The Kalahari Ferrari, Ross Branch delivered a determined performance at the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina, overcoming technical issues and challenging terrain to finish ninth overall and eighth in the RallyGP category.
The five-day rally, which concluded in San Juan on May 29, tested competitors across some of Argentina’s most demanding landscapes, including vast dunes, salt flats, dry riverbeds and high-altitude mountain passes exceeding 3,000 metres above sea level.
Despite a difficult start to the event, Branch steadily improved throughout the week, showcasing the resilience and speed that have made him one of Botswana’s most successful motorsport athletes.
According to a Press release by Hero Mortosport, Branche’s strongest performance came during the penultimate “queen stage” of the rally, a gruelling route that crossed the Andes Mountains under freezing conditions. Riding with renewed confidence, Branch guided his Hero MotoSports machine to a fifth-place stage finish, placing him among the leading contenders of the day.
“Today was definitely a step in the right direction for me,” Branch said after Stage Four. “I finally had a much better feeling on the bike and started to feel more like myself again. Finishing inside the top five is positive and important for the team, but honestly we still want more than that. The confidence is coming back and now the focus is to finish the rally strongly and keep building from here.”
The performance lifted Branch into contention for a stronger overall result heading into the final stage, where he sat fourth overall, 38 minutes and 25 seconds behind rally leader Daniel Sanders.
However, his hopes of climbing further up the standings were dealt a blow on the final day when an exhaust problem cost him valuable time. The setback relegated him to 16th place on Stage Five, ultimately dropping him to ninth overall in the final rankings.
Even so, Branch remained upbeat about the progress made during the event.
“It’s been another incredible week of rally racing here in Argentina. We’ve raced through some truly spectacular terrain, and I’m grateful for every kilometre,” he said. “The result isn’t exactly where we want to be, but I’m happy with the progress we made through the rally. There is still work to do and we know we can be better, but we leave here motivated and focused on finishing the season on a high.”
Hero MotoSports Team Rally Manager Wolfgang Fischer praised Branch’s potential while acknowledging that consistency remains an area for improvement.
“Ross showed strong potential throughout the week but lacked the consistency required to challenge where we believe he can be,” Fischer said. “On the positive side, the team and machinery performed optimally throughout the rally, providing a strong technical foundation. Our objective is clear: continue improving, build greater consistency, and return stronger at the next events.”
Branch finished the rally 55 minutes and 58 seconds behind overall winner Daniel Sanders, with Honda riders Tosha Schareina and Ricky Brabec completing the overall podium.
The result provides valuable championship mileage for the Motswana rider as Hero MotoSports continues preparations for the remaining events of the 2026 rally-raid season, where Branch will be aiming to convert his flashes of pace into podium-contending performances.
