Hero MotoSports Team Rally’s Ross Branch claimed the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship title after finishing the Rallye Du Maroc 2024, the fifth and final round of FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2024.
Ross Branch: On top of the world
Securing the championship title, Hero rider Ross, also known as ‘Kalahari Ferrari’ has shown some of his best skills since the beginning of this season.
In January, Ross Branch secured 2nd position at Hero MotoSports’ first-ever Dakar podium at Dakar 2024, the opening round of the W2RC. A month later he again secured the second position in the Championship at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, propelling him to reach the first position in the championship rankings. He then finished fifth at both Rally Raid Portugal (April), and Desafio Ruta 40, Argentina (June). This impressive performance allowed Ross to hold onto the lead until the final round in Morocco this week, ultimately earning him the championship title.
Commenting on this victory, Ross Branch said, “No words can capture the magnitude of this incredible moment. I am thrilled to see the entire team’s hard work come together, and witnessing everyone’s happiness is a success in itself. I feel fortunate to be part of such a passionate family! Thank you, to everyone who believed in me and provided me with this opportunity. It is truly overwhelming!”
He continued further, “As we look ahead into 2025, I see a bright future for our young team — this is just the beginning. This victory represents one of the biggest steps in the right direction for Hero, and I am really excited about the future. Thank you all for your unwavering support.”
W2RC 2024: Details
The Hero team, at the 25th edition of Rallye Du Maroc were represented by three riders namely, Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo, and Sebastian Buhler. The rally later took an adventurous turn, following a straightforward prologue at Marrakech, due to rain and floods, that washed out the terrain making it more difficult, resulting in several competitors retiring midway owing to accidents and injury. Unfortunately, Hero rider Sebastian Buhler had to withdraw in Stage 2 after a crash, leaving Branch and Cornejo to continue the competition. The rally, which spanned nearly 2,500 kilometers across the vast Sahara, concluded after six days at Mahgoub-Bouârfa, near to the Algerian border.
Along with a warm display of team spirit at Hero camp, when Ross’s closest competitor withdrew from the race due to injury, it became clear that he only needed to finish the rally to secure the World Championship title. With the whole team focused on ensuring Ross’s safe completion, Nacho Cornejo putting his own race performance aside, stayed by Ross’s side throughout the week.
Talking about the race Nacho Cornejo said, “Finally, Rallye du Maroc 2024 has come to a close. I am super excited about how the rally unfolded, and proud of all the hard work the team has put behind. I’m especially delighted for Ross as he wins the World Championship title. It’s rewarding to see years of dedication culminate in this success, and I’m grateful for the efforts of everyone at Hero MotoSports. Now it’s time to celebrate, relax, and unwind before we gear up for the next season!”
W2RC 2024: Rankings
Since the rally World Championship for motorbikes began in 2003, only ten riders have made their mark in FIM history, now Ross Branch becomes the eleventh and the first African to win the title. In just their eighth year of racing, Hero MotoSports has achieved its first FIM World title, following a near win at this year’s Dakar Rally. This victory secures the Indian manufacturer’s place among the elite, making them the sixth manufacturer to earn a FIM World title and the first to break KTM’s long-standing championship streak since 2014.
With this iconic win, Hero MotoSports, once started as a rookie team in 2016, looks forward to the 2025 season, beginning with the Dakar Rally in January.
| Overall Rankings after Stage 5 (Rally GP Class) | |||
| Position | Bike Team | Rider | Time |
| 1. | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | Daniel Sanders | 15h 45m 06s |
| 2. | Monster Energy Honda Team | Tosha Schareina | + 11m 07s |
| 3. | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | Luciano Benavides | + 21m 03s |
| 4. | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | Ross Branch | + 45m 33s |
| 5. | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | Nacho Cornejo | + 01h 15m 01s |
| 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship Standings (After Round 5) | |||
| Position | Bike Team | Rider | Points |
| 1. | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | Ross Branch | 88 Points |
| 2. | Monster Energy Honda Team | Adrien Van Beveren | 76 Points |
| 3. | Monster Energy Honda Team | Tosha Schareina | 70 Points |
| 4. | Monster Energy Honda Team | Ricky Brabec | 63 Points |
| 5. | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | Nacho Cornejo | 41 Points |
Expressing his enthusiasm, Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, “This is our moment of glory, Ross, our shining star has brought home our priciest possession – the World Championship. Our journey to this moment started exactly 8 years back – as a small setup with limited resources and big dreams. I’m extremely happy for Ross, and really proud of what our entire team has achieved through consistent hard work and dedication over the years. I’m proud of Nacho, who did an exceptional job at helping Ross to cross the finish safely. I also wish Basti a safe recovery.” He ended the quote thanking Chairman Dr. Pawan Munjal and supporters and fans across the globe.
