Giandomenico Basso will lead out the Abarth factory challenge this week: the Italian won the Rali da Vinho Madeira last year (above) to add to his victory in 2006.

Health problems for Finish driver Anton Alén, following the Rally of Russia that are yet to be resolved, has forced the Abarth factory team to ask the organisers of Rali Vinho da Madeira (RVM) to the replacement the team's number 9 starting Grande Punto Abarth, scheduled to be driven this week by Alén and regular co-driver Timo Alanne on the Atlantic island event, by Umberto Scandola and Guido d'Amore.

The request has already been sent to FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) through the RVM organisation. The answer is expected during the next few hours. According to the rules, the FIA alone can allow for this later replacement to occur. Umberto Scandola will have the same starting number (9) as the Finnish driver and the young Italian will also drive the Fiat Grand Punto S2000 prepared by the Abarth team, that had been entered for Alén.

Umberto Scandola took part in 2006 edition of Rali Vinho da Maderia driving a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 with Luigi Pirollo in the co-drivers seat. The youngster, who is an asphalt specialist, retired after stage 18. Despite that, the Italian driver pleased the local fans. This time, Umberto Scandola will be joined by Guido D'Amore, one of the more experienced co-drivers of the team and one of the Italians who knows better the route.

Abarth thus chooses one of the youngest drivers for its participation and challenge for victory in this year's edition of the Rali Vinho da Madeira, which counts as the fifth round of the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), to run alongside team leader Giandomenico Basso and his long time co-driver Mittia Dotta; the experienced duo won the rally in 2006 and 2007.