In true Rebelle fashion, Glamis wasn't the only thing bringing the heat in the final stage today - the battle for the podium was fierce up until the last moments of the competition with third place a back and forth between two teams - one rookie and one returning. And the final stage's location of Glamis, known for its imposing size and complex terrain, continued to prove an interesting end to the Rebelle.
This year’s course, built by Rebelle Founder Emily Miller and Course Director Jimmy Lewis, threw the competitors some new challenges earlier in the week and continued to push their abilities each time the teams left basecamp. Teams traversed over 2,300 kilometres over the past nine days and are now ready to kick off the dust and celebrate their accomplishments.
At the top of the 4x4 standings for the second year in a row was Team #129 4xEventures of Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit who were able to hold on to their lead as the teams chased their points through the dunes. Giving their best push throughout the entire rally and ending with a second place podium was Team #188 Dirt Hustle of Laura Wanlass and Maria Guitar. Their consistency paid off and kept them at the top of the rankings at every stage.
The real battle of the final stage was for third place in the 4x4 class, where a Toyota made it to podium for the first time on the Rebelle Rally. Team #152 Toyota Way-Finders of Becky Brophy and Samantha Barber fought a very hard battle against other competitors to put their 2022 Toyota Tundra up to the podium. The Toyota Way-Finders were the 2021 Rookies of the Year and returned back to prove they weren’t just a one-hit-wonder. They narrowly edged out Team #187 Limestone Legends of Lily Macaruso and Alex Anderson who finished their Rally as the Rookie Team of the Year with an impressive fourth place finish in their Rivian R1T.
In the X-Cross™ class, bone stock vehicles ruled two of the top three spots. On the top of the podium was Team #200 Built Wild of Christine Benzie and Melissa Clark who got to the top and never let the position go. Their bone stock Ford Bronco Sport Badlands conquered all of the challenges the team threw at it and landed the podium for the third year in a row. Following closely on their heels was Team #216 Wild Grace of Sedona Blinson and Lyn Woodward in their bone stock Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition.
Both veteran teams worked for their points in the X-Cross™ class just as hard as they have in the 4x4 class. Rounding out the top three was a fan favorite throughout the rally, Team #204 MtnSubie of Carey Lando and Angela Lux. Their souped up Subaru was the envy of many an individual who has their own Subaru Outback in their driveway.
Text & Photo Credits: Rebelle Rally
