Cowan attacks Richards move

Speaking to British national newspaper The Times, Cowan voiced his concern over Richards' move.

"I am very disappointed," he said. "We put a lot of trust in the guy. When DR [Richards] proposed a lot of these ideas that have revolutionised rallying, I was one of those that said, 'Let's not spend precious time asking too many questions of DR'.

"It is too soon to lose him. Rallying needs him to complete the final chapter of its development," he added.

Richards will remain the chairman of ISC, the company tasked with revolutionising the way rallying is broadcast on television. He reasons that he has set up a management team to handle the day-to-day issues of the sport, and is understood to have pledged a day per week of his own time to rallying.

Meanwhile, recently crowned World Champion Richard Burns told The Times: "I suppose for someone who spent so much time, effort and money investing in the future of the World Rally Championship, this marks a strange turn of direction. I hope it's the right one for rallying."