Revving Up for the 2025 Rebelle Rally

As Jenna Fribley and I rev up for our fourth Rebelle Rally, it feels like we’ve come full circle, but also like we’re stepping into a brand-new adventure. The 2025 Rebelle Rally marks a special milestone — the 10th anniversary of this amazing event — and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of it. There’s something about a decade of grit, dust and determination that gives us a sense of connection to the history of the rally.

But let’s rewind a bit. Our journey with the Rebelle has been far from a straight line. In fact, if we’re honest, our path could be described as more of a winding trail with a few bumps, twists and unexpected detours along the way.

From Rookie to Veteran: A Roller Coaster of Highs and Lows

In our rookie year, [Jenna and I] entered the Rebelle Rally with wide eyes, a bit of nervous excitement, and a classic NAS Defender 90 that we were more than happy to pilot, despite its quirks. The rally was everything we imagined — and a whole lot more. We learned that the Rebelle is about so much more than simply “driving” through the desert. It’s about navigating the unexpected, staying calm under pressure and figuring things out on the fly.

In our second and third years, we switched gears and took on a JLR-prepared Defender 130. This beast of a machine, coupled with our experience, prepared us for whatever the Rebelle organizers could throw at us. In 2023, everything clicked, and we ended up finishing eighth — surprising ourselves and everyone else. That was the high point, and we rode that wave of accomplishment all the way into 2024.
But 2024, oh boy — let’s just say it taught us a lot about expectations. We went into the rally expecting to top our previous success, but what we didn’t realize was that “expectation” can be the thief of joy. In hindsight, it’s clear that the pressure of our past performance weighed us down. We overthought everything, tried to control things that were out of our hands, and ended up with more stress than fun. And for us, that’s not the point of this rally. The point is the adventure, the camaraderie, the thrill of discovery and yes, the challenge — but without losing the joy that got us into this in the first place.

Turning the Page: A New Perspective for 2025

So, what do you do after a tough year? Well, you figure out how to make sure that the next one brings with it fun, joy and all the good things that make the Rebelle Rally one of the life’s most unique experiences. We took a step back, reflected, and started planning for 2025 with one key principle in mind: we’re doing this for the adventure, not someone else’s expectations.

That’s when the universe stepped in with a bit of magic. After spending time with Ralf Sarek and Kathleen Rao of Sarek Autowerke, Kathleen told her husband, “We need to get involved with these ladies.” We all understood, after a great conversation, we wanted to be competitive, but more importantly, we wanted to have fun, push our limits, and make our community proud. Ralf suggested we drive his Sarek Autowerke-modified ’22 Defender 90 for the 2025 Rebelle, and in that moment, it felt like a match made in heaven. The Defender 90 meets the challenges of the rally perfectly.

The Partnership: A New Chapter in Our Rebelle Story

We reached out to JLR North America, where we’ve built a great relationship over the years, and received their blessing. We spent the first part of this year diving into new collaborations that added depth to our journey, as a brand ambassador for Safe-Xtract recovery products. This partnership, in concert with our Sarek Defender 90, has reignited the passion we felt during our rookie season. It’s also fueled by the idea that we’re going into this year as more than competitors, but as Rebelles who will truly enjoy the journey. The pressure is off — we’re not chasing a number on a leaderboard; we’re chasing the experience itself.

A Diamond Anniversary and the Road Ahead

2025 is the 10th anniversary of the Rebelle Rally, and the traditional gift for a 10th anniversary is aluminum. Given how much we love our Land Rovers, this feels like a good omen. Aluminum is strong, lightweight, and versatile — qualities we admire in both our vehicles and our team. We’re feeling good about 2025. We know there will be challenges, unexpected twists and perhaps a few setbacks along the way. But with the right mindset, we’re ready to embrace every moment.

The 10th anniversary of the Rebelle is not just a celebration of the rally itself, but of all the amazing women who’ve competed, conquered and created memories in the desert. We’re proud to be part of that legacy — and we can’t wait to see where the road takes us in 2025.

[Follow Liza Beres (Navigator) and Jenna Fribley (Driver), Team Overland_Her #155, on the Rebelle Rally website, on Instagram @Overland_Her, and as frequent guests of The Underpowered Hour -ed.]