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Road to Rebelle 2023

Preparing for the longest off-road rally in the US

By Rivian

September 26^th, 2023

Get the latest Rebelle Rally updates and support Team Rivian as they navigate 2,500+ kilometers of unforgiving desert - from October 12-21.

Be on the lookout for our teams:

#187 Limestone Legends

#196 Evergreen Edge

#186 Red Canyon Risers

#139 Headings United

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The Rebelle Rally was created in 2015 to give women an opportunity to take their vehicles into the wild. Currently the longest off-road rally in the U.S., Rebelle Rally has inspired an ever-growing community of women with next-level off-road skills, navigational know-how and back-country savvy.

The 8-day rally spans across 2,500 kilometers of unforgiving desert, where roads are unheard of, the wind and heat are intense, and the use of GPS and other digital navigation tools is strictly forbidden. Only paper maps, compasses, and plotters are allowed in competition.

Rivian has participated in the Rebelle Rally since 2020 when we entered a pre-production R1T piloted by rally veterans Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe. Heading into our fourth rally – and for the second consecutive year – Rivian employees will be behind the wheel at the Rebelle, competing in the vehicles they help build, design, repair and support. For the first time ever, they’ll also be joined by a Rivian owner in her personal R1T.

Team Rivian

The countdown is on to this year's The Rebelle Rally, which runs from October 12-21, 2023. Three employee teams from Rivian will compete, and for the first time ever, a Rivian customer in her personal R1T.

“Like the off-roading space, the automotive industry was also traditionally male-dominated", said Rosanna Nuch, a service lab technician who competed for Rivian in 2022 Rebelle Rally. But she said it feels like both spaces are changing. This is why investing in women matters, she said. “Representation matters.”

This year, Rivian invited woman-identifying employees in the U.S. to share their interest in competing in the rally. Dozens of talented, adventurous women from across the company responded with what they would bring to the team and why they wanted to go ‘Zero to Rally’.

After weeks of training, hundreds of hours in the driver’s seat and plenty of time with maps, Team Rivian is ready to compete: two “rookie” teams selected from those who applied, one returning veteran team from the 2022 competition, and a privately owned R1T piloted by its owner.

The Veterans

Limestone Legends Team #187

Lilly Macaruso (Driver), based in Southern California, is a Special Projects Engineer at Rivian.

Alex Anderson (Navigator), based in Southern California, is a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Rivian.

Team history

Lilly and Alex competed in the 2022 Rebelle Rally, a first for both of them. Together with their “third teammate,” a Limestone Rivian R1T, they finished fourth place overall and earned the Rookies of the Year award. Along with training Team Rivian’s 2023 rookie teams, Lilly and Alex are thrilled to rally again in an R1T and build on the skills they started last year.

“We learned and grew so much from training to competition. I experienced areas of the world I never imagined I would see as we swept across valleys, mountains and dunes, all sustainably and nearly silently in our R1T.”

Alex Limestone Legends

Fun fact

Lilly changed a tire at the 2022 Rebelle Rally in four minutes flat with the help of Alex.

Alex was married shortly after winning Rookie of the Year in the 2022 Rebelle Rally. Lilly and their rally truck were in attendance, making some very memorable wedding photos. The new couple drove away in the R1T, complete with a “just married” sign.

Biggest adventure to date

Lilly: Meeting all kinds of people along the way on my journeys. It is the people that make the adventure memorable.

Alex: October 2022 was my greatest adventure to date – and the wildest month of my life! As if the rally wasn’t enough, my wedding was two weeks after the Rebelle. We crossed the finish line, celebrated at the gala, and then almost immediately I was deep into last-minute wedding details: picking up my dress, welcoming family, and having our celebration out in the desert before driving off in our rally vehicle, the Limestone Legends R1T.

“Rebelle holds a mirror up to anyone who competes -- sometimes you like what you see and sometimes you don’t. Either way, those pieces are yours. As a person who actively seeks continuous improvement, it's a place to channel my competitive nature and continue to improve with an amazing teammate.”

Lilly Limestone Legends

The Rookies

Evergreen Edge Team #196

Kelly Kennedy (Driver), based in Southern California, is an Employee Communications Manager at Rivian.

Rachel Zech (Navigator), based in Tennessee, is a Regional Vehicle Operations Manager at Rivian.

