A few weeks ago we discussed how Kia Motors was entering the 2020 Rebelle Rally, the fifth competition in a year so far. For those unaware, Rebelle Rally is an all-women’s race and the longest event running in the lower 48 states, with teams driving through a 10-day, 2,000 km navigational course. It’s the only all-women, off-road navigational challenge held in the deserts of California and Nevada, travelling from Lake Tahoe, California to the Imperial Sand Dunes, California. With nothing but an old-fashioned paper map and a compass, it can be a crazy journey, but Kia Motors sent out two ladies anyways in the Kia Telluride to take on the challenge. Wouldn’t you know, the Kia Telluride ended up with second place in the 2020 Rebelle Rally!
“This is a momentous achievement for Kia…Thanks to Alyssa and Sabrina’s grit in the arduous Rebelle Rally, they helped raise the Telluride’s credibility to new heights. Their huge accomplishment will go down in Kia history and we couldn’t be more proud of our team.” – Sean Yoon, president & CEO, Kia Motors North America & Kia Motors America
Alyssa Roenigk (driver) and Sabrina Howells (navigator) are the ladies Kia Motors picked for their team, and demonstrating the automaker’s “Give it Everything” attitude, Kia Motors made it to second place in the X-Cross class. Alyssa Roenigk is an ESPN correspondent, part of the first U.S. team to win the Aïcha des Gazelle Rally in Morocco, and although this is a first-time entry for Kia Motors, actor Sabrina Howells competed in the Rebelle Rally in 2016, taking 1st place for the crossover class, and competed again in 2017, coming in at second place. What a matchup for 2020!
Able to make use of the off-road strengths of the Telluride, Team Telluriders was able to handle any challenge the course has to offer. Whether it was traversing across sand dunes or getting through rocky terrain, the Kia Telluride can handle it. Plus, 2020 is a first-time entry for Kia Motors in the Rebelle Rally, so getting second place is some serious bragging rights. All it took was a skid plate to protect the fuel and oil pan area and all-terrain tires, proving that the Kia Telluride was designed to be a lifestyle SUV and not just the largest SUV in the Kia Motors lineup.
Kia Motors also had a hand in providing care for drivers during the grueling 10-day course. Always looking for ways to get involved, Kia Motors was also the exclusive sponsor of a Live Show webcast covering the Rebelle Rally and even offered rally participants coffee and breakfast service. After a long-day of driving and probably a short rest seeing as how this is a race, waking up to some breakfast amongst the sandy dunes of Mojave backcountry, what a way to win over some people once the race is over. Plus, the new 2021 Seltos SX was making its debut during this time, so that’s another check in Kia Motors’ publicity to-do list.
We do love our Kia Motors vehicles at Miami Lakes Automall. If you do too, contact us about an at-home test drive while practicing social distancing.
Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media