Branch off to promising start at Dakar Rally

Branch completed the 798km between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa on Wednesday, in a time of 04:53:57 hours, finishing just 00:46:15 hours behind leader, Xavier de Soultrait of France.

This was the longest distant thus far as Branch finished as the leading African at the race with South African, Kenneth Gilbert completing the stage three on 28th position while countryman, Stuart Gregory finished 80th. The ‘Kalahari Ferrari’ is the third leading rookie after stage three behind Spanish, Lorenzo Santolino and Skyler Howes of the United States of America. Last evening, the competitors began the ‘marathon race’ that forms stage four and stage five of the 10-stage race, which is a distance of 1,287km.