Toivo Asmer

Toivo Asmer is an Estonian racing driver, entrepreneur, motorsports administrator, musician and politician, born on 8 January 1947 in Oisu, Jarva County. He began in motorsport in 1963, became Estonian youth champion in motorcycle hippodrome racing in 1964 and in motocross in 1965, and won the adult winter cross title in 1970. In 1973 he moved to car racing, starting in Formula 4, then Formula Eastern, and finishing in Formula 3. From 1979 to 1990 he belonged to the Soviet Union formula team and won two silver medals at the Eastern European Championships. He is a six-time USSR champion, with 6 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals from the national championship, and a ten-time Estonian champion. He was named an Autosport Grand Master in 1985 and ended his racing career in 1992. Away from the track he built a car importing business, led the Estonian Karting Association and later the Estonian Autosport Union, served as Estonia's Minister of Regional Affairs from 1999 to 2003, and recorded several albums. His son Marko Asmer is also a racing driver.