Aliyyah Koloc competes in the Dakar Rally 2024 in T1+ category. In what must be described as remarkable, Aliyyah writes her name in Motorsport history as the youngest woman to race the premier class in the 46th edition of Dakar with Buggyra ZM Racing Team.
At just 19 years of age, Aliyyah has displayed an innate sense of race-craft, skills, and talent only seen in driver’s many years her senior, characteristics which have catapulted her career to new heights over a short period of time.
From discovering her competitive edge racing in the European Truck Championships, to behind the wheel in 24H Series GT4 class with fellow team-driver’s, Aliyyah has completed all transitions with calm demeanor, courage, and determination.
Such traits have provided the Czech/Emirati driver the resilience to adapt behind whichever wheel she controls, making her debut entry in the Dakar Rally T3 category in 2023. Sure, as Aliyyah explains, racing Dakar for the first time was both surreal and challenging, with all learning experiences contributing to her knowledge base to race future Rally-Raid events.
The giant leap to race Buggyra ZM Racing car – the Red Lined REVO T1+ – has taken exceptional planning, execution, and managing how best to prepare Aliyyah compete in the ultimate category of Dakar. Top of the list was competing in her first Rally-Raid in South Africa, followed by racing 2023 Dubai International Baja, rounded out by final tests prior to Dakar start in January 2024.
Aliyyah shares her thoughts: “The off-road events I did with the T1+ this year definitely helped me to improve as a racer, as did the final tests in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. The more driving you do the more beneficial it is, especially as I don’t have a lot of experience of this car. I think I need to be a bit more aggressive with it; for now I feel I’m being too gentle, but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Both events I have done so far with this car, here in Dubai and in South Africa, have definitely helped me grow as a driver, so I’m pleased about that, although we need to drive more in the desert to get more out of the car.”
With a mighty challenge ahead, completing Prologue followed by Stages 1 – 6 before Rest Day in Riyadh, then the long leg to the finish – Stages 7 -12, Aliyyah along with co-driver Sebastien Delaunay can push play, action, and aim for goals at the top of the list.
Aliyyah states: In the T1+ which is bigger, I need more strength physically. Mentally it is also a challenge, particularly going into the second week when everybody starts to get tired. But I have a great team around me. I always get useful advice from them and other more experienced drivers. In addition, I have also started to do some meditation which helps me to focus before I get into the car.”
One gets the feeling that the more Aliyyah gets to do her thing behind the wheel – be competitive, push further than anticipated, and enjoy steering this beast over Saudi’s mountain’s of sand dunes – the more boxes will be ticked. And, the biggest box over the next 16 days, will be to finish Dakar Rally 2024 racing T1+ category with her Team: Buggyra ZM Racing.
Header photo: Aliyyah Koloc with Buggrya ZM Racing Image: Team Graphics: MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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