These are tragic times for the local inhabitants of that area and their economy and environment. Going ahead with the event, even in a reduced form seems to me to be a major own goal in terms of negative PR for the event and the wider sport. Maybe the organisers have submitted their revised plans to the FIA in the hope that the FIA actually decline them which may have a bearing on how the event cancellation insurance policy kicks in - if it can be because of a regulatory issue rather than a weather issue?

If cancellation beckons or even if the event runs in this reduced format, from a rally perspective the one I feel most sorry for is Hayden Paddon. To have missed out on drives in a competitive WRC car in both Finland and now Australia could see his WRC dreams at an end.