BP Ford team leader, Marcus Gronholm has said that while his neck isꦏ a bit sore, he is 👍otherwise 'OK' following his big crash this morning on the Rally Ireland.

Gronholm had been running third overall, just 4 seconds off the lead going into ꦇSS4, when he lost control of his Focus RS WRC car under braking for a corner and☂ crashed heavily into a stone wall.

The incident occurred towards the end of the 20.57 kilometre-run through Lough Gill 1 and the earlier split times show🔯ed he was more than six seconds quicker than his nearest rivals.

Althoꦕugh Gronholm and co-driver, Timo Rautiainen were taken to Sligo Gene𓄧ral Hospital by ambulance, after the former briefly lost consciousness, they have since been released and given the all-clear.

"The accident happened near the finish on a wide, right corner," Marcus explained back in se൩rvice. "I braked for the bend but it was extremely slippery and the car skated off the road.

"I managed to turn it sideways before hitting a stone waജll hard. It was a big, big impact because the car stopped immediately. Both wheels on my side of the car 💞were ripped off.

"We were taken to hospital wheꦦre we we🏅re both given a scan but that showed no problems. My neck is sore but otherwise I'm OK."

Gronholm's exit however is major blow for his championship aspirations. Indeed with arch rival Sebastien Loeb currently on course for the win, the Finn looks set 𒆙to go to Wales Rally GB in two weeks time, the final round in the FIA World Ra🐎lly Championship, six points behind.

"It will be hard to lift the drivers' championship if S?bastien Loeb wins, but there are a lot of kilometres remaining here and on the final round🦄 in Great Britain so I'm not giving up hope yet," Gronholm summed-up defiantly.