I think this hints at one of the most fundamental problems facing WRC right now - the problems with the TV coverage that has led to poor exposure on stations around the world.

As a result, it's difficult to generate value for the sponsors - especially when it still costs such a lot to compete at WRC level (and the factory teams want sponsorship figures that don't balance up with what the sponsors see as good value).

To me, that means the way forward has to be for WRC to be free to air in major markets of Europe, Asia, America, to generate sponsorship value for money.