The world is swimming in uncharted waters with the rampant spread of the coronavirus, and the impact it is having on motorsport is already starting to be felt.
McLaren's withdrawal from the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix is the most highly publicised so far, but as the world takes stock of COVID-19 and what its implications are, many more events and sports will surely follow suit.
America's National Basketball Association (NBA) was arguably the first global sport to suspend competition, but many have followed since.
Motorsport events all across Europe are being cancelled, and that will surely follow down under.
It's probably too easy to take the "she'll be right, mate" attitude to coronavirus, particularly when the majority of us either aren't at risk, or are far removed from it.
Yet the threat is real.
Italy went from three confirmed cases to 12,000 in just three weeks, with devastating consequences.
Whether the spread, or the risk of spread, of the virus in Australia impacts local rallying events in the short or long term is unknown.
But rest assured that rally organisers in both Australia and New Zealand will be watching things closely.
As disappointing as a few event cancellations early in the season may be, it would be a much better outcome than shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
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