Henri Toivonen is one of the magical names associated with rallies, and, also, one who, like many others, belong to the history of the Rally Vinho da Madeira. The Finnish was in Madeira in 1984, in an uncertain phase of his world renowned career, and ended up taking his sponsor's beautifully coloured Porsche 911 SC to the highest place on the podium. That would be the driver's last triumph in a year when he, and his demanding car, only came up second place in the European championship.

Toivonen was born in August 1956 and debuted in rallies in 1975 with a Simca Rallye 2. He drove various other cars with which he shone, and ended up being hired by the Talbot team to drive a Sunbeam Lotus, a vehicle with which he would win the Rally RAC. He then went to work with Opel in an Opel Manta 400 that, as would later his Porsche, showed not to be one of the most competitive cars of the time. In 1984he went to the powerful Lancia team and took some time to obtain results. Things took a different turn with his Lancia Delta S4 with which he won the Rally RAC in 1985 and the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally. He passed away in May 1986, after crashing off the road at the Tour of Corsica.