Dani Sordo will re-join the Citroen Total World Rally Team next year and team up with Mikko Hirvonen for the 2013 World Rally Championship, it has been announced.

Sordo gets the chance to return after Sebastien Loeb's decision to end his full-time WRC career and only do around three to five events next season.

The Spaniard, who has spent the last two years with Prodrive and MINI, pretty much began his WRC career with the French manufacturer, before being dumped at the end of 2010 and replaced by Sebastien Ogier. Sordo has competed in almost 100 WRC events and has had numerous podium finishes over the years, most recently finishing second back in January on Rallye Monte Carlo in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car, however, he has yet to win and that is something he is keen to put right.

"Obviously, I'm very pleased to rejoin a team with which I share so many good memories. This was my number one choice for 2013," said Sordo. "The last few years have been good for me. In another team, I got to grips with different working methods and I took on more responsibility in the car development process. I see this return to Citroen as a great opportunity.

"I am still looking for my first win in WRC and I am determined to secure it next season! I can't wait to see the people I know again and get back behind the wheel of the DS3 WRC, in which I did some testing at the end of 2010."

Citroen boss Yves Matton, who confirmed post-Spain that Sordo and Mads Ostberg were the two main drivers' being considered to fill the seat vacated by Loeb, added that he was confident the 29-year-old is the right man for the job.

"We took our time in assessing the potential of the drivers available to line up alongside Mikko Hirvonen next season. Obviously, Dani was very high on our shortlist and his performances at the Rally de Espana proved that he can still perform at the very highest level," Matton added.

"Dani is very well liked in the team and it's a pleasure for everyone to see him return to the 'family'.

"His profile complements Mikko's in many aspects and it was [also] important for Citroen to have a Latin driver for the Southern Europe and Latin American markets."

The length of Sordo's new contract was not disclosed, neither was it confirmed how many events he will do in 2013.