MINI debuts in first Rebelle Rally with new Countryman Untamed Edition
MINI's first-ever Rebelle Rally entry, the new Countryman Untamed Edition, begins a roughly 1,500-mile, GPS-free test across Nevada, California and Utah on October 8.
- approximately 1,500 miles
- October 8 at 7am PT at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- 3 (1964, 1965 and 1967)
- three consecutive
What Happened
MINI is officially kicking off its first-ever participation in the Rebelle Rally, with the green flag dropping at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 8 at 7am PT. The 2026 Rebelle Rally also marks the competitive debut of the new MINI Countryman Untamed Edition, an adventure-focused variant created to bring greater capability, versatility and freedom to explore beyond the pavement. The rally covers approximately 1,500 miles of rugged terrain across Nevada, California and Utah and will serve as a demanding real-world proving ground for the new model. MINI says the entry connects its newest expression of adventure with a motorsport heritage built on challenging convention and succeeding where others might not expect it.
1,500miles
Approximately 1,500 miles of demanding western U.S. terrain across Nevada, California and Utah, covered without GPS navigation.
Green flag drops at 7am PT at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, opening MINI's inaugural Rebelle Rally participation.
The new MINI Countryman Untamed Edition makes its competitive debut over roughly 1,500 miles across Nevada, California and Utah.
The original Mini Cooper S wins the Monte Carlo Rally overall, using compact dimensions, agile handling and innovative engineering against more powerful rivals.
MINI achieves international success in the Dakar Rally, reinforcing its reputation in tough off-road competitions.
Driving MINI's inaugural entry is Felicia Killman, an accomplished rally competitor and longtime MINI enthusiast who competes in the American Rally Association and has experience both driving and navigating rally cars, including campaigning a specially prepared MINI in stage rally competition. In the navigator's seat is Erika Ferrer, a member of the BMW Group Corporate Communications team in Mexico who began her motorsport career managing championship rally teams before becoming a co-driver, earning three consecutive regional rally co-driver championships in Mexico and co-driving rally champion Benito Guerra during La Carrera Panamericana. A dedicated BMW Group engineering team prepared the Countryman Untamed Edition for the competition while balancing its regular engineering responsibilities, supported by technical and outfitting partners including Thule, DealerTire, Pelican Cases, Morimoto Lighting, Heinlein Racing Development, Peak Design and GoPro. The crew's preparation included intensive field training across dunes, rocky terrain and loose surfaces, along with extensive practice in map-and-compass navigation and decision-making under pressure.
“Being part of MINI's first Rebelle Rally is an incredible opportunity, and now that we're at the starting line, the excitement is real. We've put in the work to prepare for the terrain, the navigation and everything the rally can throw at us. Erika and I know there will be challenges along the way, but that's exactly what makes this experience so exciting. We're ready to put the new MINI Countryman Untamed Edition to the test and see where the adventure takes us.”
“The Rebelle Rally is as much a test of judgment and teamwork as it is of the vehicle. Out here, every decision matters, from choosing the right line to staying on course when the terrain doesn't look anything like the map. Felicia and I have spent a lot of time building that rhythm together, and I'm excited to put our preparation to the test when the rally begins.”
- Live tracking throughout the competition
- Live coverage and updates on Rebelle Rally digital and social channels, including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
- Daily updates through the rally's email sign-up
Previously from BMW
MINI announced the Countryman Untamed Edition one day earlier, expanding the Countryman range with a more rugged variant that adds a suspension lift, all-terrain tyres, ALL4 all-wheel drive and a co-developed roof tent. Today's rally entry marks the move from that global reveal to real-world competition.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of BMW's official releases.
Why this matters
MINI is using a gruelling off-road competition as a real-world proving ground for a new adventure-focused model, a common way automakers show buyers what a vehicle can do beyond paved roads. The Rebelle Rally is also one of the premier off-road events for women in motorsport, and MINI's crew pairs an experienced rally driver with a co-driver from its own communications team.
Terms in This Story
- Rebelle Rally
- An off-road navigation rally held across the western United States for women competitors, in which GPS navigation is prohibited.
- Navigator
- The crew member who reads maps, compass bearings and route instructions to guide the driver during a rally.
- Road book
- A set of written route instructions that rally crews follow instead of turn-by-turn electronic navigation.
- Stage rally
- A form of rally competition made up of timed sections known as stages.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.