McRae has been left terribly disappointed by Saubaru's decision

McRae had been hotly tipped to return to Subaru to partner world champion Petter Solberg after Richard Burns was found to have a brain tumour.

But the team have decided not to take back the 35-year-old Scot, who won the title with them in 1995.

McRae told the Autosport website: "I've never been more disappointed in my entire time in the championship."

Subaru's decision almost certainly means McRae will be forced to sit out next year's world rally series after he was dropped by Citroen after a disappointing year in 2003.

He added: "This deal was not about the money, it was about me being in a team that could have given me one more crack at the World Rally Championship.

"Subaru could have had a cracking team with Petter and myself."

McRae to race in desert rally

McRae's only confirmed drive next year is with Nissan in the trans-Saharan Dakar Rally.

World Rally commercial boss David Richards, whose Prodrive company runs the Subaru team, said he was disappointed not to have McRae in the series.

"Some sports have iconic figures and Colin is one of them," Richards said.

"It was Colin that helped put Subaru on the map. I don't think some people understand the impact of not having him in the car."

Driver profile: Mikko Hirvonen

Finn Mikko Hirvonen was named as Solberg's team-mate on Monday.

Hirvonen drove for Ford in this year's world rally series.