Ross Branch Wins Rally GP World Championship in Historic Triumph for Hero MotoSports

Ross Branch of Botswana has made history by clinching the Rally GP world championship at the 2024 Rallye du Maroc, securing the first-ever FIM title for the Indian brand Hero MotoSports. In doing so, Branch also becomes the first Botswanan rider to claim an FIM world championship title, marking a significant milestone for both his country and his team.

Branch’s victory caps off a season in which he maintained steady control at the top of the Rally GP standings. After taking the lead following the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March, Branch faced intense pressure from Honda's Ricky Brabec, who narrowed the points gap after winning the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina. However, Brabec was forced to withdraw from the Morocco rally due to a knee injury sustained in stage one, clearing Branch’s path to the title.

With his closest rival out, Branch navigated the final stages of the Rallye du Maroc with relative ease, securing a third-place finish among World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) competitors. Teammate Nacho Cornejo provided crucial support as they crossed the finish line behind Tosha Schareina and Adrien Van Beveren, both of Monster Energy Honda.

Branch's triumph marks the third Rally GP world champion title and is a landmark achievement for Hero MotoSports, who have been seeking their first FIM title since joining the W2RC series. Reflecting on his historic win, Branch expressed deep gratitude for his team, stating, "No words can capture this incredible moment. I am thrilled to see the entire team’s hard work come together. It is truly overwhelming!"

While Branch took the top individual honours, Monster Energy Honda had its own reasons to celebrate. Adrien Van Beveren finished second in the world championship standings, and Tosha Schareina’s victory in Morocco allowed Honda to clinch its third consecutive manufacturers' title in the W2RC. Schareina’s win came despite Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) being the overall victor of the Morocco rally, as only W2RC-registered riders count towards this title.

Schareina’s victory catapulted him into third place in the overall championship standings, completing the podium behind Branch and Van Beveren.

Daniel Sanders’ triumph in the 2024 Rallye du Maroc offered a bright spot in what has been a challenging season for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Sanders opened much of stage five, securing a dominant rally victory by a margin of more than 11 minutes. This marks a successful comeback for Sanders, who has faced a series of injuries, including a broken femur that kept him off the podium for over a year.

Speaking after his victory, Sanders expressed his satisfaction with the performance: "I’m so pleased with how the whole rally has gone, especially taking the win of course. It’s been a year and a half since I broke my femur, so I’m super-pumped to be back on form."

The Rally 2 category saw South African rider Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) claim his first world championship title after a decisive performance in Morocco. Cox’s win was secured by not only finishing first in the Rally 2 race but also by overtaking Frenchman Romain Dumontier (Team Honda) in the championship standings in a dramatic final round. Dumontier, riding a new Honda bike, took second place in the championship, while Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Rally) finished third.

Cox’s win underscores South Africa’s growing prominence in the rally world. The country is set to join the W2RC calendar next season, marking another significant step forward for African motorsport.

In addition to Cox’s win, his BAS World KTM Racing teammates Michael Docherty and Tobias Ebster rounded out the podium in the Morocco rally, reinforcing the team’s dominance in the Rally 2 category.

In the Rally 3 championship, Chile’s John Medina secured the title after a consistent season. His Argentinian teammate Eduardo Alan finished second overall, while Morocco’s own Souleymane Addahri took third place, buoyed by a home-soil victory in the final round.

Spanish rider Sandra Gomez made a strong impression in her first major event for the Fantic Rally Team, finishing as the top female rider in the Rally 2 category and placing 35th overall. Gomez’s performance adds to her growing reputation as one of the top female competitors in the world of rally racing.,