The BMW X5 conquers the Rebelle Rally

The BMW X5 conquers the Rebelle Rally.

• The team takes first place in the Bone Stock category and second place overall in the X-Cross class for all-wheel drive vehicles.
• BMW North America Product Manager Rebecca Dalski helped bring the victory to life from the navigation seat.
• The rigorous competition, contested by an all-female field of drivers and navigators, covers 1,700 miles of demanding desert terrain and bans GPS guidance, forcing teams to rely on paper maps and compasses.
• The challenging off-road conditions helped the 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 2,700 kilometers 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 daring and versatility of BMW’s best-selling model, which was expertly guided by BMW Product Manager North America, Rebecca Dalski.

BMW returned to the longest competitive off-road navigation rally in the U.S. this year with a vehicle virtually identical to what’s coming off the assembly line in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In the Bone Stock category, competitors are not allowed to make any modifications beyond factory size aftermarket wheels and tires, making it a true test of innate engineering abilities.

Rebecca Dalski’s participation in the competition provided a unique opportunity for testing and evaluating products in the real world. Relying solely on compasses and paper maps, Dalski gained first-hand insight into the BMW X5’s performance under extreme pressure. The vehicle’s all-wheel drive and powerful inline-six engine helped the team drive 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 them to blaze confidentially through all checkpoints ahead of their competitors.

The rally’s infamous ‘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 that came with relying solely on maps and compasses to navigate more than 1,700 miles, without the aid of GPS.

The following internal and external partners helped make this year’s Rebelle Rally victory possible:

BMW credit cards
BMW protection products
BMW Women in Movement
BMW Performance Center
BMW Car Club of America and BMW CCA X Chapter
XPEL
Hawks
Rotiform
Morimoto
Thule