The Greek privateer will pilot an M-Sport-run Fiesta WRC at Rally Germany in August and at the season-closing Rally Australia in November.

Serderidis is no stranger to the M-Sport team, driving a Fiesta R5 for his first significant WRC programme in 2014 before switching to a DS 3 WRC for the last three years.

Serderidis said: “I am extremely pleased to be back with M-Sport and even more so with the latest Ford Fiesta WRC, which is the best car you can drive in [a] rally nowadays.

“I perfectly understand the chance I have and I will make the necessary efforts and preparation to make the most of the opportunity. Considering these two rallies, I hope to secure a top-15 place in Germany and a top-10 position in Australia, which represents a reasonable target for me.”

Serderidis’ deal is a straight customer operation, he won’t be running as one of the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team members in the same way Bryan Bouffier did at last week’s Monte Carlo Rally.

M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson added: “It will be great to see Jourdan back in the M-Sport service area this year, and I am sure he is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the Fiesta WRC.

“Our clients have always been at the heart of our business, and we’re extremely proud of the fact that we are able to offer these unique opportunities. Jourdan will drive the exact same [specification] car as five-time world champion Sebastien Ogier and have all the same tools and information at his disposal.

“Knowing how hard Jourdan works – and how much experience he has at this level – I have no doubt that he will put absolutely everything into these drives. And our aim is to help him secure his first FIA World Rally Championship points with a new-generation world rally car.”

Serderidis won’t be defending his WRC Trophy Champion title after the FIA dropped what was an under-supported series for older generation World Rally Cars.