Botswana’s motorsport star Ross Branch, affectionately known as the “Kalahari Ferrari,” closed off his Rally Du Maroc campaign with mixed emotions but plenty of optimism for the upcoming Dakar Rally. The Rally Du Maroc, often dubbed the “Mini Dakar,” served as the final round of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), testing the grit of riders across Morocco’s unforgiving terrain.
Branch entered the rally determined to end a challenging season on a strong note. “Yeah, Rally Du Maroc is definitely the mini Dakar, you know, everybody uses it for a lot of training,” he said. “Most of the guys you race against there will be racing Dakar, so it is a good way to judge to see where the speed is at and where your results are.”
The rally covered five special stages across 2,274 kilometers, including 1,448 km against the clock, blending rocky tracks, desert dunes, and searing heat. Despite his consistent top-five pace, Branch’s progress was halted on Stage 3 due to a mechanical mishap. “We had a mechanical failure. It was nobody’s fault, it was just unlucky — a rock hit one of our fuel pipes and it broke the fuel pipe, so it leaked all the fuel out,” he explained. “I ran out of fuel 20 kilometers before the refuel, so I lost two and a half hours there waiting for some help from other riders.”
Still, the experience provided valuable insights ahead of the Dakar. “It was definitely a good position for us, you know, we saw what we needed to change and obviously we need to make sure that we’re in the right position for Dakar,” Branch reflected. “The speed is there, the endurance is there, the strength is there. Everything is ready — we just needed to make those small slight little changes to make sure that we don’t have any problems leading to Dakar.”
Crossing the finish line brought an emotional end to a demanding season for the 2023 Rally World Champion. “Yeah, crossing the finish line in Morocco was definitely an emotional time,” Branch admitted. “This time last year I was crowned the Rally World Champion and now I wasn’t even in the top 10 this year. So it was definitely tough for me, but at the same time it was a relief the season is over and done with.”
Despite not reaching the podium this year, Branch remains optimistic about his direction and progress. “It was a difficult time, but also a good time. We’ve made some really good steps with the bike and I’m very happy,” he added. “So it was emotional, but looking forward to the 2026 season.”
The 26th edition of the Rally Du Maroc lived up to its reputation as one of the most grueling events in the calendar, with 229 vehicles cleared to start, including 116 FIM riders. For Branch, the race served its purpose not as a hunt for titles, but as a proving ground for what lies ahead.
As the dust settles on Morocco’s dunes, the Kalahari Ferrari’s focus now shifts to Dakar 2026, where he aims to reclaim his place among the world’s rally-raid elite.