Team history

After training with the team for a few months, Kelly and Rachel partnered up in June after bonding over driving drills, homesteading and lots of laughter. Though they work in different parts of the business and live on opposite sides of the country, they've connected through their shared, intense sense of competition and passion for defying expectations.

“I had never been to a desert before and did not believe I had any sense of direction, but training with my partner Kelly has been an incredible experience. I have gained skills that give me the freedom to explore the planet safely, responsibly, and independently.”

Rachel Evergreen Edge

Fun fact

Kelly attended her 12th San Diego Comic-Con International this year and dressed up in costume all four days.

Rachel has lived for at least two years in six different states.

“Rebelle has been the perfect opportunity to hone my skills, learn the ins and outs of Rivian’s vehicles and show just how capable women are. Partnering with Rachel has made it the best adventure and we're excited to finally put our training into practice!”

Kelly Evergreen Edge

Biggest adventure to date

Kelly: I’ve had many adventures from moving to New York City, being the first in my family to attend college, to driving Iceland’s Ring Road in just five days. My time at Rivian has been a great adventure between building my career, making connections that will last a lifetime and becoming a Rebelle!

Rachel: Leaving at the age of 17 to move from Michigan to Florida for school. I had never been away from home for more than a week by myself. That scary transition gave me the confidence to venture out, live independently, and move anywhere without fear.

Red Canyon Risers Team #186

Elle Navarro (Driver), based in Los Angeles, leads Facilities Operations, Security and Workplace Development.

Emily Brady (Navigator), based in Oakland, is a senior manager of Charging Deployment at Rivian.

Team history

Prior to training, Emily and Elle knew of each other but had never met in person. As they got to know each other better, they’ve found endless shared connections. Both have an impressive lineage of strong women in their families, love to take on all types of challenges, and are fueled by optimism.

“I am a believer in lifelong learning and building my life experiences and life resume. I enjoy learning new skills, I live with urgency, and I like to intentionally create experiences that get me out of my comfort zone.”

Elle Red Canyon Risers

Fun fact

Elle loves listening to and researching song writers and hearing the stories and inspirations behind music.

Emily was stationed in Japan and across the Western Pacific after receiving her commission from the U.S. Naval Academy, three of the most pivotal years of her life.

Biggest adventure to date

Elle: Choosing a career that started in construction management. The doors it has opened and the opportunities that have turned into adventures are more than I could have ever imagined.

Emily: His name is Auggie and he’s been giving me the adventure of a lifetime going on two-plus years as a mom.

This seemed like a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop new skills in off-roading, learn the ins and outs of our vehicles, and brush up on my navigation skills."

Emily Red Canyon Risers

Our Customers

The fourth Rivian entering the rally is an R1T owned by customer Mandy Brezina, who along with her partner Alex Gilman will make history as the first team to compete in a privately owned fully electric vehicle. "Hopefully it sets the stage and will open some doors for others in the future," Mandy said.

Headings United Team #139

Mandy Brezina (Driver), based in Maryland, is a CrossFit gym owner and coach, and data reliance expert.

Alex Gilman (Navigator), based in Virginia, is a project manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Team history

Although they only live 40 minutes apart, Mandy and Alex found they were meeting in person more out west than they were back east. Both looked for any excuse to travel west in search of adventure, beauty and a drier climate. They cheered each other on (with different partners) during the 2022 Rebelle Rally, then had the opportunity to partner up this year. They have similar goals and tackle challenges similarly. Both are thrilled to be the first in rally history to compete in a personally owned, fully electric vehicle.

“There are very few places where you can be in such a beautiful setting with so many amazing people. It’s inspirational, challenging, and it gets better and better every year! We hope to do well and to contribute to the progress of competing in electric vehicles.”

Mandy Headings United

Fun fact

Mandy, who is making her fourth appearance at Rebelle, always crosses the finish line in a handstand walk.

Alex spent a good portion of her childhood on a sailboat after her parents decided to sail around the world.

Biggest adventure to date

Mandy: Being deployed to Afghanistan for a year as an 18 year old. I learned so much and it really shaped me to who I am today. I was fortunate to be there early on in Operation Enduring Freedom, when we were able to more freely travel the country, so I had many incredible opportunities to explore the northern and central parts of Afghanistan. The country is beautiful and the people are so generous.

Alex: Backpacking in the Peruvian Andes.

What’s next?

As the countdown to the rally continues, we’ll give you a sneak peek at the competition vehicles as well as how to cheer for and follow along with Team Rivian as they put their off-road driving and navigation skills to the test.