Marty McCormack to stand in for Patrik Flodin in Petter Solberg's team in Corsica

The outing in the PS Engineering Ford Fiesta S2000 will mark 26-year-old Northern Irishman McCormack's four-wheel-drive debut.

"We talked to some drivers about who will replace Patrik, but Marty is the one, we think he's a good guy," Solberg told AUTOSPORT. "I am convinced Marty will be a great driver for the team, and I'm very happy he could join the team on such short notice."

McCormack was one of the stars of last year's British Rally Championship, winning the International Rally Northern Ireland outright in his Citroen DS3 R3. He also won the 2WD category of the most recent IRC round, the Circuit of Ireland, and says his work with MSA Team UK will help him hit the ground running.

"One of the things which MSA Team UK taught me is that you just have to keep on working in all aspects of the sport," said McCormack. "This doesn't guarantee that you'll get the chance to do something like this, but if and when you do, it does mean you'll be ready for it. And I'm ready for it.

"What happened to Patrik is awful, but the team has given me a great chance, by stepping in for him, to learn a new event and a new car. My objective is to reward their confidence in asking me by returning a respectable finish."

Flodin, who has undergone an operation for his broken collarbone, will begin his six-event IRC programme with PS Engineering on the Ypres Rally next month.

"This is really just unlucky," said Flodin. "I hurt my collarbone first while out running, but only found out later that an operation was needed. I'm in recovery now, and everything is looking good for the Ypres Rally."