How did it come to this? Just four years ago, revolutionary new machinery was supposed to signal the start of a new age for one of the world's most popular racing categories.
Now, with two years remaining in a second three-year cycle of rules, that chosen path has been abandoned in favour of a low-cost alternative - based closer to standard production models - created by the series' original founder after his split from the championship.
The World Touring Car Championship's move to higher-tech, aero-dependent cars by the name of TC1 was made with good intentions, but instead brought a once thriving series to its knees. Series head Francois Ribeiro admits TC1 went both "too far" for the privateer teams and drivers that had grown financially weary and "not far enough" for the higher-end manufacturers it aimed to appeal to.