Driver Mercedes Lilienthal and navigator Emily Winslow hope to conquer the deserts
by Alina Moore, on LISTEN 01:41With a history of six years, the Rebelle Rally is a competition for women, but is nowhere near an easy one. A pair consisting of a driver and a navigator need to use their skills, navigation tools, and limited supplies across 1,400 miles through the deserts of Nevada and California.
And, this year’s competition will see the entry of the Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro electric SUV. It will be driven by Mercedes Lilienthal, with Emily Winslow being the navigator. The competition will take place from October 7–16, 2021.
What’s different on this version of the Volkswagen ID.4?
Being a vehicle created for competitions, it comes with a few updates. Tanner Foust Racing and Rhys Millen Racing are the ones responsible for pretty much all the changes. They installed new suspension components, tubular control arms, fabricated skid plates, battery protection, and a few other items required for a driving expedition.
The wrap was created by Salt Lake City-based artist Liz Kuz, and there are a few other rack accessories from Thule and a new set of Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires.
The car features the same powertrain as the streetcar: a permanent-magnet synchronous motor in the rear and a asynchronous motor in the front. They deliver a combined output of 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The SUV also has a range of 249 miles.
This week, Volkswagen of America will make its inaugural entry in the Rebelle Rally, a woman-driven and navigated off-road competition in the deserts of Nevada and California. Driver Mercedes Lilienthal and navigator Emily Winslow will run the prepared ID.4 AWD Pro electric SUV during the competition from October 7–16, 2021.
“The Rebelle Rally is blazing a new trail in motorsports, and presents tremendous opportunity for us to introduce our ID.4 and electric vehicles to an even greater audience,” said Kimberley Gardiner, senior vice president, marketing, Volkswagen of America. “Volkswagen helped make off-road competitions popular in the ‘60s, and we’ve only just begun to explore the potential of electrification in off-roading motorsports. We’re really excited to have Mercedes and Emily leading the charge on this experience of a lifetime.”
The Rebelle Rally, now in its sixth year, is the first all-women rally raid event of its kind in the United States, challenging teams and vehicles across 1,400 miles through the deserts of Nevada and California. Pairs of drivers and navigators use their skills, navigation tools and limited supplies to overcome challenges along the course from Las Vegas to Glamis, Calif., along trails that respect the desert environment.
Lilienthal and Winslow will compete in the ID.4 AWD Pro in the crossover category. Tanner Foust Racing and Rhys Millen Racing are modifying the vehicle with new suspension components, tubular control arms, fabricated skid plates, battery protection and other items to fully equip the vehicle for the driving expedition. The vehicle will also be outfitted with Thule rack accessories and Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires.
The AWD ID.4’s 82kWh (gross) battery along with the permanent-magnet synchronous motor in the rear and asynchronous motor in the front will remain as is, offering a combined maximum 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The ID.4 AWD Pro has an EPA-estimated range of 249 miles on a full charge.
The vehicle wrap was created by Salt Lake City-based artist Liz Kuz, who drew inspiration from the anticipated rally terrain throughout the Nevada and California deserts.
In its brief existence, the ID.4 already has a history of off-road racing after competing in the NORRA Mexican 1000 earlier this year. A production ID.4 1st Edition RWD vehicle was modified by Rhys Millen Racing and managed by Tanner Foust Racing, with Foust at the wheel, giving the duo great insight into getting the team and vehicle ready for the Rebelle Rally.
Based in Portland, Ore., Lilienthal is a freelance journalist for outlets like The New York Times, Forbes Wheels, and Crankshaft Culture and is Editor-at-Large for TREAD Magazine. She participated in the 2018 Rebelle Rally. Winslow, a project manager, lives in Puyallup, Wash. and participated in the Rebelle Rally in 2018 and 2019, with a podium finish her first year.
For more information about the Rebelle Rally, visit https://www.rebellerally.com. Starting October 7 viewers can track the live location of Lilienthal and Winslow, also known as Team #211, in the ID.4 AWD during the entire event at https://www.rebellerally.com/live/.
