Guys, can you help me figure something out? What is the point of the final time control?

To me it seems silly to have something that can affect the results after the award ceremony. There may be mechanical problems which prevent drivers getting there in time or teams may simply use it to shuffle the standings around as has been the case several times. Why not end the rally at the finish line of power stage?

I can understand the nessecity of time controls and time penalties regarding it before stages - you need it to make sure everyone is at the start line at the correct time in correct order so the proper flow of the event can be quaranteed. Makes perfect sense. But what is so important about the final time control that it needs to dictate the rally results?

I have several unanswered questions in my mind about the rules since I started watching WRC in more detail last year, in the light of Rally germany I thought I would try and clear this one.