By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
    Auto ShowsShow More
    Lotus Returns To Goodwood Festival Of Speed With A Bold Celebration Of Its Past, Present And Future
    July 10, 2025
    Alpine celebrates its 70th anniversary with world and UK debuts at Goodwood
    July 10, 2025
    Maserati MCPURA: the essence of performance debuts at Goodwood
    July 10, 2025
    IAA MOBILITY 2025 Announces Powerful Lineup of Partners and Sponsors
    June 26, 2025
    BMW and Alvaro Barrington celebrate hydrogen mobility at Art Basel in Basel 2025
    June 18, 2025
  • Bikes
    BikesShow More
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW CE 04
    July 3, 2025
    Desmo450 MX: Production of the first Ducati Motocross bike begins
    May 28, 2025
    25YM Honda NC750X
    May 13, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW R 1300 RS
    May 2, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW R 1300 RT
    April 30, 2025
  • News
    NewsShow More
    The new Taycan and Cayenne Black Edition models
    July 11, 2025
    INEOS GRENADIER UPS ITS GAME WITH PORTAL AXLE COLLABORATION
    July 11, 2025
    How the BMW Group is gearing up for series production of its new high-voltage batteries
    July 10, 2025
    Bentley opens its largest ever presence at Goodwood Festival of Speed, with UK debut of new Bentayga Speed
    July 10, 2025
    BMW Group shows positive sales development in second quarter of 2025
    July 10, 2025
  • Concepts
    ConceptsShow More
    Mercedes-AMG presents the CONCEPT AMG GT XX
    June 25, 2025
    TOYOTA GAZOO Racing unveils liquid hydrogen-fueled “GR LH2 Racing Concept” at Le Mans
    June 11, 2025
    FIAT unveils the manifesto Grande Panda 4×4
    May 20, 2025
    Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept makes its global debut at Roland-Garros 2025
    May 16, 2025
    Hyundai Motor and Plus Unveil Concept for Autonomous Hydrogen Freight Ecosystem at ACT Expo 202
    May 2, 2025
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    24-hour race at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Spa – triple marathon for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
    June 10, 2025
    Kosmas “Dudie” Mamaloukos – The Formidable Racing Talent
    May 15, 2025
    Hi-Range Safari City
    Hi-Range Safari City – The Premier outfitter for 4×4 customization
    May 15, 2025
    BEHIND THE SCENES: ARCHIE RUTHERFORD ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING THE W2RC TO SOUTH AFRICA
    May 9, 2025
    Europe and China’s automotive future in a shifting global order
    May 5, 2025
  • EVs
    EVsShow More
    The Kia EV5: an authentic SUV powering Kia’s electrification vision
    July 8, 2025
    Polestar 4 wins the 2025 Mille Miglia Green
    June 27, 2025
    IONIQ 5 N Earns Coveted ‘Five-Star Car’ Accolade at 2025 Autocar Awards
    June 26, 2025
    Polestar 3 OTA update introduces new Abbey Road Studios Mode exclusively for Bowers & Wilkins audio system
    June 18, 2025
    No Compromise Ford Ranger PHEV Brings Electric Power to Europe’s Best-Selling Pickup
    June 18, 2025
  • Motosport
    MotosportShow More
    HINO ALREADY PREPARING FOR 2026 DAKAR RALLY
    July 11, 2025
    Ducati team returns to the track at Donington for the seventh round of the 2025 WorldSBK season
    July 10, 2025
    Nissan Formula E Team heads to Berlin for penultimate race weekend of Season 11
    July 10, 2025
    A legend returns to Le Mans: Škoda Sport back on the famous circuit after 75 years
    July 8, 2025
    Revised line-ups headline Vantage GT3 assault on the Americas as WEC and IMSA fire back into action
    July 8, 2025
  • Trucks & Buses
    Trucks & BusesShow More
    Daimler Truck Global Parts Center officially opened
    July 10, 2025
    MAN celebrates 70 years of tradition and modernity at its Munich plant
    July 3, 2025
    Tata Motors strengthens presence in Qatar with the launch of all-new LPO 1622 bus
    June 26, 2025
    Scania launches MCS rapid charging solution at EVS38
    June 18, 2025
    Daimler Truck and Volvo Group launch Coretura
    June 17, 2025
  • Reviews
    ReviewsShow More
    THE NEW FERRARI AMALFI
    July 9, 2025
    Ferrari 296 Speciale: driving thrills reach new heights
    July 9, 2025
    Introducing the Land Cruiser Hybrid 48V: a new powertrain for Toyota’s legendary SUV
    June 23, 2025
    THE NEW HAVAL H6 SUV IS HERE, AND IT’S BUILT FOR BIG MOMENTS!
    June 18, 2025
    THE NEW PEUGEOT E-208 GTi MORE PLEASURE. MORE GTi THAN EVER!
    June 17, 2025
  • Tech
    TechShow More
    Gaming fun on the go: Audi integrates AirConsole
    June 26, 2025
    New Kia App provides European drivers with a unified digital experience
    June 17, 2025
    Abbey Road Studios Mode makes global debut in Volvo EX90
    June 17, 2025
    Audi develops the picking process of the future
    June 2, 2025
    Volvo EX90 LiDAR and smartphone cameras: What you need to know
    June 2, 2025
Hot News
HINO ALREADY PREPARING FOR 2026 DAKAR RALLY
The new Taycan and Cayenne Black Edition models
INEOS GRENADIER UPS ITS GAME WITH PORTAL AXLE COLLABORATION
Daimler Truck Global Parts Center officially opened
Lotus Returns To Goodwood Festival Of Speed With A Bold Celebration Of Its Past, Present And Future
Latest News

