Agile Offroad Takes on the NORRA Mexican 1000 in the INEOS Grenadier

The NORRA Mexican 1000 is not just a race — it’s a grueling, multi-day rally through some of the harshest and most beautiful terrain Baja California has to offer. This year, Agile Offroad CEO John Brindell and co-driver Chad DeRosa brought the heat, piloting the rugged INEOS Grenadier through over 1,300 miles of desert, rocks, canyons, and coastline.

Starting Saturday, April 26 in Ensenada, the duo joined the ranks of drivers in the Safari Class, teamed up with Tim Hines and the Adrenaline HQ crew, who trekked all the way from Montrose, Colorado to get their Grenadier to the starting line.

Here’s how the week of racing unfolded:

Day 0 – Friday, April 25:

After rolling into Ensenada the day before, we kicked off the rally experience bright and early with tech inspection. After going through Tech with our Grenadier, we took some time to walk the staging area, soak up the atmosphere, and check out the incredible variety of vehicles getting ready to tackle the NORRA. From trophy trucks to purpose-built buggies, the rigs were all wildly unique — a perfect reminder of what makes this event so special.

We snapped some photos, captured content, and chatted with other racers before heading into the mandatory drivers meeting. With all the official business behind us, we wrapped up the day with a team dinner, and a few last-minute tweaks. Tomorrow, the real adventure would begin.

Day 1 – Saturday, April 26:

Ensenada → San Felipe
Race day. The crew was up before sunrise, running on adrenaline and anticipation. The streets of Ensenada were buzzing with activity as teams lined up for the official start of the NORRA Mexican 1000. After months of prep and planning, it was finally time to put the Grenadiers to the test.

At 8:00 AM, the green flag waved as John and Chad rolled across the start line and hit the course, followed by Tim and the crew. The first section was mostly pavement with a few miles of dirt. By lunch time, the Safari group rolled into the heart of Valle de Trinidad, where a quick stop at El Rancho for their famous tacos gave everyone a chance to regroup and refuel. From there, it was a push east toward San Felipe, across a mix of pavement, high-speed lakebed stretches, and classic Baja dirt.

By the end of the day, the team had logged around 220 miles. Once in San Felipe, it was time for daily race prep — cleaning air filters, checking torque, and giving the Grenadiers a thorough once-over. Everything was running smoothly, and spirits were high. It was a strong start to what promised to be an epic journey south.

Day 2 – Sunday, April 27:

San Felipe → Bahía de Los Ángeles
With one day under their belts, the crew hit the trail early, pushing south along the rugged Baja coastline. The route from San Felipe to Bahía de Los Ángeles offered no shortage of rough terrain — long sandy stretches, embedded rock sections, and that relentless Baja vibration that tests every bolt on the rig.

The only official stop for the day came in Bahía Gonzaga, where the crew fueled up and took a few minutes to look over the vehicles after the morning’s pounding. It turned out Tim had blown both of his rear shocks. With the right tools, some quick thinking, and solid mechanical know-how, they swapped the factory shocks back on and got the Grenadier rolling in no time.

With the fix done and the sun still high, the group rolled on into Bahía de Los Ángeles by late afternoon, tired but still in good shape. Another 200+ miles in the books, and the rigs — and the crew — were still holding strong.

Day 3 – Monday, April 28:

Bahía de Los Ángeles → San Ignacio
This was a long, demanding day and one of the toughest mechanically. Somewhere along the route, John and Chad ran into a bigger issue: the steering stabilizer had completely broken off its mount. Luckily, John was prepared and had a replacement on hand. They were able to make the swap trailside, getting the Grenadier back in action without losing much time. Meanwhile, Tim Hines wasn’t spared either, catching a flat that added to his growing collection of Baja battle scars. Despite the setbacks, the team pushed on and rolled into San Ignacio.

Day 4 – Tuesday, April 29:

San Ignacio → Loreto
This leg of the race brought some of the most jaw-dropping terrain of the entire rally — 70 miles of dirt road carved through what locals call the “Grand Canyon of Baja.” The drive was epic, with sweeping views and remote tracks that reminded everyone why they do this. A quick stop was needed to tighten some steering linkage, but otherwise, the day was smooth. They even made time for a pit stop at Mulege Brewing Co. for lunch before the final leg into Loreto.

Day 5 – Wednesday, April 30:

Loreto → La Paz
Day five was a big one, over 175 miles of rugged dirt trails between Loreto and La Paz. The crew was deep in the Baja groove by now. At some point along the way, they officially hit the 1,000-mile mark since leaving Ensenada — most of it on dirt. It was a milestone worth celebrating, blown away by how well the Grenadiers were holding up. Sure, the rigs were starting to show some wear — suspension components were taking a beating, and maintenance routines were growing more detailed each night — but the fact that they were still moving strong after so much abuse was a real testament to the build.

There were plenty of laughs, a few close calls, and more than a few stories shared over the radios. It was a long day, and they didn’t roll into La Paz until late, but everyone made it in one piece. The end was near — but Baja wasn’t done yet.

Day 6 – Thursday, May 1:

La Paz → Cabo San Lucas – The Finish Line
On the final day of the rally, the team made a spontaneous decision — rather than taking the direct route to Cabo San Lucas, they detoured to the East Cape for one last taste of Baja. After six days of relentless terrain, the crew parked their Grenadiers on the beach, soaking up the Sea of Cortez. It was a well-earned moment of reflection, camaraderie, and appreciation for the journey.

With spirits high, they fired up the rigs one last time and rolled into Cabo, crossing the finish line with smiles and memories that’ll last a lifetime. 1,300+ miles later, the NORRA Mexican 1000 was officially in the books — and the Grenadiers, and their crews, had proven they were built to go the distance.

Final Thoughts:

This rally was a massive test for the INEOS Grenadier — and for all the upgrades and improvements we have engineered into it. Aside from a single steering stabilizer swap, quick steering adjustments, and daily maintenance, the vehicle took every punishing mile in stride.

We’re proud to say the performance was a testament to the quality of our products, the strength of the Grenadier platform, and the dedication of a team that doesn’t quit.

Congratulations to John, Chad, Tim, and the entire crew. The NORRA Mexican 1000 may be behind us, but this journey — and the stories from it — will stick with us for a long time.

Until next year, Baja.