Hero MotoSports Team Rally has concluded the third 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, Ross Branch delivered a commendable performance today by crossing the finish line with the 3rd fastest time, under three minutes behind the stage leader.
His teammate, Nacho and Tobias, also showcased impressive performances by securing 8th and 12th overall positions respectively. Meanwhile, competing in the Rally 2 class, Ebster finished today’s stage with the 4th fastest time, proving his increasing confidence on the Hero 450 Rally.
South African Safari Rally 2025 – Stage 3 highlights
After the end of third stage, Nacho and Tobias hold strong positions in the overall standings, sitting at 6th and 9th respectively, while Ross is currently placed 13th. Tobias also holds a respectable 2nd position in the Rally 2 class, showcasing Hero MotoSports’ growing dominance and depth across both categories.
The “Kalahari Ferrari,” kicked off the rally on his home soil in spectacular fashion by winning Stage 1, setting the tone for what promised to be a dominant run. Carrying that momentum into Stage 2, the Botswanan rider surged ahead, leading the pack with confidence.
But the day took a dramatic turn just 14 kilometres in, when an unfortunate incident damaged the oil cooler of his bike. With time slipping away in the marathon stage, Ross had no option but to carry out makeshift repairs himself — disconnecting the oil cooler entirely to keep going. It was a heavy blow, costing him over an hour and a half and pushing him down the overall rankings, but Ross didn’t back down.
His teammate and Chilean star, Nacho continued to showcase his consistency, delivering yet another solid performance and securing an impressive result. Tobias, meanwhile, lost some time in the stage due to a display issue on his tablet that affected his roadbook navigation. However, some lost time was later credited, as he also had to stop substantially while dealing with the problem.
Stage 3 marked the conclusion of the marathon stage, taking riders through expansive savanna stretches, flowing dirt tracks, and increasingly complex navigation as the rally pushed deeper into South Africa’s hot and arid central regions. Covering a total of 523 km — including 253 km of timed special — it proved to be another grueling test of endurance and focus.
Looking ahead, Stage 4 ramps up the challenge further with a total distance of 693 km – the longest in the rally – including 224 km of timed special. Slated to run around Skilpadshek, the stage begins with fast dirt tracks through the bush before transitioning into tight, rocky trails as the route winds into the mountains — promising yet another tough day for both man and machine.