Volkswagen Group Africa welcomes new Sales and Marketing Director

Latest News

Jasmine Paolini, new Alfa Romeo Brand Ambassador

Latest News

Isuzu to establish new production facility in South Carolina

Auto Shows

LDV (Maxus as Known in China) Makes a Bold Statement at Shanghai Motor Show

Font ResizerAa
The Auto MagazineThe Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • Interviews
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Search
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • Interviews
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Follow US
Crafted by Intellegere Media. © 2024 The Auto Magazine. All rights reserved.
Motosport

BRANCH EARNS HERO STATUS AS AL ATTIYAH MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW

Itumeleng Garebatshabe
Last updated: October 15, 2024 12:25
By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
540 Views
9 Min Read
Share
9 Min Read
BRANCH Ross (bwa), Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Hero 450, FIM W2RC, RallyGP, BENAVIDES Luciano (arg), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, KTM 450 Rally, RallyGP, portrait during the Finish of the 2024 Rallye du Maroc, 5th round of the 2024 FIA W2RC, on October 1 © A.S.O./J.Delfosse/DPPI
BRANCH Ross (bwa), Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Hero 450, FIM W2RC, RallyGP, BENAVIDES Luciano (arg), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, KTM 450 Rally, RallyGP, portrait during the Finish of the 2024 Rallye du Maroc, 5th round of the 2024 FIA W2RC, on October 1 © A.S.O./J.Delfosse/DPPI
SHARE

Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports) has won the Rally GP world championship in Morocco and earned the Indian brand its first-ever title. Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda) took the race and contributed to HRC’s successful manufacturer title defence. Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) claimed the Rally 2 race and beat Romain Dumontier (Team Honda) and Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Rally) to secure his first title. Local hero Souleymane Addahri (Africa Rallye Team) bagged the Rally 3 trophy ahead of John Medina (Xraids Experience), who took the crown. Antanas Kanopkinas (CFMOTO Thunder Racing) clinched the race in the quad class, where Manuel Andújar had built an unassailable lead in the championship.

Contents
FIM: BRANCH GOES DOWN IN HISTORYFIA: NASSER AL HAT-TRICK

Nasser Al Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders) nabbed his third FIA W2RC title ahead of Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) and Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing). Eryk Goczał (Energylandia Taurus Factory Team) opened his Challenger account in Morocco, but it was Rokas Baciuška (Can-Am Factory) who topped the championship podium. Yasir Seaidan (MMP) succeeded the Lithuanian in SSV (BE Racing) at the end of a thrilling duel with Sebastián Guayasamín (BE Racing). The 2024 FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship is a wrap. The Dakar will get the 2025 W2RC season the under way from 3 to 17 January.

