A helicopter was sent to rescue Northern Secretary Peter Hain on the Donegal/Fermanagh Border when the rally car he was navigating ran out of petrol.
The helicopter was sent when his close protection unit became concerned Mr Hain, who accompanied veteran rally driver Billy Coleman in a course car, failed to return after they completed the stage.
The Northern Secretary, a self-confessed rally fan or "petrol head", revealed his disappearance and rescue at a reception last week in Hillsborough Castle for members of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs.
Mr Hain and Mr Coleman were in one of a number of course cars which go ahead of the competitors and drive at rally speeds to ensure the route has no obstructions. Their Subaru Impreza car ran out of petrol several kilometres before the stage ended.
In a light-hearted speech, Mr Hain said his protection unit became somewhat panicked that the secretary of state was stuck in the countryside without any security. He told his amused audience the helicopter was sent for him, while Mr Coleman had to wait with the car for petrol to arrive.
The mishap occurred in March during a Rally Ireland event along the Donegal and Fermanagh border.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman yesterday insisted that "there was no security issue at all, no panic".
Gavin McAllister, marketing manager of Rally Ireland said that "as a true fan of motorsport, Peter Hain would be unfazed by a minor hitch - the rally goes on".
