Alister McRae has been out of the picture since 2002

The 33-year-old Scot has been out of a regular drive since being dropped by Mitsubishi in 2002.

But he will take part in the production championship this weekend at the wheel of a privately-prepared Subaru.

McRae said: "It is a long time that I have been out and you can't just ignore that and expect to be fastest from the first stage."

Former Hyundai and Mitsubishi driver McRae is hoping that this weekend's event will bring him to the attention of top team bosses, although he admits money is an important factor.

McRae, whose brother Colin is also out of a drive this season, said: "It's all down to finance.

"The idea behind contesting the FIA Production World Championship this season was to get my name back in front of the team managers and get back out competing.

"It would be nice if it was in a World Rally car. But it's down to finance and it isn't easy to raise that whoever you are and there is still a lot more work to do."

McRae admits he is unlikely to be on the pace immediately after just one WRC outing in the last 18 months.

"I'd love to be going to Sweden saying that I am going to win, but for me it's about getting back in the car and back into the swing of world-class competition," he added.