Local top biker, Ross Branch’s triumphant exploit at the just ended 2024 W2RC, is second least points in the championship all time rankings. On Friday, Branch etched his name in the halls of history as he became the first African competitor to clinch the World Championship title. The local lad needed just to complete the final round of the World Championship, Rallye du Maroc (Morocco Rally) to claim his first ever world title. His chances were boosted by the withdrawal of Ricky Brabec of the USA. Branch finished this year's championship with 88 points from five rounds but failed to squeeze inside the top five all time standings following a heavily contested season. He kicked off the W2RC on good gear as he attained his best ever finish, a second place in the World Championship first round, Dakar Rally. Branch ascended to the top of the championship rankings after yet another second place finish in the second round, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He maintained his place in the lead after two fifth place finishes at the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in Portugal and Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina.
His accumulated 88 points are just ahead of British Sam Sunderland's 85 points in his 2022 triumph. Sunderland, however, tops the all time standings with 110 points from the 2019 win. Meanwhile, Austrian, Matthias Walkner won with 90 points in 2015 and 105 in 2021, Pablo Quintanilla of Chile had 96 points for his triumphs in 2016 while a year later he won with 100 points. In 2023 Argentine, Luciano Benavides, secured the win with 100 points. Branch, however, has moved third since the inception of the Rally GP, a section for professional riders in 2022.
