Celebrating the 2023 Rebelle Rally at the Rebellation Awards Presented by Jeep
December 5th, 2023
The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and to celebrate, we’re looking back at the award winners from the 2023 Rebelle Rally Rebellation Awards Ceremony Presented by Jeep – longtime partner of the rally. The evening was filled with celebration, laughter, podium awards, and several designation awards handed out to top finishers in both classes. New for 2023, the Rookie of the Year Award expanded to include top three first year finishers in each class, paying tribute to just how challenging the Rebelle is for first-time competitors.
The ceremony included an exceptional dinner prepared by Michelin-star chef Drew Deckman and his team and video highlights from the course, rally partners and staff, produced by the talented videography team that covered the entirety of the rally. Teams dined under the stars at the base of the famed Imperial Dunes as they watched the big screen.
Following tradition, the gala ended with awards that fall under Rebelle Impact. The Rebelle Impact Awards are specifically designed to encourage competitors to think beyond the competition and consider how they can contribute to meaningful change. Monetary awards are given to the charity of the team’s choosing. These awards included Team Spirit, International Cup, the Pirelli Scorpion™ Challenge and a newly added award – Perseverance. This was announced after seeing the tenacity of Team #117. They were awarded $2500 and special recognition. We’ll be highlighting the team in our next newsletter. From education to conservancy, each of the award-winners recognizes the value of supporting the world beyond the eight days of competition.
Congratulations again to all the 2023 Rebelles, and we look forward to seeing you on the start line next year!
Podium 4x4:
- 1st – Team #187 Limestone Legends (Lilly Macaruso / Alex Anderson)
- 2nd – Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit)
- 3rd – Team #188 Dirt Hustle (Laura Wanlass / Maria Guitar)
Podium X-Cross™:
- 1st – Team #200 Built Wild (Melissa Clark / Jessica Moore)
- 2nd – Team #205 Wild Grace 8.0 (Rebecca Donaghe & Sedona Blinson)
- 3rd – Team #206 Kialoha (Verena Mei & Susie Saxten)
Daily Stage Winners:
4×4 Class:
- STAGE 1: Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit)
- STAGE 2: Team #152 Toyota Wayfinders (Samantha Barber / Becky Brophy)
- STAGE 3: Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit)
- STAGE 4: Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit)
- STAGE 5/6: Team #187 Limestone Legends (Lilly Macaruso / Alex Anderson)
- STAGE 7: Team #187 Limestone Legends (Lilly Macaruso / Alex Anderson)
X-Cross™:
- STAGE 1: Team #200 Built Wild (Melissa Clark / Jessica Moore)
- STAGE 2: Team #205 Wild Grace 8.0 (Rebecca Donaghe & Sedona Blinson)
- STAGE 3: Team 202 Mach-E Rally (Bailey Campbell / Kaleigh Miller)
- STAGE 4: Team #200 Built Wild (Melissa Clark / Jessica Moore)
- STAGE 5/6: Team #205 Wild Grace 8.0 (Rebecca Donaghe & Sedona Blinson)
- STAGE 7: Team #208 The Co-Pilots (Hilary Tate / Liz Long)
Rookies of the Year
Awarded to the teams with the highest overall accuracy, in both 4×4 Class and in the X-Cross™ Class. Both teammates must be competing in the Rebelle Rally for their first time, regardless of previous competition experience in other events, rallies, or races. For the first time in 2023, there was a rookie podium for 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
4×4 Class:
- 1st – Team #182 Octane Adventures (Myra Padda / Sandra Li)
- 2nd – Team #183 Go2Genba (Heather Eich / Allison McGowan)
- 3rd – Team #122 Team Rex Bronco (Tobi Hlavnicka / Caralina Carlson)
X-Cross™:
- 1st – Team #212 Hells Bells Rally (Nicole Rotondo / Serena Halterman)
Bone Stock Award
Presented to the team and the vehicle manufacturer of the Bone Stock team that gets the highest score in a completely stock vehicle.
4×4
- Team #187 Limestone Legends (Lilly Macaruso / Alex Anderson) – 2023 Rivian R1T
X-Cross™
- Team #200 Built Wild (Melissa Clark / Jessica Moore) – 2022 Ford Bronco Sport
2023 Pirelli Scorpion™ Tire Challenge
In the spirit of competition and giving back, Pirelli offered a contingency program for Rebelle teams who ran Pirelli Scorpion™ tires during the competition. Teams were entered to win money toward a team’s designated nonprofit plus an additional cash prize in the case of a podium finish.
1st Place Running Pirelli Tires:
- Team #187 Limestone Legends (Lilly Macaruso / Alex Anderson) – $1,000 to the team
Highest Points Running Pirelli Tires
- Team #187 Limestone Legends (Lilly Macaruso / Alex Anderson) – $1,000 to The Nature Conservancy
- Team #139 Headings United (Mandy Brezina / Alexandra Gilman) – $500 to Hope Connections for Cancer Support
- Team #196 Evergreen Edge (Rachel Zech / Kelly Kennedy) – $250 to Indigenous Led
Rebelle Impact Awards
Rebelle Impact is a brand and fund rooted in the principle of “what happens beyond the competition and score matters most.” Our mission is to elevate women across the globe and at home, and to make a positive impact in our communities – from empowering girls and women to caring for our environment.
International Cup
The highest scoring team where both teammates are non-US citizens or holding dual citizenship and own a valid non-US passport. A minimum of one teammate must live full-time abroad.
- Team #144 CanToy Divas (Liza Tough / Sue Chapin) – $2,500 to Pathways Abilities Society
Team Spirit
Team Spirit is a special award presented by Rebelle Impact and Scrubblade and is selected by the competitors and given to the team that displays the best attitude, helps others, and defines the Rebelle spirit. Rebelle Spirit is defined as a positive attitude in the face of adverse conditions and challenging situations.
- Team #204 MtnSubi (Carey Lando / Dorothy Rake) $5,000 to TreadLightly!
Team Spirit Perseverance
- Team #117 Brouck Sisters (Maureen Brouck / Hortense Brouck)
Sisters Maureen and Hortense Brouck travelled all the way from Aix les Baines, France—a town in the French Alps—to compete in their first Rebelle Rally. “We love the USA and to do the Rebelle Rally was a dream for us,” said Hortense. Making it to the start line was no easy feat either. To afford their dream, the sisters first got visas to work at Disneyland in Florida in early 2023. Then, they moved on to Texas to work at a children’s camp where they saved enough to buy a 1998 Jeep Wrangler. The sisters drove 22 hours straight from Texas to the start line in Mammoth, barely making it in time for Tech Inspection. It was a huge effort and a testament to how much they wanted to be at the Rebelle!
