Citroen announced on Wednesday that Mikko Hirvonen will join eight-times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb at its factory team next season.

The 31-year-old Finn's deal, which lasts for two years, sees him replace Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman is in turn expected to replace Hirvonen at Ford.

"We're very happy to welcome Mikko Hirvonen and (co-driver) Jarmo Lehtinen. They've been our toughest rivals over the last four seasons and we're really looking forward to our future collaboration," said Citroen team boss Olivier Quesnel in a statement.

"Mikko is a talented driver and his consistency will be a big help in our fight to retain the manufacturers' title."

Hirvonen will therefore be in direct competition with Loeb, who held an eight-point lead over him heading into the final round of the championship in Britain last week.

The Frenchman was handed his eighth successive crown when Hirvonen retired on the first full day of Wales Rally GB.

Hirvonen, who also finished runner-up to Loeb in 2008 and 2009, has won 14 WRC events in all, with 51 podium finishes from 124 starts.

Citroen's decision to part company with the up-and-coming Ogier may be seen as a surprise given that the 27-year-old won five races in his debut season with the factory team.

Ogier was also just 12 months into a three-year contract having previously won the Junior World Rally Championship for Citroen and driven for the second-string Junior team in WRC.

However, his rapid pace this season is believed to have created some strain within Citroen, where Loeb had for many years enjoyed a significant advantage over his team-mates.

In contrast, Ogier served up a stern test to the record-breaking world champion and also admitted his frustration midway through the 2011 season at the imposition of team orders.

Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson having previously admitted he would be interested in Ogier's services were he to leave Citroen.