season 2009. It was a part of the Finnish Rally Championship series. Kari won three, was second on two and was third in one event. This was enough to make Kari Hytönen the first ever Suomi Cup Rally Champion. Kari also measured his speed in Neste Rally Finland and two rounds of the German Suzuki Rally Cup.

Rally calendar and success in season 2009:

Time of rally
Rally name and location
Rally rank
Result
Report
23-24.01.2009
Arctic Lapland Rally, Rovaniemi
Suomi Cup
1st
20-21.02.2009
SM Vaakuna Rally, Mikkeli
Suomi Cup
3rd
06-07.03.2009
Abloy SM Itä rally, Joensuu
Suomi Cup
1st
13-14.03.2009
ADAC Rallye Oberland
German Suzuki Cup
5th
05-06.06.2009
SM Waltikka Rally, Valkeakoski
Suomi Cup
2nd
10-11.07.2009
SM O.K. Auto Rally, Kouvola
Suomi Cup
1st
01-03.08.2009
WRC Finland, Jyväskylä
World Rally event
1st
28-29.08.2009
Vartti SM Rally, Kerava
Suomi Cup
Retired
25-27.09.2009
SM Finnsco Rally, Hyvinkää
Suomi Cup
2.
15-17.10.2009
ADMV-Lausitz Rallye, Germany
German Suzuki Cup
Retired

Highslide JS
 
I drove only selected rallies during 2010 because of my busy business life. After my win in the Suomi Cup series, the season started with Peurunka Ralli, near my home, and continued with the Swedish WRC Rally and Joensuu round of the Finnish Rally Championship series.

We had to retire with gearbox problem in Sweden, but both Peurunka and Joensuu rallies were rewarded with fine class wins. After the winter season the successful Suzuki Swift Sport found a new home and I took a new challenge with a new Ford Fiesta R2 rally car. It took the rest of the year to get acquainted with the car. We had minor teething troubles with the car during both South Swedish and Neste Rally Finland. Luckily we had a good run in the final round of the Swedish Rally series. It was time to start planning the 27th season of my rally hobby.

Rally calendar and success in season 2010:

Tiime of rally
Rally name and location
Result
Report
06.02.2010
Peurunka rally, Laukaa
1st
Report
14.02.2010
WRC Sweden, Karlstadt
Retirement
Report
07.03.2010
Hartikainen FRC-rally, Joensuu
1st
Report
15.05.2010
South Swedish Rally, Ljyngby
Retirement
Report
29-31.07.2010
WRC Rally Finland, Jyväskylä
Retirement & 3rd.
Report
09-10.10.2010
KMK-Trofen rally, Katrineholm
10th
Report

Highslide JS
 
Our target for 2011 was to be among top three, both in the new R2 Cup in FRC, and also in the Ford Fiesta Trophy. The most important goal was to be successful in the demanding R2 class in the Neste Rally Finland.

The R2 Cup went well during the winter until interpretation of rules took away the points of two rallies. The championship rules were at that time strict. Both drivers must have Finnish competitor license. This meant no point for the rallies where German Heidi was my co-driver. As a result of this the ranking after the season was fifth.

In the Fiesta Trophy we were third before the last rally, where we had unusual DNF and this meant also fifth in this series.

Rally calendar and success in season 2011::

Ajankohta
Kilpailun nimi ja paikkakunta
Tulos
Raportti
27-28.01.2011
Arctic Lapland Rally #1, Rovaniemi
3rd. (r2)
Raportti
29-30.01.2011
Arctic Lapland Rally #2, Rovaniemi
4th. (r2)
04-05.02.2011
Peurunka ralli, Laukaa
9th
Raportti
18-19.02.2011
SM Vaakuna ralli, Mikkeli
4th (r2)
04-05.03.2011
SM O.K. Auto ralli, Kouvola
4th (r2)
Raportti
20-21.05.2011
Vanajanlinna SM-ralli, Hämeenlinna
3rd (r2)
29.05.2011 GLi Rallispecial, Vantaa
Retirement
Raportti
10-11.06.2011 SM Lapua ralli
6th (r2)
27-31.07.2011
Suomen MM-ralli, Jyväskylä
5th (r2)
Raportti
16-17.09.2011
Kerava SM-ralli
Retirement

Highslide JS
 
The season 2012 was very busy professionally and we decided not to enter any series but only take selected rallies. In Vaakuna Ralli (FRC) our position was sixth because of a slight off at the last stage. Kuortane rallispecial ended with tasty class win. Ovisepät rally was only practice for gravel and at Vantaa rallispecial our position was second.

The main event of the year, Neste Rally Finland, went brilliant until the transport after Ouninpohja 1 when the drive shaft broke forcing retirement.

The season ended in Germany in the EU Rallyesprint. Me and my German co-driver Kathi Wustenhagen took class win and second in division in Wallenwein Rallyesport Team Suzuki Swift.

Rally calendar and success in season 2012:

Ajankohta
Kilpailun nimi ja paikkakunta
Tulos
Raportti
24-25.02.2012
SM Vaakuna ralli, Mikkeli
6.
Raportti
11.03.2012
Kuortaneen rallispecial
1.
26.05.2012
Ovisepät ralli, Joutsa
13.
Raportti
27.05.2012
Vantaan rallispecial
2.
01-03.08.2012
Suomen MM-ralli, Jyväskylä
Keskeytys
Raportti
02-03.11.2012
EU Rallyesprint, Saksa
1.
 
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