The 2016 World Rally ওChampionship driver shuffle has sparked changes in co-driver alliances, with Ola Floene ditching Andreas Mikkelsen for new M-Sport Ford driver Mads Ostberg.

Ostberg, who was left without a WRC 𒆙drive after Citroen pulled out of iඣts 2016 commitments to shift focus on developing a 2017 challenger ahead of the regulations revamp, switched to Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport squad for next season. The Norwegian rally driver was then left shocked by the news that his Citroen co-driver Jonas Andersson had jumped ship to partner fellow Swede Pontus Tidemand for a WRC 2 title bid.

However, Ostberg has quickly found an exper🌳ienced replacement in Floene, who claimed a WRC rally victory with Mikkel🦄sen at the Rally de Espana in October, which has now left Mikkelsen searching for a new co-driver for next year.

Floene, who co-drove for Ostberg's father Morten, cut 𓆉shoꩵrt his contract with Mikkelsen which had been due to end in 2016 in order to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion.

"I would like to become world champion and I believe it is a better chance with a long-term co-operation with Mads then to achieve it in 2016 with Andreas, Floene told WRC.com. "Mads is one of the top drivers in WRC.

"My time with Andreas is limit🎀ed to one year and I'm not ready to give up my top level career that early. I feel I have the capacity for many years ahead at the highest level."

Ostberg's new M-Sport team-mate Eric Camilli will also have a newও co-driver for 2016 with Nicolas Klinger who is a former co-driver for Thierry Neuville.