Ten years, thousands of miles, and countless moments of courage. The 2025 Rebelle Rally traced a breathtaking path from Mammoth Lakes to Pirate Cove, carving through mountains, valleys, and the endless sands of Glamis. What began as an audacious idea a decade ago has become a defining event in off-road motorsport — one that celebrates not just competition, but resilience, strategy, and sisterhood under the desert sun. 

Photograpphy and Story by Paolo Baraldi

The Rebelle Rally is the longest competitive off-road rally in the United States. Traversing over 2,800 kilometers through Nevada and California’s iconic terrain in 2025, it is an endurance competition based on precision driving and navigation, not speed. Competitors rely solely on maps, compasses, roadbooks, and strategy—a system known as the Rebelle Format. GPS and electronic devices are strictly prohibited, making this rally a true test of skill, focus, and resilience. Remote and off-grid for eight competition days, the Rebelle Rally serves as a proving ground for people, products, and manufacturer stock vehicles, celebrating both adventure and innovation in one of the most demanding environments in North America.

This year’s course wound from Mammoth Lakes, nestled in the eastern Sierras, through northern Nevada, across the OHV lands of central-eastern California, and into the majestic Glamis Sand Dunes before finishing at Pirate Cove in Needles, near the banks of the Colorado River. From the alpine air of the Sierras to the scorching desert sands of the south, the route was a journey through some of the most dramatic and untouched terrain in the American West. The public lands of California and Nevada never stop giving—so many tiny mountain ranges and lonely trails that almost no one ever sees.

After one prologue, eight days of scored competition, and nearly 2,800 kilometers (1,700+ miles) across some of the most challenging terrain in the American West, the 2025 Rebelle Rally came to a close with the traditional Rebellation gala and awards ceremony. Now in its 10th year, the Rebelle remains a pioneering motorsport event that attracts women from around the world united by a shared love of adventure, endurance, and discovery.

The 2025 edition gathered 67 teams and 134 competitors, representing 114 cities, 32 states and provinces, and 4 countries—the USA, Canada, Costa Rica, and Germany. Ages ranged from 23 to 78, proving that determination, teamwork, and skill know no limits. Among the field were 16 rookie teams and 90 returning Rebelles, each contributing to the rally’s distinctive spirit of challenge and camaraderie.

In the 10th anniversary of the Rebelle Rally, competition in the 4x4 Class was fierce. Yet once again, experience and precision prevailed. Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit (Team 129) claimed the top spot behind the wheel of a 2025 Jeep Gladiator, marking another milestone in their storied Rebelle careers—Barlow’s fourth and Petereit’s sixth overall victory. The pair also captured the Bone Stock Award for competing in an unmodified vehicle.

Second place went to Team 131, Karisa Haydon and Trista Smith, who made their first podium appearance driving a 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor. The duo previously earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2022 as privateers before being picked up by Ford in 2023. Completing the podium were Susan Pieper and Elise Young (Team 128) in a 2025 INEOS Grenadier, marking the first-ever podium finish for an INEOS vehicle. Throughout the rally, teams battled for daily victories. Barlow and Petereit dominated stages 1, 4, 6, and 8; Team 128 led Day 2; Team 122 (Tobi Hlavnicka and Caralina Carlson) triumphed on Day 3; Team 150 (Shelby Hall and Rori Lewis) on Day 5; and Haydon and Smith took top honors on Day 7. 4x4 Podium Winners: 1. Team 129 – Nena Barlow & Teralin Petereit – 2025 Jeep Gladiator 2. Team 131 – Karisa Haydon & Trista Smith – 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor 3. Team 128 – Susan Pieper & Elise Young – 2025 INEOS Grenadier.

Returning champions Carey Lando and Andrea Shaffer (Team 200) delivered a commanding performance in the X-Cross® Class, winning stages 1 through 5 and securing their second consecutive title in their 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Touring.

In second place, Rebecca Donaghe and rookie teammate Rebecca Dalski (Team 205) showcased exceptional teamwork in their 2024 BMW X5 40i xDrive, topping their class on Days 7 and 8 and earning the Bone Stock Award. Third place went to Emme Hall and Kendra Miller (Team 210), both original Rebelles from the inaugural 2016 edition. Competing together for the first time, the pair guided their 2025 Subaru Crosstrek to a strong finish, also capturing the win on Day 6. Hall, a five-time competitor, has previously won in both classes (2018 and 2019), while Miller celebrated her ninth Rebelle appearance. X-Cross® Podium Winners: 1. Team 200 – Carey Lando & Andrea Shaffer – 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Touring 2. Team 205 – Rebecca Donaghe & Rebecca Dalski – 2024 BMW X5 40i xDrive 3. Team 210 – Emme Hall & Kendra Miller – 2025 Subaru Crosstrek.

Rookies of the Year: Impressive Debuts on the Desert Stage

Among the 16 rookie teams, Team 117 (Tina Chang and Jill McAdoo) stood out, earning the coveted Rookie of the Year title in their 2017 Jeep Wrangler after an impressive 17th-place overall finish. They narrowly edged out Team 116 (Daisy Maxcy and Jillian Schaible) by just nine points. Team 123, composed of Germany-based competitors Andrea Mueller and Elana Kintzel and sponsored by Magna, completed the rookie podium. In the X-Cross® category, Team 203 (Kimberly Carte and Eva De Los Santos)—both employees of Iridium—claimed the Rookie of the Year honor, driving their BILSTEIN-equipped 2023 Ford Bronco Sport.

Special Awards: Spirit, Skill, and Solidarity

The Rebelle Rally also recognizes competitors who embody the event’s values beyond the leaderboard. The Pirelli Scorpion™ Challenge, Pennzoil Challenge, International Cup, and Team Spirit Awards celebrated excellence, perseverance, and community. Pirelli Scorpion™ Challenge – Awarded to teams demonstrating outstanding navigation and consistency: 4x4 Class 1. Team 139 – Alex Gilman & Mandy Brezina – 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2. Team 173 – Gloria Recio & Julia Bigwood – 2022 Ford Bronco 3. Team 159 – Kristen Harbert & Allison Sloat – 2022 Ford Bronco X-Cross® Class 1. Team 203 – Kimberly Carte & Eva De Los Santos – 2023 Ford Bronco Sport 2. Team 201 – Jill Ciminillo & Lola Wolford – 2007 Honda Ridgeline Pennzoil Challenge – Team 122 (Tobi Hlavnicka and Caralina Carlson) received a VIP trip to the 2026 Pennzoil 400 for being the top-performing team using Pennzoil products. International Cup – Team 123 (Andrea Mueller and Elena Kintzel) took home the International Cup, representing Germany and Magna International with a strong debut performance.

Team Spirit Award

The Team Spirit Award, co-presented with Rebelle partner Scrubblade, was awarded to Team 172, sisters Peg Eaton and Char Walsh. In 2024, Eaton’s original partner had to withdraw at the last minute, and Walsh stepped in to fill the spot. This year, the sisters returned to compete together once again, earning the admiration of their peers for their positivity, teamwork, and constant willingness to lend a hand—embodying the true spirit of the Rebelle Rally.

The 2025 Rebelle Rally marked a decade of adventure, perseverance, and empowerment. It remains more than a competition—it’s a celebration of skill, resilience, and sisterhood, where women push beyond limits, both mechanical and personal. As the dust settles on this milestone edition, one thing is certain: the spirit of the Rebelle burns brighter than ever, and the road ahead is as thrilling as the one already traveled.