Staff Spotlight: Matthew Johnson
August 28th, 2025
Driver. Instructor. Live co-host. This month’s Staff Spotlight Matthew Johnson has been part of the Rebelle since 2016, and he has worn just about every hat possible along the way. He has navigated the course as a media driver, once chauffeured media in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and taught future Rebelles at Rebelle U presented by Pennzoil. These days you will also find him on camera, bringing the event to life as co-host of the Rebelle Rally LIVE presented by Toyota.
Nearly a decade into his Rebelle journey, we caught up with him to talk dream vehicles, wild rally moments, unexpected on-air surprises, and the craziest places his work has taken him.
Whether he is behind the wheel, behind a microphone, or behind the visor a helmet, Matthew Johnson keeps the Rebelle spirit rolling. One thing is certain: if Matthew is around, the stories will be as good as the driving!
You’ve been part of the Rebelle Rally since 2016, wearing just about every hat possible. What keeps you coming back year after year?
The people, the adventure, and being part of something truly transformational for so many competitors. My family and I love it. There is so much to enjoy, with just enough challenges along the way to keep us on our toes.
In your early days as a Rebelle media driver, you weren’t just getting people from point A to point B, you were doing it in some pretty challenging terrain, and on at least one occasion, in a luxurious Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Any “did that just happen?” moments from those rides?
Absolutely. Those seven days piloting a magic carpet off-road were unforgettable, and I still smile thinking about it. I became great friends with Elizabeth Williams, who first connected with us through Rolls-Royce and has since become a Rebelle herself, taking on many roles. That same year, Suzi McBride, COO of Iridium, the Rebelle’s Official Safety and Communications partner, visited Glamis as a guest, and I took her and her son out in the Cullinan for a dunes adventure. And just for the record, if Emme Hall is reading this, I had zero flats compared to her five!
You’re in your 5th year co-hosting the Live Show Presented by Toyota. What do you enjoy most about bringing the rally to life for everyone following along from afar?
I am a professional driver who primarily works teaching the art of driving and sharing my passion for the little details and nuances you encounter behind the wheel that pass in a blink. Even fast types of racing can look slow on video. What Rebelles do, which is not racing obviously, can look as simple as driving slowly on a dirt road. In reality, there is a lot at play, with teams combining specific skills to take on the many challenges they face. I enjoy helping shine a light on how hard it really is and how much training they have done to get there.
Live shows never go exactly to script. What’s the most unpredictable or funniest thing that’s happened while you were on-air?
The teams like to mess with us off-camera, which is always fun. There was the time the generator ran out of gas and every piece of equipment went dead. Another time the wind was so strong it was blowing our set over, and we were quietly holding it together on-air. Last year, a team got stuck on the side of a mountain at Soggy Lake and needed recovery. We could see it all unfolding, but we stayed focused on the show while the on-ground crew handled it, knowing the team was in good hands.
We’ve heard you’ve got a TOTAL CHAOS Fabrication-equipped 4Runner. What’s the story behind building it, and why is it perfect for rally life?
My wife Chrissie Beavis, who is also a Rebelle U instructor and the Head of Scoring for the Rebelle Rally, had just done an event with Nicole Pitell-Vaughan (co-owner and Director of Operations of TOTAL CHAOS Fabrication) when she said, “Yo, you need a Toyota 4Runner and I will help you set it up.” That was all it took. It still took me nearly a year to find the right one since a V8 4WD is not easy to locate. We have built it up with custom TOTAL CHAOS front LCA, UCA, rear links, bump stops, and all the fun stuff underneath. Now I just need more time behind the wheel when Chrissie is not taking it to Rebelle U events!
Speaking of vehicles, what’s your ultimate dream car or truck?
I have driven multi-million-dollar supercars and total junkers barely holding together, and I love the journey no matter what I am in. If I have the keys, I am happy. But if I had to pick right now, I would choose an airplane. Maybe a Cessna 182 or a Maule M7.
You’re also a Rebelle U Presented by Pennzoil instructor. What’s one skill competitors underestimate, but ends up making the biggest difference on course?
Adaptation. Whether it is your line, your speed, or your approach, you have to continually adjust based on conditions or you will break something. You can “tiptoe” off-road and still move along briskly with low risk if you know how to read the terrain.
You’ve been behind the wheel, in front of the camera, and teaching in an outdoor classroom. Which role pushes you the most out of your comfort zone?
I am generally comfortable doing whatever needs to get done or wherever I am most useful. My biggest challenge is planning and being prepared because there are so many moving parts out here.
Your career has taken you all over the world, what are some standout memories?
Some of my best memories come from traveling with Top Gear. I slept in a bed in a swamp in Borneo with bugs covering the floor and shower, drove in Ethiopia where camo-clad men with AK-47s would walk out of the woods to greet us, and tackled the Annapurna mountain range in Nepal in a Renault 4 from Kathmandu to Lomanthang. And of course, there was the crazy mud in all those places.
After nearly a decade with the Rebelle, what’s the rally to you — in just three words?
Bustling. Calculating. Freeing.
Lastly, any words of wisdom for future Rebelles?
Words of wisdom for future Rebelles…. Read your rule book and know how the event works for yourself rather than relying on what someone tells you. Casual advice costs the giver nothing but may cost you. Don’t be attached to a result, If you can come do the Rebelle with good preparation and commitment to do your best you’ll get the best results and have the most fun.
