MINI scores X-Cross podium and two awards on Rebelle Rally debut with Countryman Untamed Edition
MINI's first Rebelle Rally entry, driven by Felicia Killman and navigated by Erika Ferrer, finished third in the X-Cross class and won Rookie of the Year and the Challenge Accepted Award.
- More than 1,500 miles
- 8 days
- 50 mph
- Approaching 100°F
What Happened
MINI made its first-ever appearance at the 2026 Rebelle Rally in Glamis, California, with driver and MINI enthusiast Felicia Killman and navigator Erika Ferrer, a member of the BMW Group Corporate Communications team in Mexico. Competing in the new MINI Countryman Untamed Edition, the pair earned a third-place podium finish in the X-Cross class plus two additional team awards. MINI described the debut as historic and said the team showed determination, teamwork and a fearless spirit across challenging terrain in the American West. The event is one of the longest all-women's off-road rallies in the United States.
- Third Place – X-Cross Class: a podium finish in MINI's inaugural appearance.
- Rookies of the Year – X-Cross Class: recognition of Killman and Ferrer's first campaign, citing preparation, perseverance and teamwork.
- “Challenge Accepted” Award – presented by Stryten Energy: voted on by fellow competitors and event staff for embracing challenges with an exceptional attitude and inspiring others.
The Rebelle Rally is an all-women's off-road navigation competition held over eight days and more than 1,500 miles of rugged terrain across Nevada, California and Utah. Competitors face desert trails, rocky climbs, sand washes and river crossings, and GPS navigation is prohibited. Instead, teams rely on maps, a compass and a roadbook to find checkpoints and accumulate points through precise navigation, strategic decision-making and teamwork. Unlike traditional motorsport competitions that reward outright speed, the rally is scored on navigation and strategy.
- Rewards outright speed
- Requires teams to find checkpoints and accumulate points through precise navigation, strategic decision-making and teamwork
- GPS is prohibited; teams use maps, a compass and a roadbook
The 2026 competition pushed teams to their limits with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit, powerful storms, rain, river crossings, steep climbs and challenging sand dunes. In the final stages, wind gusts reaching 50 mph sent blowing sand across the course, creating whiteout conditions and dramatically reducing visibility. Killman and Ferrer persevered, strengthening their partnership and adapting to the course. Their third-place finish marked a significant achievement in their first Rebelle Rally campaign, while the Rookie of the Year honor recognized their debut and the Challenge Accepted Award reflected respect from fellow competitors and event staff.
The new MINI Countryman Untamed Edition was revealed to the world just days before the competition began and made its competitive debut at the rally. MINI says the edition is designed to bring a more rugged, adventure-oriented character to the Countryman, combining distinctive styling with enhanced all-terrain versatility. The U.S. specification includes MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, a suspension lift, specially developed all-terrain tires and exclusive 19-inch Untamed Edition wheels. MINI says these features support confident exploration beyond paved roads while preserving the model's distinctive personality and driving character.
Why this matters
MINI's debut result gives the brand a podium and two team awards at an all-women's off-road navigation rally, while serving as a demanding real-world test for the new Countryman Untamed Edition. The source says the event celebrates women in motorsport and that the U.S.-spec Untamed Edition adds all-terrain equipment for exploration beyond paved roads.
Terms in This Story
- Rebelle Rally
- An all-women's off-road navigation competition in the United States where teams use maps, a compass and a roadbook instead of GPS.
- roadbook
- A route instruction document used by rally crews to navigate.
- checkpoint
- A designated point competitors must locate to score points in a navigation rally.
- MINI ALL4
- MINI's all-wheel-drive system.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.