# Hans Laine

Hans Laine (25 April 1945 – 30 May 1970) was a Finnish auto racer. He died during training sessions at the Nürburgring.

## Life and career

Laine followed in the footsteps of his father, Holger Laine, who played a significant role in organizing the Eläintarhan ajot motor racing competition in Helsinki. Holger worked as a car dealer in Ruskeasuo, Helsinki, and his passion for motorsports had a profound impact on Hans's career as an athlete.
Laine's racing career took off as a rally driver. He made a name for himself on the international stage when he and his uncle Henry participated in the Acropolis Rally in 1967, where he achieved an impressive seventh-place ranking. In the 1969 Jyväskylä Grand Rally, he held the lead position, with Hannu Mikkola in second place, before being forced to retire due to gearbox issues. That same year, Laine ventured into sports car racing for the first time, competing at the Nürburgring with a Porsche 906 alongside Sten Axelsson from Sweden.
In 1970, Laine joined the AAW racing team, which was owned by Antti Aarnio-Wihuri. The team acquired a Porsche 908/02 sports car, and Laine's partner for the season was Gijs van Lennep from the Netherlands. They enjoyed early success at the BOAC 500 in Brands Hatch, UK, triumphing under challenging conditions. Their fruitful season continued with a fourth-place finish in the Italian Targa Florio, where they were driving the Porsche 908.
The AAW team entered two cars for the Nürburgring ADAC 1000 km race: a Porsche 917, driven by Pauli Toivonen and Sten Axelsson, and a Porsche 908/02 driven by Laine and Gijs van Lennep. During the qualifying session, Laine and van Lennep achieved a time of 8 minutes and 14 seconds, which would have secured them the eighth starting position. However, tragedy struck during free practice on the Dottinger Höhe straight. Laine's car experienced a loss of downforce when it hit a bump, causing it to crash and catch fire. Despite the rescue efforts of responders and fellow competitors, the fire could not be extinguished in time, and Laine succumbed to his injuries.
Laine had become a favorite of the people and his death was a shock to the public as well as to his rivals. Laine's funeral was held at Espoo Cathedral. His coffin was carried by Holger and Henry Laine, and, among others, Timo Mäkinen, Hannu Mikkola and Gijs van Lennep.

## Racing results in track competitions

| Date | Race | Car | Driver/drivers | Team | Position |
| 5 June 1966 | Artukainen [Specials] | Plymouth Valiant | Laine | | raced |
| 11 September 1966 | Artukainen [Specials] | Volvo PV544 | Laine | | raced |
| 23 April 1967 | Artukainen [Specials] | Alfa Romeo GTA | Laine | | DNF |
| 1 June 1969 | 1000 km Nürburgring | Porsche 906 | Sten Axelsson / Laine | Sten Axelsson Road Racing | 13. |
| 24 August 1969 | Nordic Challenge Keimola | Porsche 906 | Laine | | 3. |
| 7 September 1969 | GP Finland | Porsche 906 | Laine | | 2. |
| 12 October 1969 | 1000 km Paris | Porsche 908/02 | Laine / Gérard Larrousse | AAW Racing Team [fi] | DNF |
| 11 January 1970 | 1000 km Buenos Aires | Porsche 908/02 | Laine / Gijs van Lennep | Racing Team AAW | 9. |
| 18 January 1970 | 200 mile Buenos Aires | Porsche 908/02 | Laine / van Lennep | Racing Team AAW | 7. |
| 1 February 1970 | 24 h Daytona | Porsche 908/02 | Laine / van Lennep | AAW Racing Team | DNF |
| 21 March 1970 | 12 h Sebring | Porsche 908/02 | Laine / van Lennep | AAW Racing Team | DNF |
| 12 April 1970 | 1000 km Brands Hatch | Porsche 908/02 | van Lennep / Laine | AAW Racing Team | 4. |
| 25 April 1970 | 1000 km Monza | Porsche 917 | Laine / van Lennep | AAW Racing Team | 11. |
| 3 May 1970 | Targa Florio | Porsche 917 | van Lennep / Laine | AAW Racing Team | DNA |
| 3 May 1970 | Targa Florio | Porsche 908/02 | van Lennep / Laine | AAW Racing Team | 4. |
| 17 May 1970 | 1000 km Spa | Porsche 917 | Laine / van Lennep | AAW Racing Team | 7. |
| 31 May 1970 | 1000 km Nürburgring | Porsche 908/02 | van Lennep / Laine | AAW Racing Team | DNS |
| 31 May 1970 | 1000 km Nürburgring | Porsche 917 | In entry list only | AAW Racing Team | DNS |

## Racing results in rally competitions

| Date | Race | Co-driver | Car | Position |
| 13–14 November 1965 | Helsinki Rally | Hagström, Reijo | Volvo PV544 | 13. |
| 5–6 January 1966 | Riihimäki-Rally | Laine, Henry | Volvo PV544 | 6. |
| 25–27 February 1966 | Hankiralli | Laine, Henry | Volvo PV544 | 12. |
| 14–15 May 1966 | Salpausselkä Rally | Laine, Henry | Volvo PV544 | 2. |
| 9–10 July 1966 | Itäralli | Laine, Henry | Volvo PV544 | 7. |
| 19–21 August 1966 | Jyväskylä Grand Rally | Laine, Henry | Volvo PV544 | DNF |
| 5–6 January 1967 | Riihimäki-Rally | Laine, Henry | Datsun 1600 | 23. |
| 24–26 February 1967 | Hankiralli | Laine, Henry | Datsun 1600 | DNF |
| 25–28 May 1967 | Acropolis Rally | Järvi, Anssi | Datsun 1600 SSS | 7. |
| 18–20 August 1967 | Jyväskylä Grand Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 20. |
| 9–10 September 1967 | Tampere Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 7. |
| 11–12 November 1967 | Helsinki Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 5. |
| 20–25 January 1968 | Monte Carlo Rally | Keskitalo, Pekka | Porsche 911 S | DNF |
| 23–25 February 1968 | Hankiralli | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 4. |
| 9–10 March 1968 | Arctic Lapland Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 1. |
| 25–26 May 1968 | Salpausselkä Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | DNF |
| 5–7 July 1968 | Itäralli | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 11. |
| 16–18 August 1968 | Jyväskylä Grand Rally | Kolari (First name unknown) | Porsche 911 S | DNF |
| 25–27 October 1968 | Northern Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | DNF |
| 4–5 January 1969 | Riihimäki-Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 3. |
| 17–24 January 1973 | Monte Carlo Rally | Aho, Atso [hu] | Porsche 911 L | DNF |
| 21–23 February 1969 | Hankiralli | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 5. |
| 14–15 May 1969 | West-Coast Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1600 L | 6. |
| 15–17 August 1969 | Jyväskylä Grand Rally | Laine, Henry | Porsche 911 S | DNF |
| 30–31 August 1969 | Tott-Porrassalmi Rally | Laine, Henry | Porsche 911 S | 1. |
| 28–30 November 1969 | Northern Rally | Laine, Henry | Porsche 911 S | DNF |
| 6–8 February 1970 | Arctic Lapland Rally | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1500 | DNF |
| 20–22 February 1970 | Hankiralli | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1500 | 9. |
| 7–8 March 1970 | Teekkariralli | Laine, Henry | Volkswagen 1500 | DNF |