Tens of thousands of motor enthusiasts lined remote country roads yesterday as the Irish stage of the World Rally Championships went into top gear.
But it was water-borne fans who got the best view of the most dramatic moment when the leader of the championship series, Marcus Gronholm, crashed out on stage four.
It happened at a sharp bend on the edge of Lough Gill about eight kilometres from Dromahair, Co Leitrim. Several dozen onlookers watched from a variety of craft on the lake.
Gronholm, a Finn and former world champion, was taken to Sligo General Hospital with minor injuries and released several hours later, but his bid for the world title was wrecked.
A street festival in Sligo this evening will feature former racing-car team manager Eddie Jordan at his favourite pastime - playing the drums with his rock band, Eddie and The Robbers.
Rally fans from around the world joined thousands of locals in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon, many walking several miles to the best vantage points on roads closed to non-rally traffic. Some ensured a place at the best viewing points by sleeping overnight in their cars and rented camper-vans.
The rally concludes tomorrow with a number of stages along Donegal Bay passing near Ballintra, Rossnowlagh and Ballyshannon.