Aliyyah Koloc fully commits to rally raids as the team’s Dakar plans are put on hold. Buggyra ZM Racing enters the 2026 season with a clear strategic shift.
-- After several years combining GT circuit racing and off-road competition, 21-year-old Aliyyah Koloc will now focus exclusively on rally raids. At the same time, the team will take a measured approach to long-distance rally raids for their T1+ program, including the 2027 Dakar, amid regulatory uncertainty surrounding the future of this category.
Having competed for several seasons in two worlds that could hardly be more different, Aliyyah Koloc has gradually gravitated towards rally raids, a discipline that has emerged as a better reflection of her driving style, mindset, and personality.
“GT racing and rally raids have very little in common,” Aliyyah explains the reasoning behind the shift. “I really enjoyed doing both over the last couple of years, and they have made me a more accomplished driver. In GT racing, you are part of a team on and off the track, racing in the close comfort of a circuit. In rally raids, you are alone with your navigator in the desert, often hours away from your team or any help. The focus is completely different. Rally raids are a marathon, not a sprint, and over time, I realized that this is where I feel most at home.”
Focus on European Bajas and the Taklimakan Rally in China
In 2026, Aliyyah will contest the full FIA European Bajas Championship, with the exception of the Greek round. Instead, she will take part in the Taklimakan Rally in China at the end of May.
Running over ten days, the Taklimakan Rally is widely regarded as the second-most demanding long-distance rally raid after the Dakar Rally. The event represents an important sporting challenge and a valuable opportunity to gain experience in extremely tough conditions, while also strengthening Buggyra ZM Racing's presence in the Chinese market.
Aliyyah’s European Baja season will begin in Cuenca, Spain, from 7–9 May.
Buggyra pauses long-distance rally raids
Alongside Aliyyah’s sporting focus, Buggyra ZM Racing has made the decision to step away from long-distance rally raids for the time being and concentrate on the shorter European Baja format.
“This decision is driven by the complete lack of visibility for 2027,” says Martin Koloc, CEO of Buggyra ZM Racing. “The FIA has not yet published the future rally raid regulations, which are expected to differ substantially from the current ones. As a private team, we do not build our own car. Investing in a rally car purely for one season, and solely to contest long Middle Eastern events, does not make sense from either a driver development or an economic perspective.”
As a result, 2026 will be treated as a transitional year for the team’s T1+ program, allowing Buggyra ZM Racing to closely monitor regulatory developments before committing to future long-distance projects. The team’s truck program for the Dakar remains unaffected by this decision, as truck regulations remain stable.
2027 Dakar decision pending
A possible return to the Middle East Bajas towards the end of the year remains under consideration, with the decision closely linked to the new regulations and, consequently, participation in the 2027 Dakar. At present, the team’s Dakar project is on hold.
“For private teams like ours, the current situation is extremely challenging,” Martin Koloc adds. “Without clear regulations, planning becomes risky and potentially very costly. Once the FIA publishes the new framework, we will be in a position to make an informed decision.”
With a clear strategic rationale and built-in flexibility, Buggyra ZM Racing approaches the 2026 season as a year of consolidation, keeping all options open for the future, while placing Aliyyah Koloc firmly on the rally raid path she has chosen.
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