Luciano Benavides was crowned the World Rally-Raid Champion this Wednesday. His second-place finish in the Morocco Rally was enough for the Husqvarna rider to clinch the title.
After Tosha Schareina (Honda Team) set the pace in the prologue last Friday, Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports Team Rally) won the first stage and took the lead. Meanwhile, Benavides finished in fifth place. Schareina won again in the second stage, with Branch retaining the lead and Benavides in fifth place.
Midway through the race, in the third of five stages, Schareina once again set the pace, and there was a lead change: Toby Price (Red Bull KTM) overtook Branch. Benavides climbed to fourth place, and on the fourth stage, he was the fastest, 1m18s ahead of José Ignacio Cornejo (Monster Energy Honda Team). This performance allowed the Argentine rider to secure third place in a race led by Price.
Merzouga hosted the last day of the Morocco Rally on Wednesday, with Pablo Quintanilla (Monster Energy Honda Team) posting the best time, 1m24s ahead of Benavides. Price had the sixth-fastest time, securing the overall win, while Benavides finished in second place, 3m00s behind the Australian. Quintanilla completed the podium.