SHERIDAN, WYOMING – November 04, 2024 – Honda is once again setting its sights on the grueling Rebelle Rally, an eight-day off-road challenge that pushes both machine and driver to their limits. This year, the all-new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport will be making its competition debut, tackling the unforgiving desert conditions of the American Southwest.
The Rebelle Rally, exclusively for women, is a unique event that emphasizes traditional navigation skills. Teams rely on paper maps, compasses, and headings to find hidden checkpoints, eschewing modern GPS and cellular navigation. The goal is simple: accrue the most points and reach the finish line each day.
Honda has a history with the Rebelle Rally, and this year marks their sixth year participating in America's longest off-road rally. The company sees the event as more than just a competition; it's an opportunity to test their vehicles in extreme conditions and gather valuable data for future development.
The 2026 Passport TrailSport is Honda's most adventure-ready SUV yet. It boasts a rugged chassis, off-road tuned suspension, a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, a responsive 10-speed automatic transmission, and torque-vectoring i-VTM4® all-wheel drive system.
For the Rebelle Rally, the Passport TrailSport will be piloted by two Honda associates: Adia Raya, a commercial quality product engineer, and Madison Russell, a quality engineer. They will compete as the "TrailSport Trekkers."
"We can't wait to take the all-new Honda Passport TrailSport on one of America's most demanding off-road competitions to show off its rugged capabilities," said Raya. "The Passport TrailSport is engineered to perform in these extreme environments, and we're going to have a lot of fun pushing its rugged capability and ourselves to the limit."
The duo is part of the Honda of America Racing Team (HART), a program run entirely by Honda associates. Russell brings valuable experience to the team, currently serving as a crew member on the HART IMSA team and one of the lead strategists and crew chiefs for the HART Road Race team.
The 2026 Passport TrailSport will compete in the X-Cross class without any major modifications, a testament to its off-road prowess. The only variation from the production spec is the fitment of Maxxis RAZR All-Terrain tires, engineered with knowledge gained from the brand's rich off-road racing history.
Honda's participation in the Rebelle Rally underscores the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of off-road performance. The event serves as a real-world test lab, allowing Honda engineers to gather invaluable data that will shape the future of their TrailSport models.
The Rebelle Rally is not just about speed; it's about strategy, teamwork, and the ability to navigate challenging terrain with precision. As the "TrailSport Trekkers" embark on this demanding journey, they carry with them the spirit of Honda's dedication to innovation and adventure.