U.S. Gazelles to Pilot HUMMER H3 in Women-Only Off-Road Rally

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Mar 12, 2010, 03:04 ET

DETROIT, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- When deciding what vehicle to use in the grueling Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, the U.S. Gazelles race team chose the vehicle best suited for off-road rallies, the HUMMER H3.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles is an intense nine-day off-road rally, traversing the rugged terrain and sand dunes of Morocco. The women-only competition runs from March 13th – March 27th. The "Gazelles", 110 teams from 30 countries, compete without GPS, cell phones or support crews, navigating only by compass and maps from the 1950s. The objective of the rally is to complete the event in the shortest number of kilometers, while still reaching each days' required checkpoints.

The U.S. Gazelles, composed of driver, Emily Miller and navigator, Wendy Fisher is the only U.S. team to compete in the Rally. Miller, a team driver for Rod Hall Racing and Baja 1000 class winner is the only woman to "Ironman" the longest off-road race in the US. Fisher is an icon in the sport of big mountain freeskiing and two-time Extreme Skiing World Champion.

"When you're skiing in the backcountry, you want to use the best possible gear to keep you safe and successfully finish the run," said Miller. "This race is no different. We wanted the best possible equipment for the race, which is why we chose the HUMMER H3."

The U.S. Gazelles will be piloting a HUMMER H3 provided and race-prepped by HUMMER France. The H3 features a race-proven inline-five cylinder engine, full-time 4wd, and a locking rear differential for difficult terrain. The race truck rides on 33-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires.

Follow the Gazelles progress on Twitter at @usgazelles or online at www.teammillerfisher.com.

SOURCE General Motors