Branch stays in the hunt after Dakar Rally test

Branch has often found Dakar to be his toughest battlefield in the five-round championship. This time, simply finishing and banking points in round one has kept his world title ambitions firmly on track. The 48th edition Dakar Rally, which ran from January 4 to 7, 2026, across the unforgiving deserts of Saudi Arabia, once again lived up to its reputation as motorsport’s ultimate endurance test.

Thirteen stages of flat-out sand racing, marathon legs and navigation minefields separated the championship contenders from the casualties.