Meet Sandy, Hyundai’s Custom Santa Cruz Racing in the Rebelle Rally This Week:

Hyundai’s specially customized Santa Cruz is geared up and prepared to participate in the eighth-annual Rebelle Rally, an exciting all-women off-roading adventure set to begin on October 13th.

The eighth-annual Rebelle Rally is set to span over eight challenging days, with each team covering a distance of 1,500 miles (2,415 km). The unique aspect of this rally is that participants must rely solely on paper maps and compasses, as the use of internet-enabled devices like GPS is strictly prohibited.

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The Hyundai Santa Cruz, dubbed “The Brute Squad,” will be driven by Kristin Shaw, with Jill Ciminillo as her co-pilot. This year marks their second participation in this model. While the Santa Cruz has received a few modifications, it remains relatively close to the factory version.

One standout feature of this custom Santa Cruz is its unique wrap, signed by Hyundai’s graphic designers. The vehicle has also been equipped with various off-road accessories, including a bed rack designed to securely carry essential equipment like recovery boards and shovels. Other additions include a roof rack with a light bar, a rear spare tire mount, a front recovery mount with auxiliary lighting, and a rally computer. To comply with the rally’s no-GPS rules, the antennas have been disconnected.

The modified Santa Cruz has been given a lift kit, increasing the ride height by 1.5 inches (38 mm) at the front and 1 inch (25 mm) at the rear. It rides on 17-inch Falken Wildpeak A/T3W off-road tires and features a custom front bumper, a skid plate for added protection, and various rally-specific upgrades.

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The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a range of trim levels in the United States, starting with the SE and SEL, powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 191 horsepower. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine is available in the Night trim, generating 281 horsepower. All-wheel drive is an option for improved traction, especially on rough terrain. The Santa Cruz can tow up to 3,500 pounds with the base engine and up to 5,000 pounds with the turbocharged version.

In this year’s Rebelle Rally, Hyundai’s Santa Cruz aims to showcase its off-road capabilities and versatility, providing a unique driving experience for its participants.

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