Born in Helsinki, Mäkinen began his international rallying career at the 1959 1000 Lakes Rally, driving a Triumph TR3. He graduated to works machinery with Austin-Healey and the British Motor Corporation's Mini Cooper S, two cars that would define the first decade of his career. The move to the Mini proved transformative — the compact, nimble car suited his natural car control and commitment through fast, technical stages.
Mäkinen's breakthrough year was 1965. Driving a Mini Cooper S, he won the Monte Carlo Rally and the 1000 Lakes Rally, and claimed a Coupe des Alpes at the Alpine Rally in the same season, establishing himself as one of the top rally drivers in the world. He repeated his 1000 Lakes victory in 1966 and 1967, creating one of the most celebrated hat-tricks in Finnish rallying history.
The 1967 1000 Lakes produced one of rallying's most memorable moments. During the famous Ouninpohja stage, the leather straps securing his Mini's bonnet were not tightened sufficiently, and the hood flew open at speed after rough road impacts. Unable to see ahead through the windscreen, Mäkinen attempted to poke his head out of the side window, but his helmet was too large to clear the frame. His solution was to slide the car continuously sideways so he could see the road ahead through the open side window. Despite this extraordinary circumstance, he was third fastest on the stage and went on to win the rally overall for the third consecutive year.
His success extended beyond the Mini. From the early 1970s Mäkinen drove Ford Escort RS models with continued distinction, adding further wins to his record. He won the RAC Rally in 1973, 1974, and 1975, giving him three victories in that event as well — a feat previously achieved in the event's modern era only by Erik Carlsson in a Saab 96. The 1975 RAC win was secured in a Ford Escort RS1800. He also won the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire in both 1974 and 1976, showing adaptability beyond the gravel and snow surfaces that first brought him fame.
Across his domestic career, Mäkinen won the Finnish Rally Championship three times, the ice-track championship six times, and the saloon car race championship three times — a breadth of success that underlined his all-around abilities.
Mäkinen accumulated an impressive list of international wins across different decades and machinery. His victories included the 1964 Tulip Rally, the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally, three consecutive 1000 Lakes wins from 1965 to 1967, the 1972 Hong Kong Rally, the 1973 Arctic Rally, and multiple RAC Rally and Rallye Côte d'Ivoire wins. This range — from tight Monte Carlo tarmac to Finnish snow and African gravel — demonstrated his adaptability as a driver.
He also competed at the Bathurst 500 in Australia, driving Mini Coopers. In 1965, co-driving with Paddy Hopkirk, he finished sixth outright and third in class; in 1967, partnered with Australian John French, he placed seventh outright and third in class again.
Beyond four wheels, Mäkinen competed in the inaugural Round Britain Powerboat Race in 1969, which he won.
In 1994, Mäkinen made a brief return to competition when Mini celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of Paddy Hopkirk's 1964 Monte Carlo win. He retired from the event on the second stage with a fuel system problem. In 2010, he was among the first four inductees into the Rally Hall of Fame, joining Erik Carlsson, Paddy Hopkirk, and Rauno Aaltonen in the inaugural class — recognition of his standing as one of rallying's foundational figures.
Timo Mäkinen died on 4 May 2017 in Helsinki of natural causes. He is remembered as one of the sport's great natural talents, a driver whose car control and competitive instinct placed him at the apex of international rallying through two distinct eras of the sport.