IMPERIAL SAND DUNES, Calif. (Oct. 17, 2026) – Ford Racing has added another milestone to its off-road racing history, celebrating its first overall and 4x4 class victory at the 2026 Rebelle Rally. Laura Wanlass and Teralin Petereit navigated eight days of demanding terrain and fierce competition to secure the historic result behind the wheel of Team #188 Utah Raptors' Ford Ranger Raptor. Ford teams swept the podium and made up six of the top ten teams.
Spanning more than 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) across Nevada, Utah and California, the Rebelle Rally challenges competitors to navigate unfamiliar terrain using traditional tools, including paper maps, compasses and roadbooks. Without GPS or electronic navigation, success depends on precision, strategy, teamwork and the ability to make the right decisions under pressure.
"Winning the Rebelle Rally for the first time is a tremendous moment for Ford Racing, but what makes this achievement especially meaningful is how it was earned," said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Racing. "Laura and Teralin demonstrated extraordinary skill, determination and teamwork throughout eight days of competition, proving what is possible when talented competitors are paired with a capable vehicle. The Rebelle Rally represents something important to Ford. It challenges our vehicles in real-world conditions while creating opportunities for women to compete in off-road motorsports. We're proud to support that mission, and even prouder to see these women make Ford history."
Wanlass and Petereit established themselves as contenders early in the competition, taking the overall 4x4 lead after Day 1 and then trading it for only one day with fellow Ranger Raptor Team #131. Ultimately, they claimed five days of top scores of the eight competition days, ending with 1,583 points out of the possible 1,686 possible.
“We are stoked about a hard-fought Rebelle win,” said Teralin and Laura. “We had a great time navigating through challenging weather and checkpoints. The Ranger Raptor allowed us to thrive through it all! From the rocks of Johnson Valley to the big Imperial Sand Dunes - great clearance, great suspension, great power, and it came that way stock from the factory. We are honored to bring back the win for Ford Racing in a competition that truly matters. All the hard work and training with our third teammate paid off.”
Ranger Raptor Proves Its Capability in the Desert
The victory also represents an important achievement for the production Ford Ranger Raptor. Unlike purpose-built competition vehicles found in many off-road programs, the Ranger Raptor competing in the Rebelle Rally represents the capabilities available to customers.
Team #188 competed in the event's Bone Stock designation, which recognizes vehicles competing without performance modifications. From rocky trails and technical navigation challenges to open desert and deep sand, the rally demands versatility, durability and driver confidence across changing conditions.
For Ford Racing, those demands make the Rebelle Rally a valuable complement to its broader off-road competition program, as it offers a particularly relevant demonstration of that philosophy by placing truly production vehicles in demanding environments over an extended period - doing exactly what Raptor was bred to do for its customers.
A Strong Showing Across the Ford Raptor Family
While Team #188 claimed the historic victory, Ford's success at the 2026 Rebelle Rally extended across multiple teams and vehicles.
Among the strongest challengers were Team Velocity's Karisa Haydon and Trista Smith (#131), competing in a 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor. The duo emerged as immediate contenders, delivering a nearly perfect performance on Day 2 with 246 of 249 available points to win the day's 4x4 competition. They ultimately finished second, only 27 points behind Team #188.
Serena Pruett and Heather Eich (Team #110) completed the Raptor podium sweep with their 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor. Six of the top ten 4x4 teams piloted a Ford vehicle.
More Than a Rally: Building the Future of Off-Road Motorsports
Now in its 11th year, the Rebelle Rally has established itself as a distinctive platform for women in motorsports.
Rather than emphasizing outright speed, the competition rewards preparation, navigation, precision and teamwork. Its format creates an environment where experienced competitors and newcomers alike can challenge themselves while using skills that extend beyond the competition.
For Ford, that mission aligns with a broader commitment to making motorsports more accessible and supporting the next generation of competitors - and making better, more capable vehicles for its customers.
“What makes the Rebelle Rally so special is that it’s one of the toughest off-road competitions out there, and women can take it on in the same 4x4 they have sitting in their driveway,” said Kristen Goslawski, Off-Road Motorsports Supervisor, Ford Racing. “It’s a production vehicle competition, which means we have the opportunity to help real customers get to the starting line. From our factory-supported teams to our Raptor Route participants, these are passionate Ford owners from all walks of life. We’re proud to equip our factory teams with Raptor vehicles, and just as proud to offer a lineup of vehicles that are ready to take on a challenge like this.”
The 2026 event marked Ford's fourth consecutive year as a Rebelle Rally partner, with the company continuing to expand its involvement beyond traditional sponsorship.
Through initiatives such as the Raptor Route, Ford has worked to support privateer competitors who choose to take on the rally in their own Ford 4x4 vehicles, strengthening the connection between the company's racing programs and its community of owners. That investment reflects Ford Racing's belief that the future of motorsports is built not only through factory racing victories, but also through the people who discover a passion for competition behind the wheel of their own vehicles.
As Ford Racing celebrates 125 years of racing history in 2026, the Rebelle Rally victory adds a new chapter to a legacy built on competition, innovation and the determination to push beyond what seems possible.
From the earliest days of Ford's motorsports history to today's global off-road racing efforts, that philosophy remains unchanged. And at the 2026 Rebelle Rally, it was two women, a Ranger Raptor and eight days in the desert that carried it forward.
