RACE SUMMARY

Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - Hero MotoCorp, won the 33rd edition of the prestigious Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge today. This is the 7-year young team’s first triumph at a World Championship race and follows their historic Dakar Rally podium finish in January 2024.

Rally GP class rider Aaron Marè won the race for Hero MotoSports, showcasing a phenomenal performance at the 6-day desert rally. Even though Aaron joined the team as a substitute for factory rider Sebastian Buhler (who is still recovering from his Dakar crash), the young South African, residing in Dubai, performed at his peak to win 2 Stages, lead the race for four straight days, and eventually finish on the winner podium.

Collecting several points from the round win, Hero MotoSports has catapulted to the top of the manufacturers’ leader board in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2024 – this is also the first time an Indian manufacturer has reached this level on a global stage.

The second factory rider for the team, Ross Branch, finished just outside the podium, in fourth place. By finishing 2nd in the Rally GP class at this second race of the season, Ross has raised his total points to 50, making himself the leader of the World Rally-Raid Championship 2024 – another first for Team Hero MotoSports.

Fondly known as the ‘Kalahari Ferrari’, Ross started well at the start of the rally, with a win in the Prologue stage. However, while leading the race on Stage 1, he faced a mechanical issue. With a bit of luck and smart effort, he could continue in the race and make it to the finish. Even though the issue set him back by over 45 minutes from the lead, Ross made continuous efforts until the end, winning multiple Stages.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is popular for its 100% sand & desert terrains and a highly intensive week of racing under the hot sun in the Rub Al’ Khali (Empty Quarter). Team Hero, however, faced a few setbacks even before the race commenced. Customs clearance issues and a last minute rider replacement left the team with just under a day to prepare for the race. Regardless, the lean team consistently outperformed their competition, and eventually won the Rally.