Prokop missed Rally Monte Carlo for the first time since 2012, having taken part in the South America-based Dakar Rally a week before and finishing in 14th place.

He will also skip next month's Rally Sweden, but has confirmed he will compete in the subsequent events in Mexico and Argentina.

The Czech driver has yet to define his full programme, but a decision to devote more time to the family business means he is set to miss more than three WRC rounds for the first time since 2011.

"We won't be able to compete in every WRC event this year, but I can't rule out the possibility that I will return for more events," he said.

Prokop started his involvement in the championship with five years in JWRC between 2005 and 2009, the 33-year-old eventually winning the category in his final attempt.

He was third in SWRC in the next two seasons, before stepping up to the main category with a privately-run Ford Fiesta in 2012.

His best results in four seasons of top-level competition are fourth places in Argentina in 2012, Germany the following season and Argentina again last year.