Clearly this isn’t good on the MSport side, and just another catastrophe in season full of them, but I can’t have this as a ‘good’ rule. There are only a few Rally 1 cars as it is and now 1 is starting the event 5 minutes down and with no chance. The penalty seems totally disproportionate given the event hasn’t even started competitively.
I know the rule has been around for years as I recall Sordo having the same penalty on Rally GB maybe 10 years ago or more when at Citroen and I thought it was ridiculous then.
This seems like a rule where the FIA have got the shotgun, aimed it squarely at their own foot and pulled the trigger.

I would advocate a points deduction instead, at least then the event itself isn’t compromised and Tanak or whoever could still go out and compete properly.