Stock Ranger Raptor Wins 2026 Rebelle Rally in a Ford Podium Sweep

Imagine crossing three states with a paper map, a compass and zero help from your phone. Now imagine doing it in a truck straight from the showroom and beating everyone. That's the 2026 Rebelle Rally story for Team 188.

Laura Wanlass and Teralin Petereit won the event overall and in 4x4 in their 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor. They finished with 1,583 of 1,686 points, wrapping up Oct. 17 at the Imperial Sand Dunes in California. Their truck ran in the Bone Stock designation, meaning no performance modifications. Ford says it reflects what customers can actually buy.

A Ford sweep, top to bottom

Ford teams took all three podium places, according to Ford Racing, and six of the top ten 4x4 spots. Ford Racing also calls it the company's first overall and 4x4 class win at the event.

• First: Team 188, Wanlass and Petereit, Ranger Raptor
• Second: Team 131, Karisa Haydon and Trista Smith, 2024 Ranger Raptor, 27 points back
• Third: Team 110, Serena Pruett and Heather Eich, 2023 Bronco Raptor

Team 131 had its moment too. Haydon and Smith won Day 2 with 246 of 249 points, and that was the only day Team 188 gave up the 4x4 lead. Team 188 otherwise posted the top score on five of the eight competition days.

Day 1: the longest opener in rally history

The rally covers more than 2,500 km across Nevada, Utah and California, and electronic navigation is banned. Day 1 set the tone. It was a 377 km (234 mile) loop out of Base Camp 1 near Pioche, Nevada, into western Utah. That makes it the longest opening day in the rally's 11-year history.

Teams got an 11-hour limit, an enduro section (a timed, sustained-pace stretch) and a choice between X and regular routes. Thirty of the 45 teams went for the X route over the Mountain Home Range.

Team 188 scored 208 of 215 points and led 4x4 from the start. Ford Raptors held the top five places, separated by just seven points. Those Day 1 standings were unofficial, but the early pace held up. In the X-Cross class, Subarus held the top two spots on Day 1, led by Team 200 in a Forester Hybrid with 199 points.

Raptor Route returns in 2027

The Day 1 report also noted that Ford Racing's Raptor Route privateer program is coming back in 2027. Eligible teams get $1,500 toward entry fees or expenses, plus team kits, livery elements and awards.

What it means for you

The winning truck ran in Bone Stock, so this result matters if you're eyeing a Ranger Raptor or Bronco Raptor for rally-style or rough-terrain use. It's one rally, though, and the rules here lean on paper maps, compasses and roadbooks. Navigation skill counts as much as the vehicle.

Thinking about a privateer entry? The 2027 Raptor Route program offers $1,500 toward costs for eligible teams. Check the eligibility terms with Ford Racing before you start planning.

The takeaway: a stock truck, a sharp navigator and a good pencil can beat a lot of horsepower. Just maybe pack a spare pencil.

Sources: rebellerally.com, fordauthority.com, fordracing.com. Photos: Richard Giordano, Ernesto Araiza, Regine Trias.