Rallying has always been raw. It's easier to bring those VIPs to a classy track restaurant than to transport them with buses to "crappy VIP park" set up on some muddy field.

And as said above, it takes effort to follow rally. I love planning etc. but many people don't. They just want to see action easily. F1 is also great for TV - and what's even more important: it's easy to cover. Rally again... A lot harder.

I'm not one of those who cries and whines about the current situation of WRC. I still love every rally. The pure exitement and rally fever are still there for me. The only thing I would like to change in the modern WRC is the rally template. Normally three stages in the morning and then those three again in the afternoon. Every time there is exeption to this, things get really interesting. (Finland, upcoming Australia, Norway 2007, etc.) Luckily Simon Long has said that they'll try to get rid of that template.