Duval clinches drive with Citroen

Duval finished sixth in this season's driver standings

Belgium's Francois Duval has signed a deal to drive for champions Citroen in the 2005 World Rally Championship.

Duval takes over from Carlos Sainz, who retired at the end of the season, and will compete alongside world champion driver Sebastien Loeb next year.

Citroen stepped in for Duval after Ford announced in September they would be releasing him at the end of the season.

Duval came sixth in this year's drivers standings and helped Ford finish second in the manufacturers' championship.

The announcement ends speculation linking Colin McRae to a Citroen return.

The Scot, a former world champion, was released by Citroen last winter but had been touted as a potential replacement for Sainz.

Duval, who will be 24 on Thursday, made his world debut in the 2001 Portuguese rally with Mitsubishi after finishing third in the Belgian championship in 2000.

His co-driver Stéphane Prévot will join with him at the French side.