Gronholm taken for hospital checks

The championship leader hit a wall in SS4 this morning while running third behind the two Citroens.

Gronholm and co-driver Timo Rautiainen initially reported that they had both escaped unhurt, but subsequently Gronholm briefly lost consciousness, and the stage was then stopped so that medics could attend to the Finn.

"At the moment they're both in the ambulance heading for Sligo, but I don't think there's any need for any major concern or anything like that," Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson told World Rally Radio.

"In the very fast section of the stage by the lake, they found some very polished tarmac and Marcus didn't get the braking he expected. He's gone into the wall with his side of the car, and it was all his side of the car that took the impact.

"He was okay initially, but then I think he passed out shortly afterwards. He came round and was okay, and then we got another phonecall from Timo to say it was actually worse, that he had passed out again and was starting to lose his memory, very similar to when he had the accident in Australia.

"Thankfully the organisers did a great job - they stopped the stage once they got the message from Timo, and got the medical team there.

"At the moment all I can tell you at the moment is that he is on his way to Sligo Hospital, but I don't think there's any need for concern.

"I know he'll be totally devastated about what's happened, because that's Marcus."

Wilson said it was too early to say whether Gronholm would rejoin the event for the second leg if he was passed fit.

"We don't know at the moment," he said.

"There's no real access to where the car is at the moment to be able to view the car and see what the extent of the damage is.

"The first thing is to get the car back here, but also we need to make sure Marcus is okay and the medical team will make that decision."