Markku Alén
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Markku Alén (r.) and navigator Ilkka Kivimäki (1976)
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 Finnish
|
| Born |
15 February 1951 Helsinki |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1973–1993, 2001 |
| Co-driver |
Ilkka Kivimäki Atso Aho Paul White
|
| Teams | Ford, Fiat, Lancia, Subaru, Toyota |
| Rallies | 129 |
| Championships | 1 (1978) |
| Rally wins | 19 |
| Podiums | 56 |
| Stage wins | 801 |
| Total points | 840 |
| First rally | 1973 1000 Lakes Rally |
| First win | 1975 Rally Portugal |
| Last win | 1988 RAC Rally |
| Last rally | 2001 Neste Rally Finland |
Markku Allan Alén (born 15 February 1951, in Helsinki) is a Finnish former rally and race car driver. He drove for Fiat, Lancia, Subaru and Toyota in the World Rally Championship, and held the record for most stage wins (801) in the series, until Sébastien Loeb overtook it at the 2011 Rally Catalunya. Alén's phrase "now maximum attack" became well-known.
Alén never won the world championship itself, despite being for a long time the driver with the most wins to his credit. However, he did win the FIA Cup for Drivers in 1978, the precursor to the World Championship for Drivers established in 1979. In 1986, he was the world champion for eleven days, until Peugeot's appeal went through and the results of Rallye Sanremo, which Alén had won, were annulled.
Alén's interest in motorsport came from his father, who was the 1963 Finnish champion in ice racing. Alén started his rallying career in 1969 driving a Renault 8 Gordini, and finished ninth at the 1000 Lakes Rally at his first attempt. After getting a contract with the Finnish Volvo importer to drive the Volvo 142, he finished third at the 1000 Lakes in 1971 and 1972. At his World Rally Championship debut at the 1973 1000 Lakes Rally, he took second place behind Timo Mäkinen.
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