Red-Lined Motorsport together with Thomas Bell Racing have confirmed a three-way partnership with UAE outfit Buggyra ZM Racing, that will see 18-year-old lady driver Aliyyah Koloc race the Dakar Rally in the top-class FIA T1+ in future.
Aliyyah has a broad racing experience including everything from outings in European championship trucks, GT4 and NASCAR races on track, to T3 side-by side success in desert racing for her tender age. She even set a truck drag racing world record at just 15 years old and has also more recently enjoyed success at been crowned T3 Champion of the FIA Middle East Cup for cross country Baja’s in her Can Am.
The Dubai based driver now moves on to race her Buggyra Can Am DV21 in January’s Dakar 2023. This will be the first step in Aliyyah realising her dream to one day race in the top T1+ Dakar class.
To that end, Aliyyah will commence her T1 journey by stepping into a T1 class Red-Lined REVO in selected races of the 2023 South African Rally-Raid Championship. Aliyyah’s experience in the most professional and competitive regional championship in the world will prepare her for the final step up to race Red-Lined Motorsport’s soon to be revealed REVO T1+ in the Dakar Rally’s premium T1+ class in the not too distant future.
“I am absolutely delighted that Buggyra Racing has partnered with manufacturer Red-Lined Motorsport and Thomas Bell Racing in my development program to the next level as I continue on my journey to the highest level in Rally-Raid racing,” Aliyyah confirmed. “I have enjoyed a great run so far in my Can Am, and our focus for now, remains on our 2023 Dakar side-by-side participation.
“But that’s just the start! “From there, we will begin our program to step up to a Red-Lined T1 REVO in the hugely competitive South African championship. “Thereafter, when the time is right, we will step up to a full FIA T1+ specification REVO+, with the objective of racing it in the Dakar Rally.”
“Red-Lined Motorsport is proud to be part of this great development initiative together with Buggyra and Thomas Bell Racing,” Red-Lined team boss Terence Marsh confirmed. “Aliyyah is a really exciting prospect with proven results at a young age. “Being a young talented lady driver of colour, her presence in a Red-Lined T1 REVO will add a fresh and unique new twist to the South African Rally-Raid championship.”
“We look forward to growing together with Aliyyah through her racing adventures,” Thomas Bell of TBR concluded. “We are confident based on her great performance over a wide variety of racing categories, that we will be able to develop her into a formidable future Dakar star.”
