AUSTRALIA'S Boyd Exell was in top form at the fourth leg of the FEI World Cup Driving in Budapest, Hungary, at the weekend.

Cheered on by enthusiastic spectators in the Laszlo Papp Sportarena, Exell took out his third FEI World Cup Driving competition this season.

He has now completed his World Cup competitions and comfortably leads the standings, making him a certain starter for the final in Geneva in April.

"I tried to stay very tight to the obstacles, at one point my navigator Michelle even warned me I was getting too close" Exell said.

"I really had to force myself to concentrate during the World Cup competition.

"When I know the course, I have no adrenalin and I make mistakes like I did in Stockholm last week.

"I was very happy to be able to use Junior (Carrington Park Ajax) again in the wheel after I was unable to use him in Stockholm because he was not fit. It was like putting an old pair of gloves on."

Dutch driver Koos de Ronde was runner up again, ahead of wildcard driver Jozsef Dobrovitz.

"It really starts to irritate me that I always end up second behind Exell," de Ronde said.

"But I am pleased with my result; coming second all the time also means that I perform at the same level.

"The only thing I can do to beat Boyd is to drive as fast as possible and to stay within one ball.

"I will get two more chances to beat him though; in Mechelen, where he competes with a wildcard, and in the final in Geneva."