Road To Morocco: Amy Lerner and Sabrina Howells Bring Experience, Knowledge to the Gazelle Rally

Gazelle Rally Checkpoint

The 25th all female Rallye Aicha des Gazelles will take place March 20-April 4 and America will be sending 10 teams. European competitors will start with technical verifications March 20 in Paris, with American teams joining them in Rabat, Morocco on March 24. From there teams will travel over the Atlas Mountains to Erfoud to start the 9-day competition.

Participants in the Gazelle Rally are not allowed chase crews, cell phones, or GPS. Points are awarded for shortest distance between checkpoints, not fastest time. Teams can choose their route with the help of an old map, a plotter, and a compass. There is no roadbook. Teams are given map coordinates and must plot them on their maps, find their heading, then drive in as straight a line as possible. If a team comes upon an obstacle, be it a wash or a mountain, they must navigate around it and then return to their original heading.

Gazelle Rally

With the exception of the marathon legs, teams return each night to a mobile bivouac, where they eat, sleep, gas up, and receive mechanical assistance.

Amy Lerner and Sabrina Howells are both Gazelle Rally veterans, but 2015 marks the first year they have been a team.

Amy Lerner Sabrina Howells
Lerner and Howells during a training exercise. The women had to rent a Jeep as Lerner’s AEV Jeep was already on its way to Morocco.

Lerner is a mother of two from New Jersey. Before the Gazelle Rally she didn’t have any off road experience at all, but wanted to push herself past her comfort zone. She has participated in the rally three times, with 2015 being her fourth campaign, the only American to do so. She was on the first American Team to crack the top ten (out of 150 teams). She also won the Logica ECO Driving Challenge at the 2012 Rallye.

The Logica Eco Challenge asks Gazelle drivers to monitor their driving habits. Each night of the 8 day rally, officials gathered information from a special monitor attached to the on board diagnostics. The box measures real time carbon dioxide emissions via engine idling, hard braking and acceleration, as well as high speed.

Amy Lerner Australia

In 2013, Lerner tackled her newest driving challenge in the Outback of Western Australia, competing in the 2013 Australasian Safari Rally. She was the first woman to ever win a Dakar Challenge in the Auto Class and had an overall production class win, a Class A1.2 win. She was the fastest woman to drive the Safari that year.

Navigator Sabrina Howells is a two time Gazelle Rally participant. Last year she navigated her team to the top place among all North American teams. Another woman who enjoys adventure and pushing her boundaries, Howells had never off-roaded before she climbed in the truck in 2013.

Gazelle Rally

“I am drawn to adventures,” says Howells. “I’m drawn to anything off the beaten path because I want to always test myself and prove that I can succeed.”

Howells is an actress and singer/songwriter living in Los Angeles. She sings and plays guitar with her band, Henry Henrietta and has numerous national commercials to her credit. When not performing, Howells enjoys travel, languages, and reaching for out of the ordinary experiences.

Amy Lerner Sabrina Howells

The two women will be competing in Lerner’s 2012 Jeep Wranger Rubicon, modified by American Expedition Vehicles. The 350 package packs a punch of changes including:

  • AEV Heat Reduction Hood
  • AEV Premium Front Bumper
  • AEV Winch Mount
  • WARN winch
  • IPF 901 Off Road Lights
  • AEV Front Skid Plate
  • AEV Rear Bumper
  • AEB Tire Carrier
  • AEV Water Pump Kit
  • 5” Dual Sport RS Suspension
  • AEV ProCal
  • AEV Jack Base
  • AEV 17” Beadlock Wheels
  • FIA Spec Safety Cage
  • 5-point Safety Harnesses
  • Dynatrac ProRock 44 Front Axle
  • RCV Axel Shafts
  • Hydraulic Bump Stops
  • Limiter Straps
  • 33″ Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires
  • Dual TerraTrip Rally Computers
  • PCI Race Radios Intercom System

Amy Lerner AEV Jeep

The team will also carry Maxtrax recovery boards, a Hi-Lift jack, and a Pull Pal winch anchor.

The engine, however, is the stock 3.6 Pentastar V6 so Lerner can still run other rallies in stock production class.

With 5 years of Gazelle experience between the two of them, expect Lerner/Howells to do quite well. They are the only US team to register for the new Expert Class. The navigation will be more challenging, including extra checkpoints, longer headings, more difficult terrain, and more time spent in the dunes.

Both ladies are gunning for a top ten finish, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they won the whole thing.

We’ll be posting daily updates on TFL Car, but you can follow all the American teams and even send them messages of encouragement at www.gazellerally.com.

Check out footage from past Gazelle rallies.

And here’s a review of a stock 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with the same Pentastar V6.

emme hall tflcar

 

Emme is a driver, reviewer, rabble rouser, and Gazelle who can be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and either one of her blogs.