On the same historic day that two women made history with the first all-female space-walk, two women also set a record in the deserts of California to become back-to-back champions of America’s premier off-road rally – the 2019 Rebelle Rally. Their rallycar – a Bespoke Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It may be a surprise that anyone would want to put a Rolls-Royce through a rally but then again, the Cullinan is like no Rolls-Royce before and during development, prototypes travelled over some of the roughest terrain on the planet.
Back in the earlier years of the brand, Rolls-Royce cars did take part in rallies, a notable one being the Alpenfahrt (Alpine Rally) in 1913. It reinforced the status of the Silver Ghost as ‘the best car in the world’ when it completed the 23,700-km route over the rough mountain roads of the Alps. Some of those cars are still running today and their owners have re-enacted the challenging drive.
This year, the Cullinan didn’t travel such a great distance but ‘Team #200’ comprising driver Emme Hall and navigator Rebecca Donaghe were able to take top honours in the Crossover Class. It had been a gruelling 8-day challenge for 2,300 kms, the longest off-road rally in the USA. The Cullinan was driven across mountains, valleys, salt flats and treacherous desert sand dunes.
When Rolls-Royce Motor Cars engineered the Cullinan, they envisioned a ‘Effortless Everywhere’ experience and this test was just one more example of their accomplishment as well as demonstrations of the evolution of the Rolls-Royce brand and its daring clientele.
“By taking this epic experience in the Rebelle Rally and doing it in a way that is even more epic, was a complete honour and privilege,” said Rebecca and Emme. “The idea that we could do something that people may have thought was absolutely wild and come out on the top was a greater challenge and one we were excited to accept. The Cullinan became like a third teammate to us and will forever be in our hearts as a fierce competitor.”
The Rebelle Rally, entering its fourth year, is the first all-female off-road navigational rally in the USA. The event has a unique challenge and scoring system where precise navigation and timing, not speed, is the ultimate goal. Participants exchange cellphones and GPS for ‘old-school navigation’ in a competition against the elements of time, distance, headings, and hidden checkpoints across 2,300 kms of terrain in Nevada and California.
Teams could only utilize the supplies they carried in their vehicles, requiring not only precise navigation and fearless driving but also meticulous planning. The Cullinan provided the Hall-Donaghe duo more than enough room and a luxurious ride through the adventure. The only issues: the rocks and some tracks in the mountains took their toll on their tyres, forcing the team to complete the final 2 days without either of their two original spares.
The Cullinan is available for purchase in Malaysia with a starting price of RM1.8 million (excluding tax).
Rolls-Royce Cullinan – The “Effortless, Everywhere” Luxury SUV Makes Its Malaysian Debut! [+Videos]
