On October 27th, 2023, history was made at the Rebelle Rally as Rivian engineers Lilly Macaruso and Alex Anderson, part of team #187 Limestone Legends, crossed the finish line in a Rivian R1T. What’s remarkable about this victory is that it marked the first time a fully electric vehicle emerged as the champion of this demanding off-road rally in the United States.
Notably, the rally saw not just one but four teams driving R1Ts completing the course, all achieving impressive rankings in the final Rally standings. Among them, an independent owner team, #139 Headings United, secured the 11th position, while Rivian’s two rookie teams, #196 Evergreen Edge and #186 Red Canyon Risers, claimed the 20th and 30th spots, respectively.
What sets this victory apart is that the Quad-Motor R1T vehicles that participated were entirely stock, winning Rivian the coveted Bone Stock Award. These vehicles entered the competition with the same capabilities and versatility as they come from the factory.
Lilly Macaruso, from the victorious Limestone Legends team, commented on this achievement, stating,
“All the vehicles we competed in this year are the same as the vehicles you would have in your driveway.”
The Quad-Motor R1T proved its mettle across various terrains thanks to its software-determined Drive Modes, which include five distinct off-road modes. With the Rebelle Rally spanning over 1,500 miles, participants had ample opportunities to put these modes to the test.
Rachel Zech of Evergreen Edge, one of Rivian’s rookie teams, expressed her newfound confidence in driving the all-electric R1T:
“Training and off-roading over the last months curbed my range anxiety. Learning the unique pedal control of the truck taught me how to efficiently and confidently drive the vehicle across different terrain.”
Driving an all-electric vehicle for eight days across diverse landscapes was a novel experience for Rivian’s rookie teams, demanding an intimate understanding of the vehicle and the confidence to rely solely on a map and compass for navigation.
Elle Navarro of Red Canyon Risers shared her experience, stating,
“Our various Drive Modes have gotten us out of many sticky situations.”
The Rebelle Rally has been a valuable learning ground for Rivian since its initial participation with a pre-production R1T in 2020. Competing alongside other teams provided essential feedback that contributed to enhancing the overall driving experience for Rivian owners.
Claire McDonough, Rivian’s Chief Financial Officer, acknowledged the significance of this experience, saying,
“One of the things that has really been fantastic is that we have a customer team this year. This is an amazing chance for our teams to listen and to make our vehicles better and better.”
Emily Brady of Red Canyon Risers added,
“During our trainings (sic), we got to test out a lot of the new Drive Modes features before they went out to customers. It has been amazing to be part of informing that.”
Real-world experience has proven invaluable for Rivian. Three years ago, during the Rebelle Rally, challenging sand conditions led to the development of Soft Sand mode. This year, rally teams played an integral role in refining vehicle development, especially in testing the newly redesigned Drive Modes interface. The Gauge View, providing vital readouts and vehicle information, emerged as a key feature. Additionally, it was found that Soft Sand mode was most effective in the “high” ride height setting, allowing for better clearance and speed. The collaboration between the HMI and UI teams and the Rebelle teams enhanced the accessibility and usability of the new interface.
Versatility and the ability to improve through over-the-air software updates remain the R1T’s strengths, and Rivian has committed to continuously learning from its driver community.
Malin Ekholm, Rivian VP of Chassis, Dynamics, and Attributes, emphasized the value of the teams’ experience, saying,
“Having access to four R1T teams this year is amazing. Their experience and learnings doing serious off-roading will enable us to have that knowledge packaged back into our vehicles.”
Vidya Rajagopalan, Rivian VP of Electrical Hardware, commended the teams for their courage and determination, stating,
“Our teams inspire me. It’s not easy to sign up for something like this. It takes a lot of courage. I admire their vulnerability and their willingness to push. I’m so proud of them.”
Read more: Dead Reckoning | The Rebelle Rally Docuseries :: Video of the Week
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