Botswana’s Ross Branch, representing Hero Motosports Team Rally powered by Motul, has become the first rider from Africa to win the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
Ross cemented his win on African soil – after his earlier successes this season (including his second place at the 2024 Dakar Rally), he only needed to complete the final stage of this month’s Rallye du Maroc to be crowned 2024 W2RC Champion.
As a result of his success, Africa has a new World Rally Raid Champion. Riding a Hero 450, Ross helped Hero Motosports Team Rally become the first (and to date, only) Indian team to achieve a podium finish at the Dakar Rally, where he completed the gruelling event only 11 minutes behind eventual winner Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda powered by Motul).
The Dakar was the opening event for the 2024 World Rally Raid Championship so it’s entirely fitting that Ross ended the season as World Champion, having begun it on the podium in Saudi Arabia.
This initial success laid the foundation for a season of consistently strong performances from Ross. The superb reliability of his Hero 450 motorcycle and the support of partners including Motul, plus Ross’ dedication and passion, have been the most significant factors contributing to this historic achievement.
Branch started racing at the age of 4, and can now add the title of World Champion to his Dakar podium, two Dakar stage wins and seven victories in his home Rally Raid event, the Botswana 1000 Desert Race. His first World Championship win came in Kazakhstan in 2021, and his love of the adventure side of rally racing has now seen Ross reach the pinnacle of Rally Raid competition.
His passion is shared by his fellow riders in Hero Motosports Team Rally. Founded in 2016 and based in Jaipur, India, the team symbolises the global nature of Rally Raid racing, and the fact that Africa now has its first World Champion in this demanding discipline speaks to the worldwide appeal of this most demanding discipline.
