Hero MotoSports Team Rally has completed its campaign at the Ultimate BP Rally Raid Portugal 2025, the fourth round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). After five grueling stages across Portugal and Spain, Nacho Cornejo secured 11th place overall, while teammate Tobias Ebster finished 42nd, also taking 25th in the Rally2 class.

The rally proved challenging for the Indian manufacturer’s factory team. 2024 W2RC Champion Ross Branch was forced to retire after a crash in Stage 2 despite a strong start. Cornejo, meanwhile, fought through early struggles on Portuguese terrain to deliver a consistent ride, ending the rally with 44 championship points and maintaining 7th place in the overall W2RC standings.

Ebster showcased flashes of brilliance, including a 9th-place finish in the final stage and three Top-10 stage results overall. However, a mechanical issue in Stage 2 and a penalty in Stage 3 hampered his progress. Entering Portugal as the Rally2 championship leader, the Austrian now sits third in the Rally2 standings with 67 points, still in contention for the title ahead of the season finale.

The final stage—a 287 km loop through Lisbon’s forests—saw Ebster clock the 9th fastest time of the day, while Cornejo wrapped up 19th. The podium ceremony at Lisbon’s iconic Monument to the Discoveries marked a symbolic homecoming, as the city previously hosted the Dakar Rally’s start between 2006 and 2008.

Despite mixed results, the Hero squad remains optimistic. Team Manager Wolfgang Fischer emphasized the importance of regrouping ahead of the Rallye du Maroc (October 10–17), the final W2RC round and key preparation for Dakar 2026.

“Portugal didn’t bring the results we aimed for, but that’s racing. The good news is Ross is okay after his crash, Tobias still has a chance for the Rally2 title, and Nacho showed his consistency again. Now, all focus shifts to Morocco as we close the season and build momentum for Dakar 2026,” said Fischer.

Stage 5 Highlights (Provisional):

  • Tobias Ebster: 9th (4th in Rally2)

  • Nacho Cornejo: 19th

Final Overall (Provisional):

  • Nacho Cornejo: 11th

  • Tobias Ebster: 42nd (25th in Rally2)

Only in its second edition, Rally Raid Portugal has quickly established itself as one of the most demanding events on the W2RC calendar. Covering nearly 2,400 km of racing—including over 1,400 km against the clock—it tested riders across sandy trails, rocky ascents, fast dirt tracks, and tight technical sections.

Hero MotoSports will now regroup and aim to deliver a strong finish in Morocco before shifting its focus entirely to the Dakar Rally 2026.

Also Read: Hero MotoSports Fights Back Strong in Rally Raid Portugal Stage 3

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