RACE SUMMARY

Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - Hero MotoCorp, have finished Stage 3 of the Andalucia Rally with all the riders finishing in top 10.

The second stage of the rally, which was scheduled on 21st October, was cancelled on safety grounds due to difficult weather conditions that did not allow the medical helicopters to take off. Dense fog in the morning also caused Stage 3 to be delayed by an hour and a half. The 283 km stage started off with many sandy patches, before transitioning to narrow tracks through mountains and forests, reminiscent of a WRC stage. And the stage ended just as it started, with fast tracks in sand.

Ross Branch maintained a strong pace during the stage, and was leading through most of the day, but a small crash just 100 m from the finish cost him the stage win as he finished a mere 18 seconds behind the winner. ​​However, a penalty after the stage pushed him down to 7th place. Sebastian Bühler had a better day, and being able to follow the tracks of the riders ahead, was able to get into a good rhythm to finish the stage at 6th.

Joaquim Rodrigues also had a fall in the tight mountain tracks, but was able to pick up the pace once again to record a 10th place finish. Franco Caimi had some technical issues on the stage, causing him to ride at a reduced pace, but he led his team mate home as the 9th fastest.

In the Overall Rally GP standings, Ross has moved up to 6th, with JRod less than 2 minutes behind at 8th, while Bühler and Caimi are 11th and 13th respectively.