Rebelle Rally is a challenging race for all those manufacturers that want to prove they have reliable cars and ready to tackle de dunes.
Kia America celebrated a double achievement, as both of its formidable Rebelle Rally teams earned spots on the X-Cross class podium after crossing the finish line in modified 2022 Sorento PHEVs.
Professional rally driver Verena Mei and navigator Tana White were dynamo first-time teammates, nipping at the heels of the first-place team to finish second overall. Kia’s returning team from last year, Alyssa Roenigk and Sabrina Howells, capitalized on their impressive performance last year, coming in third place overall. There were a total of 10 teams in the X-Cross class.
Both Sorento PHEVs competed in the X-Cross class under the electrified program. Customized by women-owned LGE-CTS Motorsports in Southern California, the SUVs were modified with, among other things, underbody armor to protect the undercarriage, plus a front bumper guard and skid plate. Tow points were affixed to the front and rear bumpers, and a 1-inch spacer lift provided a slight increase in ground clearance. With Hankook Tire America Corp. as the official tire provider for the rally vehicles, both PHEVs traversed across rocky terrain and sand dunes on Dynapro AT2 all-terrain tires outfitted with 17-inch KMC matte black wheels.
The Rebelle Rally spanned roughly 1,500 miles of rough terrain through Nevada, Arizona and California.
