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

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

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

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

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

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)	Raportti
04-05.02.2011	Peurunka ralli, Laukaa	9th	Raportti
18-19.02.2011	SM Vaakuna ralli, Mikkeli	4th (r2)	Raportti
04-05.03.2011	SM O.K. Auto ralli, Kouvola	4th (r2)	Raportti
20-21.05.2011	Vanajanlinna SM-ralli, Hämeenlinna	3rd (r2)	Raportti
29.05.2011	GLi Rallispecial, Vantaa	Retirement	Raportti
10-11.06.2011	SM Lapua ralli	6th (r2)	Raportti
27-31.07.2011	Suomen MM-ralli, Jyväskylä	5th (r2)	Raportti
16-17.09.2011	Kerava SM-ralli	Retirement	Raportti

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.	Raportti
26.05.2012	Ovisepät ralli, Joutsa	13.	Raportti
27.05.2012	Vantaan rallispecial	2.	Raportti
01-03.08.2012	Suomen MM-ralli, Jyväskylä	Keskeytys	Raportti
02-03.11.2012	EU Rallyesprint, Saksa	1.	Raportti