Hero MotoSports Team Rally has concluded the second stage at the South African Safari Rally 2025 – the third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2025.
Riding in the premier Rally GP class, Nacho Cornejo delivered a strong performance today, crossing the finish line with the 7th fastest time. His teammate, Austria’s Tobias Ebster, also turned heads with a solid 10th-place result overall.
The Botswanan Hero Ross Branch, fresh off his yesterday’s spectacular Stage 1 victory, endured a challenging day and finished at 29th place overall. Meanwhile, in the Rally 2 Class, Tobias continued to impress with his consistency, securing an impressive 3rd position.
Ross Branch struck with bad luck
Ross Branch’s Stage 2 turned out to be a test of resilience and sheer determination. Building on the momentum of his yesterday’s Stage 1 victory, he began the day leading the pack. However, misfortune struck early when, around the 14-kilometer mark, a large bird unexpectedly flew out from the mealy fields and collided with his bike, damaging the oil cooler.
This unforeseen incident forced him to halt and carry out quick, makeshift repairs to keep the bike running. Despite this significant setback, Branch managed to push through the stage and reach the finish line, albeit after losing considerable time. His late ranking today is a direct result of the time lost during the unplanned stop.
With two stages completed, both Nacho and Tobias remain firmly in contention, sitting 5th and 8th respectively in the overall rankings. Meanwhile, the “Kalahari Ferrari”, now in 13th, is determined to claw back time and rejoin the fight at the front as the rally progresses. Tobias, on the other hand, continues to enjoy his commendable 2nd position overall in the Rally 2 standings.
Stage 2, the first leg of the two-day marathon, pushed riders to their limits with cold weather, tricky navigation, and a demanding 620 km to cover – including 352 km timed special — the longest so far in the inaugural South African Safari Rally 2025.
The route featured long, high-speed straights riddled with hidden potholes and off-piste sections through the open savanna, testing both focus and precision. With no external assistance at tonight’s remote bivouac, riders are on their own, staying in isolated tents — adding to the test of endurance and self-sufficiency.
Looking ahead, tomorrow’s Stage 3 will serve as the concluding leg of the marathon stage, offering similar terrain with expansive savanna stretches, flowing dirt tracks, and more intricate navigation, as the riders head deeper into South Africa’s hot and arid central regions. With 523 km in total to cover tomorrow – including 253 km of timed special – the coming stage promises yet another demanding test for both man and machine.
