The Pole's future in the championship had been uncertain at the end of 2015, although he appeared on the entry list for the first two rounds of the 2016 season in a BRC Racing-run Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

He crashed out of Rally Monte Carlo after running wide on an icy section on Stage 3 and hitting a tree.

Kubica confirmed on social media on Friday evening that he will not be present in Sweden, explaining that organisers had only granted him an entry in case of a last-minute change of plans.

The ex-Formula 1 driver's departure leaves 15 top-tier entries for the snow-based event, with Khalid Al-Qassimi and Craig Breen making their first appearances of the year for the PH Sport Citroen squad.

In addition, WRC veteran Henning Solberg and Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi will both be making their 2016 debuts in privately-run Fords.