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First attempt. Instant podium. The MINI Countryman Untamed Edition has battled its way to third place in the X-Cross class on MINI’s debut at the Rebelle Rally. Driver Felicia Killman and navigator Erika Ferrer steered the rugged SUV through eight punishing days in the wilderness. Remarkably, the car had been revealed only days before the start.
This is no ordinary rally. The Rebelle is an all-women off-road navigation event covering more than 1,500 miles across Nevada, California and Utah. GPS is strictly banned. Crews rely on nothing more than maps, a compass and a roadbook to find their way. Old-school skill and cool heads matter every bit as much as raw pace.
Mother Nature threw everything she had at them. Temperatures crept towards 100°F, while storms and heavy rain lashed the route. River crossings, steep climbs and sand dunes tested every ounce of grip and nerve. In the final stages, gusts of up to 50mph whipped up blinding whiteout conditions. The little MINI kept pushing forward regardless.
Its toolkit suits the job perfectly. The US-spec Untamed Edition gets MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel drive and a suspension lift for the rough stuff. All-terrain tyres wrap 19-inch Untamed Edition wheels, giving the Countryman a tougher, chunkier stance. Ferrer, who works in BMW Group Corporate Communications in Mexico, plotted the course from the navigator’s seat. Car and crew made a formidable pairing.
The silverware kept coming. The pair claimed Rookies of the Year honours in the X-Cross class. They also collected the “Challenge Accepted” Award, presented by Stryten Energy and voted for by fellow competitors and event staff. That is respect earned the hard way, in the dirt. MINI came to learn and left with a podium.
