In a stunning development Gronholm went off the road on just the fourth stage of the rally, Lough Gill in Co Leitrim, his Ford Focus reported to have hit a wall.

The Finn was reported to have initially lost consciousness and the stage was stopped to allow rescue services to reach him and co-driver Timo Rautianen.

He was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

"He (Gronholm) left by ambulance because he was not feeling very well," a Ford team spokesman said.

This followed an eventful evening at Stormont last night when Rally Ireland started with thousands turning up to watch the big event.