Aliyyah Koloc competes in T1+ category in South Africa’s Rally Raid Championship, Rounds 4 and 5 this weekend. Unveiling the all mighty REVO T1+ car with Team – Buggrya Racing, Aliyyah smiled with sheer delight at the massive strides the Czech-Emirati 19 year old has taken in her racing career over the past 12 months.
Why, it was only in January 2023, that Aliyyah made debut entry in The Dakar Rally T3 category, facing head-on the challenges of racing the world’s most grueling event, with best Stage finishes of P7 and P10 in Stages 4 and 12 respectively.
Switching disciplines to race 24H Series with the Team driver’s David Vrsecky and Adam Lacko, Aliyyah swung full pendulum of tasting sweet success on top of podium at Round 2 12H Spa-Francorchamps, to feel disappointment at incidents which placed the Team in P3 overall heading into Final Round of 24H Barcelona on 15 – 17 September.
Slot in first run in T1 car at South Africa’s Rally Raid Championship Sugarbelt 400 in May, and those watching track-side could begin to wonder how Aliyyah has managed such massive development of racing skills, competing from one discipline to the next. Not only that, Koloc has displayed such fine performances on terrain different in composition, from sand, dirt, mud, and circuit, along with managing the transition from racing the light-weight T3 side-by-side vehicle, to GT4 and the heavier T1 car.
Such forward momentum in the development of Aliyyah’s career has been carefully planned, specifically monitored, and most importantly evaluated every step of the way. Yes, long term objectives were to gear Aliyyah’s racing capabilities towards competing in the ultra-premier category of T1+ in Dakar 2024, but there have been many variables which have occurred along the way, that Aliyyah has overcome.
Mental tenacity has been tested when results have been unexpected and physical abilities have been challenged when racing GT4’s long stints on track, along with managing the heavy T1 car on the narrow tracks in Rally. Technical prowess has also been developed, as Aliyyah knows that racing Dakar 2024 includes no assistance in the 48H CHRONO Stage, leaving all mechanical repairs with herself and co-driver.
As Aliyyah states: I’m at the beginning of my T1+ journey, so I don’t have a lot of experience with it yet. Of course, testing the car for the first time was a great moment, but also, since I’m just at the beginning, the transition has not been easy. The South African Rally Raid Championship is really competitive and the terrain is also not what I’m used to with the narrow roads, so that part has been challenging for me, but I am very fortunate to have great people around me to guide me.”
Heading into South Africa’s Rally Raid Championship with co-driver Riaan Greyling, Aliyyah will action all skills developed over the season knowing her strength of character remains her greatest asset. Koloc adapts quickly to race situations, excels at communication through-out race, and responds to terrain changes with flow which would be more accustomed from seasoned driver’s – male and female.
Aliyyah: “For everything there are ups and downs, and going back and forth is not easy as it can become very challenging, mentally. It does get overwhelming for sure, but I think adapting quickly has been one of my strong points. Driving different cars has helped me to improve my abilities in each discipline but I still have a lot to learn and improve on and off the track.
I’m very grateful for the opportunity to drive all these race cars. I started racing pretty late, at 15 years old, so I think that driving all these different disciplines has helped me improve my racing knowledge and skill set. Overall, as a driver, it benefits me but even with all these different categories there is nothing like the Dakar Rally, and going to the Dakar in a T1+ will be the biggest step in my racing career”.
And, racing T1+ car will be a first for any female in The Dakar Rally. History in the making for sure, an experience that will elevate Aliyyah’s racing career to the pinnacle of Motorsport with her father, Martin Koloc, and Buggyra Racing Team by her side.
Header photo: Aliyyah Koloc racing T1+ category in South Africa’s Rally Raid Championship Rounds 4 and 5. Image: Buggyra Racing.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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