Announcement: Crankshaft Culture to Pilot an INEOS Grenadier in the Upcoming 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally

Arctic testing the INEOS Grenadier in Sweden.

We’ve got big news! Andy and I are partnering with INEOS Automotive to drive their Grenadier Trialmaster 4×4 for the winter 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally! The start line is less than three months away.

The INEOS Grenedier Trialmaster

INEOS Grenadier Arctic Testing in Sweden.
INEOS Grenadier Arctic Testing in Sweden.

The Grenadier’s go-anywhere and conquer-anything attitude is an ideal match for the extreme 5,000+ mile, 10-day endurance TSD (time-speed-distance) road rally that we’ve competed in twice before. The Grenadier has completed 1.1-million miles of extreme-terrain testing, with a good bit of it in the Scandinavian Arctic and other remote conditions. Now it’s our turn to take it to the Arctic in North America in a competitive manner.

The INEOS Grenadier being tested in Austria.
INEOS Grenadier testing in Austria in 2021.

Armed with a 3.0-liter turbocharged BMW straight-six engine generating 281 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, the INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster edition will have plenty of power to navigate tough snow- and ice-covered roads of Canada and Alaska.

Mercedes Lilienthal with an INEOS Grenadier in Scotland.
Me with an INEOS Grenadier in Scotland during the vehicle’s launch.

I’ve had the privilege to drive early-stage Grenadier prototypes in France in early 2022, with a follow-up trip to Scotland to test INEOS’ production-ready Euro-spec models earlier in 2023. Now it’s Andy’s chance to get behind the wheel as the team driver with me as the navigator. We’re honored to take part in this opportunity.

The Alcan 5000 Rally

Alcan 5000 traffic jam Dempster Hwy

The Alcan 5000 is the longest and most intensive endurance competition of its kind in North America. The event pits driver and navigator against time, speed, and distance challenges. Most days will be 10–16 hours of rallying to cross the 10-day, 5,000-mile-long finish line. Several hundred miles of memories will be made each day.

The 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally, held February 21–March 1, will keep competitors quick on their toes, with those hungry enough to complete all “extreme control” optional driving challenges successfully to obtain a coveted Alcan 5000 Rally Arctic Award. Our goal is to earn our third consecutive Arctic Award by doing so.

We anticipate potential blizzards, temps plummeting to -40 and below, tons of wildlife, a bit of sleep deprivation and hunger, as well as other challenges. But we’re prepared and looking forward to competing. This will be our second winter Alcan 5000 Rally, this time with INEOS Automotive!

Follow along here, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as we prep for and compete in the Alcan 5000 Rally.

Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal will be competing in the 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally in a INEOS Grenadier.

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