Anton Alén was named this week as Abarth's second factory driver on the forthcoming fifth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), the Barum Rally Zlín in the Czech Republic. This will be will only be his second-ever asphalt rally, and his first time on this surface at the wheel of the Super2000 Grande Punto Abarth S2000.

The son of rally legend Markku, Anton Alén won the last but one round of the IRC, the Rally Russia, which was held on his favoured surface - gravel, and in the meantime he has tackled the FIA World Rally Championship-counting Neste Oil Rally of Finland, where he was in superb form on the famous fast gravel roads which he imperiously tackled before a final day mechanical failure robbed him of a certain GpN victory.

He now faces an entirely different challenge as he gets to grips with the sealed surfaces of the Barum Rally Zlín. Abarth's team plan this season has been to rotate the second factory IRC entry, run alongside Andrea Navarra who is leading the championship, between Alén and Italian youngster Umberto Scandola with the former tackling gravel rounds while the latter gets the nod on the asphalt surfaces. However it seems Alén's recent run of unstoppable form, and possibly his mounting IRC points haul, have tipped the team into building his experience on asphalt as it seems very likely he will graduate to being a key Abarth driver next year unless his efforts this year tempt one of the WRC factory teams to dangle a contract in front of him. Next weekend's rally in the Czech Republic will be a big test for the young Finn who has only competed on asphalt once before.
 

And that event was a minor rally in Italy, and at the wheel of a Group N car. "It was so long ago that I hardly remember anything about it," said Alén. "For me, this rally will be the biggest challenge of the year: driving on asphalt is almost like a different sport. But I'm looking forward to learning all about it, and of course I hope to do well."

Anton's famous father, Markku, was the first Finn to succeed on classic European asphalt rallies in the 1980s so the signs are good. In order to get up to speed with asphalt driving, Alén will test the car in the Czech Republic tomorrow (Sunday) and also on Monday, before the rally programme gets underway. "For me, it's very exciting because I come into this event with no real idea of how we will get on," said Alén. "There's no pressure to get a particular result. I know that the opposition will be very strong in the Czech Republic, so I am not expecting anything. If I can get into the top 10 that would probably be a good result: the main thing is that I am here to learn."

Markku Alen, who spent most of his career driving for the factory Fiat and Lancia squads, commented: "I think Anton has the potential to be a very good asphalt driver, but it will certainly be a big challenge for him. I think he will enjoy it though." The Barum Rally Zlín gets underway on the evening of Friday 24 August with a ceremonial start and spectator superspecial.