- Advertisement -
Ad image

FIM: BRANCH GOES DOWN IN HISTORY

Ross Branch had had his work cut out for him to withstand the Honda onslaught ever since he had seized the Rally GP lead at the end of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March. Ricky Brabec moved within nine points of the Botswanan after winning the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia, but a knee injury in stage 1 of the Rallye du Maroc knocked him out of the race and the fight for the title. Branch turned on the autopilot. Cruising alongside his trusted Hero wingman Nacho Cornejo, he steered clear of turbulence and crossed the finish line in third place among the W2RC entrants, right behind Tosha Schareina and Adrien Van Beveren. That made him the third Rally GP world champion —a historic moment for Botswana and Hero, none of which had ever won a FIM title before. Silver went to Van Beveren and bronze to Schareina, whose Moroccan triumph catapulted him to the podium at the last minute.

The Spaniard claimed his second win of the season, after the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, ushering in the promise of a thrilling 2025 season. Monster Energy Honda picked up its third consecutive manufacturers’ title.   The new Rally 2 champion also reigns down in Africa —specifically South Africa, which is joining the W2RC calendar next season. Bradley Cox scored a double whammy by winning the rally and the title. Michael Docherty and Tobias Ebster helped to lock out the podium for BAS World KTM Racing. Cox snatched the championship at the eleventh hour from Romain Dumontier (Team Honda), who was riding a new mount.

The Frenchman came in second and Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Rally) third.   The Southern Cone stole the show in the Rally 3 championship, with the Chilean John Medina prevailing over his Argentinian teammate Eduardo Alan. Local hero Souleymane Addahri finished third thanks to his victory on home soil this week, the Africa Rallye Team’s third in Morocco. Manuel Andújar (7240 Team) had sewn up the quad title at the Ruta 40, but the other podium spots hung in the balance in Morocco. The Lithuanian Antanas Kanopkinas (CFMoto Thunder Racing) beat Kamil Wiśniewski (Orlen Team) in the rally, but the Pole clung on to second place in the championship.

BRANCH Ross (bwa), Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Hero 450, FIM W2RC, RallyGP, portrait during the Finish of the 2024 Rallye du Maroc, 5th round of the 2024 FIA W2RC, on October 11, 2024 between in Mengoub Bouarfa, Morocco – Photo Julien Delfosse / DPPI

FIA: NASSER AL HAT-TRICK

Nasser Al Attiyah took a gamble when he decided to switch vehicles near the end of the season. Even so, the Qatari never lost control of the situation and flew towards a hat-trick in his “well-designed” Dacia Sandrider. He bagged his third FIA W2RC crown with a flourish, scooping up his seventh Rallye du Maroc along the way. It was a barnstorming performance in his new car, raising the stakes for a gripping 2025 season. Al Attiyah got the better of another promising signing, Guillaume de Mévius, who jumped ship to X-raid Mini JCW. These two squads gave Toyota a run for their money. The Japanese maker took third in the rally with Yazeed Al Rajhi. The Saudi also became the W2RC runner-up for the second time, with Lucas Moraes on the bottom step of the podium.

Each Hilux did its bit to make sure the manufacturers’ championship stayed with Toyota Gazoo Racing. The drivers’ title will go up for a rematch in 2025! As for the co-drivers, Édouard Boulanger (The Dacia Sandriders) succeeded his compatriot Mathieu Baumel (X-raid Mini JCW) after guiding Al Attiyah to victory like an absolute legend. Timo Gottschalk (Overdrive Racing) and Armand Monleón (Toyota Gazoo Racing) escorted him on the podium.   In the Challenger race, the Goczał family smashed the opposition to smithereens in its return to competition, whitewashing the stages and scoring a 1-2 in the overall with the wunderkind Eryk and his father, Marek. The Saudi Dania Akeel stood next to them on the podium of a class where women shone brighter than ever. Valentina Pertegarini claimed the co-drivers’ title and became the first woman to take the W2RC. Her driver, Nicolás Cavigliasso, got silver, while his teammate Marcelo Gastaldi had to settle for bronze. Rokas Baciuška was simply too good for the BBR drivers. Much like Al Attiyah, the Lithuanian added a third title to his collection.

