In only their second participation in the event, the team enters a works T1+ car prepared by Chinese squad JJ Sport. Aliyyah Koloc lines up alongside co-driver Marcin Pasek for a grueling 13-stage, 8,000-kilometer challenge through the deserts of Xinjiang province.
-- Buggyra ZM Racing is set to contest the 2026 Taklimakan Rally, which gets underway in Ürümqi, in China's northwestern Xinjiang province, on May 16, and runs until June 1. Ranked second only to the Dakar Rally in terms of difficulty and length, the event is a major milestone in the global rally raid calendar.
For Buggyra, it marks only the team's second appearance at the Taklimakan, with 21-year-old Aliyyah Koloc once again leading the charge in the highly competitive T1+ category, this time alongside co-driver Marcin Pasek. The team enters as invited guests of Chinese racing outfit JJ Sport, who have built a dedicated T1+ car for Aliyyah to race, lending the program significant technical and logistical backing on home soil.
The entry is a natural extension of Buggyra's growing presence in China. The team has accumulated experience across various Chinese motorsport series and, for the Taklimakan Rally, can rely on its Chinese naming partner, Zero Mileage Lubricants (ZM). ZM's partner DN Suspension, also Chinese, plays an integral role in the technical setup of the car.
“Motorsport is becoming more and more popular in China,” said Buggyra team principal Martin Koloc. “We want to be part of this rally culture. Our naming partner Zero Mileage Lubricants is based in China, and the Taklimakan Rally is their highlight of the year in terms of communication. Their partner DN Suspension is also Chinese and forms an integral part of our team, making sure we have the perfect car. The invitation from JJ Sport is a tremendous opportunity, and we are very grateful to be racing one of their works cars.”
Off the back of Baja TT Cuenca
The Taklimakan Rally comes in quick succession for Aliyyah Koloc, who competed at the first round of the FIA European Baja Championship, Baja TT Cuenca in Spain, immediately before traveling to China. It is a demanding back-to-back schedule, and one that leaves little time for familiarization with new equipment. She will race in the T1+ category, the most competitive class, and will be one of a small number of international female drivers in the overall entry.
Aliyyah began testing the JJ Sport car the moment she arrived at the rally's headquarters, getting to grips with a T1+ machine she had never previously driven, and that was purpose-built for her by JJ Sport. She will also be competing alongside Marcin Pasek for the first time in the Taklimakan, having previously raced with the experienced Polish co-driver at events including the Dakar Rally.
At last year's Taklimakan, Aliyyah ran as high as 11th overall in the T1+ category before mechanical issues forced her to settle for 28th at the finish. The experience, though frustrating, proved invaluable. Improving on that result is the ambition, though in an event of this length and difficulty, consistency and reliability matter as much as outright pace.
New partnership with JJ Sport
Buggyra arrives in China better prepared than twelve months ago. The 2025 Taklimakan was a valuable learning experience, particularly in managing the logistical and communication challenges inherent to a rally held in such a remote part of the world. This year, the team is working in close partnership with JJ Sport, a Chinese-based racing team, whose crew operates alongside Buggyra's own staff, with translators in place to ensure smooth coordination throughout the event.
“It will be a tough event from a physical point of view, particularly as it comes straight off the back of the Baja TT Cuenca,” said Aliyyah Koloc. “I have never driven the JJ Sport car before arriving here, so I went straight into testing. I had to get used to it a bit. The balance of the car feels slightly different, and the steering is lighter than what I’m used to, but it’s fast. We had no issues whatsoever during testing, which is very encouraging. Last year's experience here will also help me enormously, and I know what to expect from the terrain and the sheer scale of the event. My focus will be on managing day after day, staying consistent, and keeping the car in one piece.”
An event gaining international importance
First held in 2005, the Taklimakan Rally has grown considerably in stature and scale. This year's entry list numbers around 150 competitors, which is an increase of approximately 50 percent compared to 2025, with experienced European drivers featuring prominently in the field. The route spans 13 stages and approximately 8,000 kilometers in total, of which around 4,200 kilometers will be timed. Roughly 60 percent of the terrain is desert, making it one of the most physically demanding events on the international rally raid circuit. The event was originally scheduled for 15 stages but was reduced to 13 following the withdrawal of a two-day marathon stage by the organizers.
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