Former Subaru World Rally Team driver Markko Martin will make a surprise one-off return to the fold when he contests next month's Bettega Memorial Rallysprint.

The 32-year old Estonian, who drove for the Subaru World Rally Team in 2001, will drive the latest evolution of the team's current car, the Impreza WRC2007, in a rare competitive appearance as he tackles the traditional end-of-season event over 15-16 December.

Martin, who announced his retirement from the WRC in January 2006, will compete head-to-head with a host of full-time championship regulars - as well as top privateers and stars from other forms of motorsport - in a knock-out contest staged in a mixed-surface arena and in both daylight after darkness as part of the Bologna Motor Show.

The Estonian, who has made a handful of competitive appearances in lower levels than the WRC since his 'retirement', as well as appearing at events such as Goodwood's Festival of Speed, is the latest 'special guest' to be invited to drive a works-specification Impreza at the Bettega event. Three years ago, the late Colin McRae was reunited with the model that took him to the 1995 World Rally Championship while, in 2005, MotoGP star Valentino Rossi thrilled his home crowd when he drove that season's Impreza WRC.