Throughout his career, the Finnish driver won 19 WRC rallies, five of them on Portuguese soil. Markku Alén started racing at just 17 years old in domestic events at the wheel of a Renault R8 Gordini, quickly becoming one of the best Finnish drivers. Five years later, in 1973, he made his World Rally Championship debut at the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland, driving a Volvo 142. In 1974, he began a long association with the Fiat Group and got behind the wheel of a competitive Fiat 124 Abarth. That year, he caught the eye in several events, notably the Rally de Portugal, an event in which he would become a specialist. The following year, he won in Portugal for the first time, becoming a fan favorite among the national public. He came very close to being crowned World Champion in 1986 after winning the fi nal round of the championship with a Lancia Delta S4. The title was eventually handed to Juha Kankkunen after the FIA rejected the protest Alén’s team had filed against Peugeot and Kankkunen for alleged irregularities. In the following years, he would secure third and second place in 1987 and 1988, respectively.