2025 Taklimakan Rally: Aliyyah Koloc reflects on grit, growth, and Xinjiang's majesty

As the 2025 Taklimakan Rally reaches its midpoint, 20-year-old driver Aliyyah Koloc of Seychelles has emerged as a symbol of resilience and sportsmanship. Competing in her debut Taklimakan Rally with the Buggyra Racing team, Koloc currently sits 11th overall after Stage 5, navigating challenges ranging from mechanical setbacks to the desert's unforgiving terrain. In an exclusive interview with Sports Scene, she opened up about her journey, inspirations, and the profound impact of racing in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.  

Despite grappling with a fuel pressure issue during Stage 5, Koloc declared the 287-kilometer desert stretch her favorite so far. "It was quite fast, and we did have some dune sections, so it was really intense — I had a lot of fun," she remarked. Her resilience shone when she paused mid-race to check on a fellow competitor who had crashed, embodying the rally's spirit of camaraderie. "I felt like stopping to check was the human thing to do. He was OK," she added.  

The young driver, who first gained fame with her Dakar Rally debut at 18, praised Xinjiang's stunning vistas and acknowledged the heartfelt support from local fans. "I've never gotten such overwhelming support anywhere else. Everyone here is so passionate about the rally — it's incredible. I'm thrilled to be in China and meet the locals," she said.  

Koloc's journey to motorsport began unexpectedly. A promising tennis player, she switched to racing at 15 after an injury, inspired by her father, Martin Koloc — a former racer. She also credited her team engineer for fine-tuning her car to withstand Taklimakan's extremes.  

With five stages remaining, Koloc aims to climb the rankings while soaking in Xinjiang's grandeur. As Buggyra Racing's youngest star, her story resonates beyond the dunes — a testament to perseverance, family legacy, and the universal language of speed.