When in less than four weeks, Aliyyah Koloc, the 20-year-old Dubai-born who drives for Buggyra ZM Racing, will start her third Dakar already.
-- She will be navigated by experienced Frenchman Sébastien Delaunay once again. In the two years they have been competing in rally raids together, Aliyyah has developed her driving skills and learned a lot about how to approach the mythical but notoriously difficult Dakar Rally. And her navigator has played an important part in that development.
Unusual is the word that probably describes Aliyyah Koloc best. When she started in motorsports, she was already 15 years old, and her first discipline was truck racing where she set two world records still valid today. She then moved into GT racing and added rally raids – at the same time! She achieved her dream of competing in the Dakar when she was just 18 years old – and finished! This year, she moved into the Ultimate class, the highest category in rally raids, finishing 25th overall.
For her third Dakar, her second one in the Ultimate class starting on January 3, 2025, , she has prepared as much as possible. “I have improved my physical fitness as I realized that I needed more neck strength because it gets stiff very quickly. I also worked on my endurance as it is quite difficult to stay focused and alert all day,” Aliyyah explains her level of preparation. “The team has made some developments on the car since the last Dakar, its driveability has improved significantly, but essentially it will be the same car as last year. I am also used to working with Sébastien by now, so the environment will be pretty familiar. It will be a good Dakar,” she says with confidence.
Rocky beginnings
Aliyyah hasn’t always been so confident about competing in rally raids. “When I started working with Sébastien, it took me some time getting used to having somebody talking to me while I drive,” Aliyyah remembers her first rally raid. “But he has a lot of experience both inside and outside of the car, so he has helped me enormously.” Since working with Sébastien for the last two years in the Middle East Rally Raid Championship, the FIA World Rally Raid Championship, and of course the Dakar, Aliyyah has learned a lot, driving her Red-Lined T1+ car. “We have built a good system together, and Sébastien tells me what I need to know, not more. I also improved my driving style, and I know how to tackle rocks better which I was a bit unsure about in the beginning,” Aliyyah explains.
The role of a navigator in rally raids
In the World Rally Championship, a co-driver can generally prepare much more than in rally raids where the roadbook is given just before the stage. A lot has to be improvised, and experience is usually what makes the difference. With Sébastien having been a co-driver for over two decades, Aliyyah is in the best of hands. “I just drive and he takes care of the rest. When we have a problem like when we had to change a tire, he deals with it. He didn’t let me help which can be frustrating sometimes but I understand he just wants me to be ready to go and concentrate on my driving,” Aliyyah explains Sébastien’s role.
Also inside the car, the 43-year-old Frenchman is an invaluable help to Aliyyah. “He tells me how much I can go faster as he knows the limits of the car. Most of the time I listen to him but he doesn’t pressure me to go faster or tells me how to drive. And sometimes when I don’t feel comfortable with my driving, I ask him,” Aliyyah says.
Still learning
Aliyyah knows she still has a lot to learn. “During the races, I tend to think too much of the risks. I’d like to be faster and calmer as I can get frustrated easily. But I have been working on my mindset over the summer when I had some time for myself.”
When asked about Aliyyah’s future in rally raids, Sébastien says: “She has real potential. She has learned a lot over the last two years, for example how to manage changes in weather conditions and their consequences on the road. She just has to be careful not to overdo it, as fatigue can be an issue. And even though she is one of the few female drivers in rally raids, she doesn’t want to play that card and just focuses on her performance.”
Rally raids probably rank high on the list of the most difficult disciplines in motorsport as they demand driving skills, a reliable car, technical knowledge, and improvising. However, for both Aliyyah and Sébastien the most important ingredient for success sounds rather simple. As Aliyyah puts it: “You are in the car together all day, so you must have a good relationship.”
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