Garry Jennings was forced to withdraw midway through the Birr Stages Rally after medical personnel insisted he was admitted to hospital overnight.

The Kesh driver was lying third overall on the latest round of the Irish National Rally Championship on Sunday when he felt unwell, and after getting checked over by the doctor at the service area, Jennings was admitted to the local hospital before being released on Monday.

“I felt like I had heart palpitations,” revealed Jennings.

“I felt it just as I was braking for a chicane on the third stage. I went to [the] Service [area], thinking it would calm down, but after half an hour I went into the ambulance [area] and asked them to check my heart rate.

Ambulance

“They wouldn’t let me out of the ambulance, and took me into the local hospital. They were very good, and did everything they could, and let me out on Monday morning.”

The former Irish Tarmac Rally Champion was in positive spirits after being released, and has targeted the Circuit of Ireland Rally in two weeks’ time for his return to the stages.

“I hope to do the Circuit and get some more miles in the car,” he said.

“The car feels good and I was happy with it, but I am better safe than sorry. I was enjoying it. I was going nice and steady.

“You have to remember that it’s a 2014 car and there isn’t much left in it up against all that more recent machinery, but I know I am on the pace and it was good mileage.

“I was just unfortunate with what happened. Hopefully I will get everything sorted out and get out again quickly.”

Jennings posted the fourth-fastest time on the opening stage in his Ford Fiesta, and moved ahead of former British Champion Keith Cronin on stage two.

He held onto third for the next two stages and looked set for a podium finish before his untimely withdrawal.

Jody McManus posted the fourth-fastest time on the opening stage in class 2 in his Fiesta, but leapfrogged to second after stage two.

Going into the final stage of the event, he was three seconds adrift of the class leader, but a small misjudgement on the last test cost him vital seconds and he had to be content with third in class.

Karl Fallis and Tony McGovern finished fifth in class in their Honda Civic in class 11F.