Markku Alen to drive Focus in Finland.

Markku Alen, one of rallying's all-time greats, will return to top level competition next month when he drives a Ford Focus World Rally Car on the Rally Finland. Alen, winner of 20 world rallies, will be joined in a two-car team by rising young Finnish star Jani Paasonen - a partnership dubbed 'the legend and his protege.'

Finn Alen, one of the sport's superstars during a long and distinguished career, will be behind the wheel of a 1999-specification Focus for the ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, based in Jyv?skyl? on 24 - 26 August.

Paasonen, who last month powered a privately-entered Focus to victory on his country's Mantt? Rally against manufacturer opposition, will be rewarded with a 2001 Focus RS. He will be the first non-works driver to compete in a 2001-specification Focus.

Both cars will be prepared and run by Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport company, the British-based firm which operates Ford's programme in the world championship, which the manufacturer leads after seven of the 14 rounds.

"I started my career at the wheel of a Ford Escort on the RAC Rally in Britain in 1973," said 50-year-old Alen. "If this proves to be my last world championship rally, it will be nice to finish with Ford, with the same manufacturer for whom I started. So many people here in Finland have asked me if was going to drive again and where better to compete than on my home rally?"

Alen's record on the event is legendary. He has won six times and said: "It'll be nice to drive one more time on the Rally Finland. My last world rally was on this event in 1993 and the sport has changed a great deal since then. I've already tested a Focus WRC and it's a beautiful car to drive. The handling and suspension were impressive and the braking was sensational.

"I like the first leg stages in Finland but the second and third legs, on Saturday and Sunday, are the ones I'm really looking forward to. It will be maximum attack all the way on those two days," promised Alen, who will be partnered by Ilkka Riipinen.

In contrast to the legendary status given to Alen, Paasonen is regarded as one of the latest generation of Flying Finns. "After my victory on the Mantt? Rally, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to drive on my home world championship event in the latest rally machinery," said 25-year-old Paasonen. "I know the stages well and despite the disadvantage of a low start position on the opening day, I think a top six points-scoring finish is possible.

"However, my world championship experience is not great and while I won't be able to record top times on every stage, I'll be looking to show my abilities on my 'home' stages which I know well," he added.

Both cars will be supported by Finnish mobile phone operator dna and Karjala beer in a programme put together by Mika Sohlberg's company, M.A.L.K.S Promotions.

"We put the agreement together with Markku in little more than a week and I think he can surprise a lot of people. His speed is still there," said Sohlberg.

Martin Whitaker, European director of Ford Racing, was 'greatly excited' by the prospect of seeing Alen behind the wheel of a Focus WRC.

"Markku is one of the great names in rallying's history," he said. "The Finns have this wonderful habit of producing great rally drivers and he is right there with the best of them. If this is to be his final rally, it will be fitting that he should end his career with Ford and both myself and Malcolm Wilson at M-Sport are delighted to offer him this opportunity."