Summarize

Teenage lady racer Aliyyah Koloc continued her stellar progress in the world of international Rally Raid racing when she added yet another international finish to her impressive 100% finishing record since stepping up to race in the premium Ultimate T1+ class with Red-Lined Motorsport just nine months ago. Aliyyah and navigator Sebastien Delaunay delivered a calculated performance to finish seventh overall in her REVO T1+ in last week’s second round of the World Rally-Raid Championship, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

“Just 9 months ago, Red-Lined Motorsport made the strategic decision to partner with Aliyyah Koloc and Buggyra Racing,” team boss Terence Marsh explains. “At the time Aliyyah was just 18 years old with minimal Rally Raid experience, but it was also clear to me that she had immense talent and really just needed the right platform to showcase her skills. Fast forward to today and Aliyyah has just finished the second round of the World Rally-Raid Championship in seventh place overall, and this racing against the best crews in the world in the premium T1+ Ultimate category.”

Seychellois Kolok sprang to prominence by finishing her maiden 2023 Dakar in the T3 Challenger class. She then made her T1 debut aboard a Buggyra Red-Lined VK50 in the South African Rally Raid Championship Eston 450 in May last year, before stepping up to a Red-Lined REVO T1+ for the Parys event later in the season. From there it was onto Baja Dubai before Aliyyah’s incredible Dakar performance alongside Sebastien Delaunay where they finished 25th overall. This was then followed by 5th overall in the Hail International Rally and then last week’s impressive Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge result.

“In other words, Aliyyah has now successfully completed each tough and challenging kilometre of the more than 15,000 km she has raced, and this across various types of terrain over the 28 stages of the six consecutive international races she has participated in. Don’t forget, the 2024 Dakar was regarded as one of the toughest in recent memory. Only those in the know will appreciate just how difficult it is to produce these kinds of results at this level, which makes it an extraordinary achievement.

“There’s also far more to this story than just an exceptional young lady delivering incredible results in a strong and dependable race car. To finish every one of the 28 consecutive stages of some of the toughest races on the planet is just as huge a tribute to the respective teams at Red-Lined Motorsport and Buggyra Racing with their exceptional teamwork, dedication and attention to detail. Never mind, the ability of each and every member of the service team to deliver race ready cars, on time, every time. 

“Aliyyah’s Rally Raid racing journey to date is an incredible story. Red-Lined Motorsport is truly proud and grateful to be part of this wonderful journey. Not only is Aliyyah a really special talent, she is also a wonderful human being.”