Traversing the intense terrain of Nevada and California with no support crew, no cell phones, and no GPS sounds like a tall order, but for the competitors of the 2023 Rebelle Rally, it’s something they’re ready to take on at full speed. This year’s competition marks the first time that Ford has been an official sponsor for the event, and the automaker is supporting five different teams this year to mark the occasion, including one team that will be competing in the all-electric Mustang Mach-E Rally.
The Rebelle Rally is a test of skill and fortitude for the competing teams and a test of quality and performance for the vehicles. It’s also the first women's off-road navigation rally raid in the U.S., making it an especially prestigious event to have on your roster. Each team of a driver and a navigator has 1,500 miles or course ahead of them, starting at Mammoth Mountain and ending in the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California. The competition begins on October 12th and ends on October 21st.
Ford’s teams are bringing their A-game this year, with a lineup of impressive names from the sport. Driving one of two Bronco Raptors will be multi-time Baja 1000 class champion Shelby Hall and five-time Rebelle Rally Competitor Rori Lewis. The other Raptor will be driven by Rebelle U instructor Laura Wanlass and previous Rebelle competitor Maria Guitar. Two trail guides from the Bronco Off-Roadeo, Jessica Moore and Melissa Clarke, will be driving a Bronco Sport. A pair of 2022 Rebelle Rally Cross rookies, Karisa Haydon and Trista Smith, will be competing in a Bronco WildTrak. Taking on the trail in the Mustang Mach-E Rally vehicle will be previous Rebelle Rally winner Kaleigh Miller and King of the Hammers groundbreaker Bailey Campbell.
With the vehicles primed to perform and the competitors driven to win, this year’s Rebelle Rally is an event that’s not to be missed! For more updates about competitions like these and other Ford news and events, make sure you continue to read our blog here at Haldeman Ford in Hamilton, NJ.