The Italian-based Abarth team will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge next season with a two-car line-up.

Giandomenico Basso, a former European champion and the reigning Italian champion, will lead the squad, while Anton Alen, the son of rally legend Markku Alen, will drive the sister car.

A third car could also be run on occasion for Umberto Scandola.

"Our general idea is to run just two cars, for Basso and Alen, with perhaps a third car on some events," confirmed a spokesperson for the outfit. "It should be a very strong team: we're all looking forward to it."

With Basso more experienced on asphalt and Alen, the winner of last year's Rally Russia, acknowledged as a gravel expert, the team is also very well-balanced.

"I can't wait to get started," said Alen, who is entering his first full season of the IRC. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me and of course I am going to be doing my very best to get the most out of it.

"There are more asphalt rallies than gravel events, but that is good for me as I need to gain more experience on sealed surfaces. The level of competition is sure to be very high."

The Abarth team will start its IRC campaign with the Portugal Rally in May and is currently working to improve the Super 2000 Grande Punto further, with refinements to the engine and transmission.

Having tested at the end of November, the team will resume its testing programme in January.