Branch fires early warning shot as Portugal fuels title push

Friday, March 20, 2026 | 50 Views |

Ross Branch signalled intent from the opening kilometres of the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, backing up his steady start to the 2026 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) with a strong fourth-place finish on stage one.

The performance reinforces his growing status as a genuine title contender. Coming off an eighth-place finish at the Dakar Rally, where he collected 12 valuable championship points, Branch has begun the season in a controlled fashion calculated, disciplined, and still firmly in the hunt.

Dakar has long been his toughest test, a race that has previously ended in crashes and zero points, forcing him to chase the championship from behind.

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