Happy birthday to Markku Alén, who is celebrating his 75th birthday

Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1951, Markku Alén was immersed in the world of motorsports from a very young age, inheriting the passion of his father, himself a Finnish ice racing champion. He began in rally in the late 1960s driving a Renault 8 Gordini, surprising from its first appearances with its incisive style on all surfaces. Very quickly, it attracted attention and then made its debut in the World Rally Championship (WRC) during the 1973 1000 Lakes Rally, securing an impressive second place in his first season.

Markku Alén quickly forged a reputation as a go-getter, a driver who never spared his efforts and often carried the unofficial motto of "Maximum attack now", symbolizing his mentality of permanent attack in every special stage. It was with the Italian cars of the Fiat group that he achieved his first world victories, winning the rally of Portugal in 1975, then several successes in Finland and elsewhere, which earned him the reputation of being among the best of his generation.

In 1978, he won the FIA ​​World Cup, the equivalent of the world championship title before the official creation of the drivers' championship. His exploits at the wheel of the Fiat 131 Abarth and then Lancia in the 1980s secured him a lasting place in rally legend, with a total of 19 WRC victories and more than 800 special stage wins to his name, a record that remained unbroken for a long time before being surpassed by Sébastien Loeb (935)

A career full of challenges

The 1986 season remains one of the most controversial episodes of his career: after winning the San Remo Rally, the Finn briefly held the lead in the World Championship before the results were annulled following a technical appeal from the team. Peugeot depriving the driver of a title that was already within his grasp. Despite this bitter episode, he continued his career with the Lancia Delta S4 and then the Delta Integrale after the end of the Group B era, achieving several successes and remaining a key figure in the field until the early 1990s.

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After retiring from top-level competition, Markku Alén did not completely withdraw from the sport. He participated in various historic events, was involved with his son Anton, who was also involved in rallying, and remained a respected figure among enthusiasts for his determination and flamboyant style.