The Gazelles Team hit the dirt for the first time at the 2025 Santana Trophy with Purdey. Having rolled out of the workshop just two weeks before departure, Purdey faced over 5,000 km of driving, including 571 km of unforgiving off-road terrain, and she rose to the challenge.
Despite running in a largely standard setup, Purdey proved her grit across the demanding Moroccan landscape. From dunes to rocky tracks, she showed the potential we hoped for: robust, capable and mechanically sound at the core.
As with any debut, there were lessons. A missing bolt on the panhard rod, a leaky windscreen and the effects of sand on wiring and components reminded us that rallying is as much about learning as it is about finishing. Each challenge brought a solution: from reinforced fasteners to wiring upgrades and ECU remapping plans, all pushing us closer to Dakar-level readiness.
Purdey may still be in her early days, but her debut was a statement: she’s here to grow, adapt, and conquer.