- Team wins first place in Bone Stock category and second place overall in X-Cross class for all-wheel-drive vehicles.
- BMW of North America Product Manager Rebecca Dalski helped bring the victory to life from the navigator seat.
- Contested by an all-women field of drivers and navigators, the rigorous competition covers 1,700 miles of demanding desert terrain and prohibits GPS guidance, forcing teams to rely on paper maps and compasses.
- The challenging offroad conditions helped team gather real world insights for BMW’s X family of Sports Utility Vehicles.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 18, 2025… After eight grueling days across 1,700 miles of unforgiving desert terrain, the BMW X5 has taken first place in the 2025 Rebelle Rally Bone Stock category and second place overall in the X-Cross category for all-wheel-drive vehicles. The team's exceptional performance demonstrates the true grit and versatility of BMW’s best-selling model, which was expertly guided by BMW of North America Product Manager Rebecca Dalski.
BMW returned to the longest competitive off-road navigation rally in the U.S. this year with a vehicle nearly identical to what comes off its assembly line in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In the Bone Stock category, competitors are permitted no modifications beyond aftermarket wheels and tires in the factory size, making it a true test of innate engineering capabilities.
Rebecca Dalski's entry into the competition came as a unique opportunity for real-world product testing and evaluation. Relying solely on compasses and paper maps, Dalski gained firsthand insights into the BMW X5's performance under extreme pressure. The vehicle’s all-wheel drive system and potent inline-six engine helped propel the team through diverse desert terrain and across the finish line with remarkable composure. Inside the vehicle, Dalski and Donaghe’s extensive preparations, teamwork, and precision allowed for them to blaze through all checkpoints confidentially while outpacing their competitors.
The rally's notorious "dunes day" pushed the X5 to its limits, requiring careful planning and strategic driving to avoid getting bogged down in the soft sand. The team also had to overcome the mental fatigue and pressure of relying solely on maps and compasses to navigate over 1,700 miles, without the aid of GPS.
The following internal and external partners helped make this year’s Rebelle Rally win possible:
- BMW Credit Cards
- BMW Protection Products
- BMW Women in Motion
- BMW Performance Center
- BMW Car Club of America and BMW CCA X Chapter
- XPEL
- Falken
- Rotiform
- Morimoto
- Thule
BMW Group PressClub USA
