Norway's 2003 world rally champion Petter Solberg will not compete in next year's championship following the withdrawal of Ford as a works team.
The 38-year-old, who won his title with Subaru, said in a statement that he was saddened to call an end to his time in the championship - for the time being - after 15 years and 188 starts.
Ford announced in October they were withdrawing works support from the championship, with the M-Sport organisation that has run the factory team since 1997 continuing as a private entry on a limited budget.
Solberg's absence will leave the sport without any past champions competing for the title, with France's Sebastien Loeb doing only a limited number of events after winning nine championships in a row with Citroen.