For most travelers, the island of Efate in Vanuatu conjures images of turquoise lagoons, volcanic landscapes, and a tropical paradise. But for 21-year-old racing prodigy Aliyyah Koloc and her Buggyra ZM Racing team, Efate became something entirely different, an arena of mud, rain, narrow forest trails, and high-speed lessons in endurance.
From August 21 to 24, the Vanuatu International Rally tested Aliyyah in ways no desert rally raid ever could. And while the weekend brought mechanical hurdles and an unfinished scoreboard, it offered something far more valuable, experience, growth, and a glimpse of what lies ahead for one of motorsport’s brightest young stars.
The Exotic Backdrop of a Racing Proving Ground
There is something magnetic about rally racing in a place like Vanuatu. The setting is almost surreal—lush greenery clings to the hillsides while winding roads disappear into rainforest shadows. Thunderstorms sweep in without warning, turning dusty tracks into slick ribbons of mud.
For Aliyyah, accustomed to the vast open spaces of rally raids, this was an entirely new challenge. The stages were short, technical, and relentless. Every twist demanded precision, every puddle required instinct. Add in the drama of night stages where headlights pierced the darkness and even herds of cows interrupted the track and the rally became a test of adaptability as much as speed.
“It was tough but exhilarating,” Aliyyah reflected afterward. “Each day I felt more comfortable. By Sunday, I finally had the rhythm.”
A New Partnership Behind the Wheel
In rallying, a driver is only as strong as their co-driver, and for this event Aliyyah teamed up with experienced local navigator Ysée Bedford. Meeting just days before the rally, the duo quickly bonded, creating their own roadbook for the first time.
The collaboration was not flawless, mistakes were made, as expected but the trust they built paid dividends. By the final stages, the pair were consistently ranking among the top five competitors, even securing a third-place finish in one of the closing runs.
The chemistry between Aliyyah and Ysée was proof that in motorsport, talent paired with teamwork can create results that transcend experience.
When Machines Push Back
No rally is complete without drama, and for Buggyra Racing the setback came in the form of a failed gearbox on Aliyyah’s Ford Fiesta Proto Mk8. The issue forced the team to miss several stages, extinguishing any chance of a competitive overall result.
Yet true champions are measured by how they respond, not by how they fall. The Buggyra mechanics attacked the problem with speed and precision, repairing the car in time for the night stages. Aliyyah returned to the course, undeterred, showing the resilience and grit that define her rising career.
“Mechanical problems are part of the game,” said team principal Martin Koloc. “What mattered was how Aliyyah handled it with calm professionalism and determination.”
Lessons Only a WRC Car Can Teach
The move from rally raids to a WRC-style car was never about immediate victory. It was about development. The Fiesta Proto Mk8 demanded sharper reactions, quicker decision-making, and a heightened sense of control.
For Aliyyah, these lessons were invaluable. Unlike the long endurance stretches of rally raid, the compact, twisty lanes of Vanuatu forced her to refine every movement. Each corner became a classroom, each straightaway an examination of precision and courage.
By the end of the rally, her progress was undeniable. From tentative early runs to confident top-five finishes, the weekend revealed not just improvement but potential.
A Rising Star with Racing in Her DNA
Though just 21, Aliyyah Koloc has already lived multiple lives in motorsport. She holds world speed records in truck racing, has competed in GT endurance races across Europe, and twice conquered the Dakar Rally. Her journey began almost by accident, stepping into a racing truck at just 15 after a tennis injury derailed her first athletic dream. What started as curiosity quickly grew into passion and soon into history-making achievements.
That versatility is what makes her so compelling. Few athletes move seamlessly from trucks to GT cars to rally raids and now WRC-style events. Aliyyah’s career is not only about competition but about curiosity and the willingness to grow.
The Powerhouse Behind the Driver
Supporting her at every turn is Buggyra ZM Racing, a team with over 50 years of motorsport excellence. From dominating truck racing in Europe to conquering cross-country rally raids, Buggyra is known for innovation and technical brilliance. Their technology centers in Dubai, the Czech Republic, and Spain keep them at the cutting edge, while their roster of victories and speed records places them among motorsport’s elite.
For Aliyyah, racing with Buggyra means standing on the shoulders of giants while carving her own path forward.
Eyes Toward the Future
While the Vanuatu International Rally may not have delivered a trophy, it gave the team something even more important. The Dry Creek Rally in November now sits firmly on the calendar, a chance to apply the lessons learned in Vanuatu and push further into WRC-style racing.
Martin Koloc summed it up best. “This was never just about results. It was about evolution. Aliyyah proved she can adapt, grow, and compete with the very best. That is what excites us about the future.”
A Defining Experience in Paradise
As the island of Efate returned to its tranquil rhythm, Buggyra Racing departed with more than memories of tropical terrain and storm-slick stages. They left with knowledge, resilience, and the unshakable confidence that comes only from being tested.
For Aliyyah, the rally was not just a race. It was a statement that she is willing to take risks, to embrace setbacks, and to grow stronger with every lap. For Buggyra, it was confirmation that their future rests in capable, determined hands.
In a place where paradise meets performance, Aliyyah Koloc and Buggyra Racing proved that even in moments of challenge, greatness is quietly being built.
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