"It wasn’t an easy decision, and I’m disappointed to miss the Jordan Baja. The crash was a big impact, and I had to go to the hospital for precautionary checks. The doctors advised me to take it easy for a couple of weeks. I want to be at my full strength, mentally and physically, before returning to competition, and I don’t feel that’s the case yet. But I’ll keep on training to be ready for the next race,“ Aliyyah Koloc said.
To help Aliyyah regain full confidence behind the wheel of her Red-Lined REVO T1+ car, Buggyra ZM Racing will conduct an extensive test in early April in the Abu Dhabi desert, where the accident took place.
“This was Aliyyah’s first really big accident, and while she didn’t suffer any major injuries, she doesn’t feel ready for the challenging Jordan Baja yet. It is always a difficult decision for a team to withdraw from a race, but Aliyyah’s well-being comes first, and I fully support her choice. To help her be fully ready for the next event, we have decided to test for a few days in the Abu Dhabi desert. The whole team will be there, and we’ll also use this opportunity to strengthen team coordination which is an essential aspect of rally raid racing, where anything can happen,” explained Martin Koloc, CEO and team principal of Buggyra ZM Racing.
Aliyyah is scheduled to participate in the grueling Taklimakan Rally from May 20 to June 1. The event will start in Aksu, in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region near the Mongolian border, covering approximately 4,500 kilometers, including 10 special stages spanning about 2,350 kilometers.