Approximately 1,500 miles, rough terrain, and no GPS navigation of any kind — these are the conditions that Mini USA is using to prepare a new “adventure-oriented” Countryman variant for production courtesy of the Rebelle Rally team that will be racing in the 2026 Rebelle Rally from October 7-17, 2026.
“Seeing the finished vehicle was definitely one of those ‘oh boy, we’re actually doing this’ moments,” says Mini team driver, Felicia Killman. “James, Dennis, and Eran [BMW Group engineers] have put so much time and thought into getting this Mini ready for the Rebelle, and seeing everything finally come together made me even more excited to get out there. We’ve had an opportunity to complete various trainings in the dunes, on rocks, and with the maps and compass, but pretty soon it’s just Erika [the navigator] and me, the Mini, and 1,500 miles to figure it out. I cannot wait to test this car and myself at the Rebelle Rally.”
Training for this event consisted of intense field tests not only to push the vehicle to its limits, but also to sharpen the driver and navigator’s skills under pressure.
The Rebelle Rally is a multi-day, off-road navigation competition exclusively for women. Teams are required to rely solely on maps, a compass, an event-provided road book, teamwork, and their own wits to traverse through the vast California, Nevada, and Utah desert landscapes.
“We were thrilled to take on the challenge of preparing the Mini for something this demanding, leaning on the team’s engineering expertise and passion for the project every step of the way,” says James Wallace, one of the BMW Group engineers. “For every bracket, every mount, every panel, we gave thought to what happens when it’s in such rigorous conditions forty miles from pavement, and that’s only something you can solve by testing, adjusting, and testing again.”
The vehicle utilized will be equipped with outfitting and technological equipment from sponsors such as Thule, DealerTire, Pelican Cases, Morimoto Lighting, Heinlein Racing Development, Peak Design, and GoPro.
Although the official name of the new Countryman variant is still under wraps, Mini has mentioned that a “rugged” edition Countryman has been undergoing tests in the Rocky Mountains since late July. The BMW-owned automaker states that there will be a global reveal right when the rally begins.
