RACE SUMMARY

Hero MotoSports Team Rally has successfully completed the fourth and penultimate stage at the South African Safari Rally 2025 – the third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2025.

Today's stage saw a strong showing from the Hero trio, with Ross finishing 6th, Tobias 7th, and Nacho securing 10th fastest times overall. In the Rally 2 class, Ebster delivered an impressive performance with a 2nd place finish, keeping the pressure firmly on his class rivals.

After the end of four intense stages, Nacho Cornejo and Tobias Ebster have secured spots inside the overall top-10 — currently sitting in 7th and 9th positions respectively, while Ross Branch follows in at 13th. The young Austrian talent, Ebster is also holding an impressive 2nd place in the overall Rally 2 standings and is determined to finish his debut rally with the team on a high note.

Branch, the reigning World Champion had a long but enjoyable Stage 4. He stayed close to his competitors and pushed through tough, dusty terrain near the Botswana border – not far from his home. Nacho Cornejo, the team’s Chilean ace, has maintained a commendable streak of consistent performances throughout the rally. However, he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his outing today and is aiming to bounce back with a stronger result in the final stage, hoping to end the rally on a positive note. Tobias Ebster, meanwhile, came out swinging with an electrifying pace in Stage 4. He led the Rally 2 class towards the start of the day before narrowly slipping to second, just under two minutes behind the class leader.

Stage 4 of the rally turned up the intensity with the longest and most demanding route of the event — a grueling 693 kilometers in total, including a 224-kilometer timed special. The day’s route, centered around Skilpadshek, began with rapid dirt tracks cutting through the bush before transitioning into rugged, rocky mountain terrain. A true test of endurance, it pushed both riders and machines to their absolute limits. The stage offered a unique visual treat as competitors raced close to the Botswana border, near Lobatse Cape with views of Gaborone — just 100 meters away at points. Being near Ross's home country, the route drew massive crowds of fans and spectators along the course, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.