Aliyyah Koloc and her co-driver, Sébastien Delaunay, successfully completed the 2025 Taklimakan Rally, finishing 55th overall out of 105 starters and 28th in the highly competitive T1+ category.
-- She ran as high as 11th in Stage 5 before mechanical issues dampened her ambitions for a top overall result. Driving a Red-Lined REVO GTR for Buggyra ZM Racing, the 20-year-old driver and her French navigator, Sébastien Delauney, faced one of the most challenging rally raids on the calendar, marked by technical difficulties, extreme terrain, and unpredictable weather.
“We certainly hoped for a stronger result,” said Martin Koloc, CEO and team principal of Buggyra ZM Racing. “But the Taklimakan Rally was more difficult than we expected, probably even tougher than the Dakar in Saudi Arabia. Despite the challenges, this race gave us valuable insights for improving the car. It showed how much Aliyyah and Sébastien have grown as a team.”
A rally of challenges and breakthroughs
The rally kicked off on May 20 with a challenging Stage 1, which tested focus and endurance right from the start. “The terrain was twisty and broken, with so many danger warnings it felt like we were dancing on the edge the whole time,” said Aliyyah Koloc. “It was one of those stages where you couldn’t afford to lose focus for even a second. Unfortunately, we picked up a 10-minute penalty, which wasn’t the start we had hoped for, but we put it behind us and kept pushing.”
Stage 2 brought intense heat and towering dunes. “The car felt like an oven. We got stuck once, but we managed to get out quickly. It was all about rhythm and concentration,” Aliyyah explained.
Stage 3 began with mechanical issues. “We broke a driveshaft right at the start,” Koloc explained. “We stopped to change it and lost time, but I’m proud of how quickly we handled the repair.”
Despite water crossings and high-speed sections, the team maintained a solid pace. Stage 4 was fast and technical, with dry riverbeds and limited visibility due to a sandstorm. “It was tough,” said Sébastien Delaunay. “But we stayed calm and brought the car to the end of the stage.”
By the rest day, the team had experienced some of the rally’s worst terrains. “Our car has taken a beating, and so have we. But the team spirit has been high, and every day taught us something new,” said Aliyyah, looking back at the first four stages of the event.
Technical issues and strong recovery
Stage 5 went relatively well despite rough terrain and a brief stop to assist another competitor after an accident. But Stage 6 brought a turning point. “We started the stage with the top runners due to our earlier good results,” Aliyyah explained. “But 35 kilometers into the stage, we felt something was wrong with the car. So we stopped and tried to find the issue. We decided to continue to the next checkpoint, but before we could reach it, the turbo failed, and we had to abandon the stage.”
Despite the mechanics' immense efforts to repair the car in time for the next stage, the team ultimately had to sit out Stage 7. This, in turn, meant a start from the back for Stage 8.
“Aliyyah was doing a fantastic job overtaking car after car and was even leading Stage 8 at one point,” said Martin Koloc. “Unfortunately, a collision with another car damaged the front badly. Despite limited drivetrain capability, we were able to finish the stage, but not in the position we had hoped for.”
Stage 9 went smoothly again, with Sébastien Delaunay reporting no major issues. The roadbook was clear, so despite a tricky navigation, it was a good stage overall,” the Frenchman said.
Lessons learned and eyes on the future
For the final stages, the team decided to be cautious to avoid jeopardizing a finishing result. “At this point, we weren’t chasing a result anymore,” Martin Koloc explained. “We were focused on finishing the rally, on learning, and keeping the car running after the earlier issues.”
“The last stage was bumpy, but it felt great to cross the finish line,” Sébastien Delaunay added. “Overall, I’m happy with the rally. We had a turbo problem, but we now know how to further improve the car. I believe we can fight for a top five next year.”
Aliyyah Koloc agreed: “This was the first time we did the Taklimakan Rally, so it was a learning rally for me as a driver and for the team. The support in China was incredible, the terrain was beautiful, and the competition was very strong. I’ve learned a lot, and I want to come back stronger. Maybe next time, I’ll even learn some Chinese to be able to speak more with the other competitors!”
Martin Koloc concluded: “Our biggest takeaway is that we now have a much clearer idea of what needs to be done to improve the car. The rally also allowed us to test new oils, and the data has been very promising. We will be back next year, better prepared and aiming higher.”
After the grueling experience in China, the team now has two weeks to shift its focus to GT racing, as the next event for Buggyra ZM Racing will be the second race of the GT Cup Series at the German Lausitzring on June 15. Aliyyah Koloc will start her GT season and her role as a mentor in Buggyra Academy’s groundbreaking young driver program ‘FACE OFF’, after missing Round 1 due to racing in China.
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