200 AL-ATTIYAH Nasser (qat), BOULANGER Edouard (fra), Dacia Sandriders, Dacia Sandrider, FIA W2RC, Ultimate, ambiance during the Finish of the 2024 Rallye du Maroc, 5th round of the 2024 FIA W2RC, on October 11, 2024 between in Mengoub Bouarfa, Morocco © A.S.O./J.Delfosse/DPPI

He hit the ground running in his first season in Challenger after dominating the SSV class in the two previous seasons. He is also the first driver to emerge victorious in two different classes.   The real nail-biter of the season was the SSV championship. Yasir Seaidan, six points behind Sebastián Guayasamín as the engines revved up in Morocco, turned the tables on his Ecuadorian rival to clinch the title by a measly two points!  The Italian Rebecca Busi (OnlyFans) came in third. Fernando Acosta, riding shotgun with Guayasamín, won the co-drivers’ title.   DID YOU KNOW? Stage 1 of the Rallye du Maroc, the 100th day of racing in the history of the W2RC, went to the two champions: Ross Branch in the motorbike race and Nasser Al Attiyah in the car competition.

The Qatari has been the most prolific stage hunter so far in the FIA classes, with 40 notches on his belt. His counterpart in the FIM classes is Adrien Van Beveren, with 15 victories to his name, the most recent one being stage 3 of the Rallye du Maroc.   Today brought down the curtain on the third season of the W2RC. The 2025 season will get off the ground at the Dakar from 3 to 17 January, followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge from 21 to 27 February. Next, the championship will make its first foray into the South African Safari Rally from 18 to 24 May before heading to Europe for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal from 22 to 28 September. Last but not least, the caravan will double back to Africa for the finale at the Rallye du Maroc, scheduled for 10 to 17 October.

TAGGED:2024 FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid ChampionshipHero MotoSportsMonster Energy HondaMoroccoNasser Al AttiyahRally du MarocRally GP world championshipRoss BranchTosha Schareina

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Stay Updated! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn VKontakte Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Share
ByItumeleng Garebatshabe
Editor
Follow:
Itumeleng is the Managing Editor of The Auto Magazine. He is a tech and car enthusiast

Follow US

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
TiktokFollow
TelegramFollow
Google NewsFollow
LinkedInFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You Might Also Like

46 BRANCH Ross (BWA), Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Hero 450 Rally, FIM W2RC, action during the Stage 3 of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, on February 29, 2024 in Mzeer’ah, United Arab Emirates © A.S.O/DPPI/B.Roux
Motosport

ADDC 2024 I STAGE 5: AL ATTIYAH GOES BACK TO HIS WINNING WAYS AS BRANCH SEIZES THE LEAD

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
March 3, 2024
Motosport

Cornejo piles on the pressure with victory on stage two

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
January 8, 2024
Motosport

Tosha Schareina shines on Dakar’s fourth stage to climb up to second place

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
January 9, 2025
Latest News

Defender Rally Series heads to Morocco for ultimate Baja desert rally raid experience

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
August 19, 2024
Bivouac during the Administrative and technical Scrutineering of the Dakar 2025 from January 1 to 2, 2025 in Start Camp - Bisha, Saudi Arabia © A.S.O./J.Lindini
Motosport

Scrutineering under way with two days to go

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
January 1, 2025
202 CHICHERIT Guerlain (FRA), WINOCQ Alexandre (FRA), Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux Overdrive, FIA W2RC, action during the Stage 2 of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, on February 28, 2024 between Al Dhannah and Mzeer’ah, United Arab Emirates © A.S.O/DPPI/B.Roux
Motosport

ADDC 2024 I ÉTAPE 2 : CHICHERIT STRIKES BACK AS MARE DOUBLES DOWN

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
February 29, 2024

The Auto Magazine

  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Bikes
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Auto Shows
  • Latest News
  • Motosport

Made by Intellegere Media. All rights reserved. 2023

Don't not sell my personal information
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner