Hero MotoSports Team Rally Secures Top-10 Finish at Rally Raid Portugal 2026
7th
23
14
What Happened
Hero MotoSports Team Rally concluded Rally Raid Portugal 2026 with Ross Branch securing 7th overall after five demanding stages across Portugal and Spain. Teammate Nacho Cornejo retired early due to a mechanical issue from a deep water crossing in Stage 2. The final stage featured a 291 km loop around Loulé, including a 101 km timed special.
“Overall, it was a positive week for Hero MotoSports. Ross had a scare in the final mountain stage but recovered well to finish safely, which was important as this rally helped him rebuild rhythm and physical condition after his Dakar injury.”
Following Round 2, Ross Branch is 8th in the championship standings with 23 points, while Nacho Cornejo is 9th with 14 points. The team now shifts focus to Round 3 – Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina, scheduled for May 24 to 29.
Why this matters
The result earns valuable championship points and aids Ross Branch's recovery from a Dakar injury, while the team prepares for the next desert round in Argentina.
Terms in This Story
- W2RC
- World Rally-Raid Championship, a global motorsport series for off-road rallying.
- liaison
- A non-timed section of a rally stage used to connect timed special stages.
- special stage
- A timed competitive section of a rally where drivers race against the clock.
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