Jari-Matti Latvala says he will be fit to compete in Rally Ireland this week after escaping unscathed from a car accident at the weekend.

The Ford World Rally team driver was testing in Monaghan ahead of the event and was returning to his hotel when a car travelling in the opposite direction lost control and crashed into the Finnish driver.

Latvala escaped with just neck and shoulder pains, but continued testing for Ford and will be fit to start the opening round of the World Rally Championship .

'The other car started to swerve on the bumpy road and came on my lane,' Latvala said today 'I dodged to the left, it crashed into the side of my car and I ended up in a ditch.

'If I hadn't pulled to the left, it would have been much worse.' Latvala escaped the crash with just neck and shoulder pains, but continued testing and will be fit to start the opening round of the World Rally Championship this week.

'In rallying you need to be able to forget the crashes quickly, so I have continued testing after Saturday,' Latvala added. Meanwhile the build up continues in Sligo and the Service Park at Sligo IT has filled up with the World Rally and other competing teams.

The cars will get their first oppourtunity to run in anger at the Shakedown test near at Fermoyle near Sligo on Thursday morning followed by the ceremonial start in Enniskillen Castle at 7.30 on Thursday evening.

FIA president Max Mosley will be in attendance to see the cars through the cermonial ramp

Report RTÉ John Kenny