Aliyyah Koloc and Adam Lacko are entering a new phase of their long-standing partnership as Buggyra ZM Racing prepares for its debut in the FIA European Baja Championship. Having previously raced together in both truck and GT4 competitions, the pair now adds rally raid to the list. Few drivers move across multiple disciplines in this way, making it a rare cross-disciplinary trajectory in modern motorsport, and one that sees Aliyyah Koloc step into an unusual mentoring role.
Aliyyah and Adam have shared a cockpit environment across multiple categories over the past six years, but rally raid presents a fundamentally different challenge. Unlike circuit racing, success depends not only on speed but also on the relationship between driver and navigator, as well as the ability to read terrain and manage ever-changing conditions.
For the 41-year-old Czech racer Adam Lacko, this is a significant career development. « In both circuit and truck racing, you rely on yourself and the car, but in rally raid, you also have to build a completely new relationship with the navigator. Aliyyah already has that experience, so being able to ask questions and get honest advice is a big advantage. It’s not something many drivers get the chance to do at this stage of their career. »
With the opening round of the FIA European Baja Championship just weeks away, Buggyra ZM Racing has intensified its preparations. In early April, Aliyyah and Adam completed joint pre-season testing at Milovice circuit in the Czech Republic, putting the Red-Lined REVO T1+ car through its paces ahead of the season opener in Cuenca, Spain, on 7–9 May.
A new focus for Aliyyah Koloc
For Aliyyah Koloc, the 2026 season represents a clear shift in focus. After several years of combining GT circuit racing with off-road competition, the 21-year-old is now fully committed to rally raid. The team has opted to concentrate on the FIA European Baja format while monitoring ongoing uncertainty around T1+ regulations, treating the season as a transitional phase for its long-term car program.
The extended pre-season has allowed Aliyyah to dedicate additional time to both physical preparation and technical development, while also taking on a broader role within the team.
« Adam has huge experience, but rally raid is a completely different world, » she said. « Working with a navigator, managing the rhythm of a stage, and reading the terrain are things you only learn by doing. I’ve been through that process, so it’s natural for me to share what I can and help Adam settle in more quickly. At the same time, competing together in a third discipline shows how much we’ve grown as a team over the years. »
Growing responsibility within the team
Beyond her own competition program, Aliyyah has been quietly stepping into a broader role within the Buggyra organization. At one end of the spectrum, she is mentoring her six-year-old brother through his very first steps in karting. At the other, she is offering technical and experiential support to Adam as he navigates the shift from circuit and truck racing to the unpredictable world of rally raids.
It is an unusual position for someone still only 21, mentoring both a child learning to race and a seasoned champion learning a new discipline, reflecting a growing position within the team that bridges experience across generations and disciplines.
A new chapter for Lacko
Adam Lacko arrives at rally raids with one of the most decorated motorsport CVs in Central Europe. The 41-year-old claimed the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in 2017 and has spent over three decades competing across karts, cars, and trucks.
For 2026, Adam joins team CEO Martin Koloc and Aliyyah Koloc in what will become a three-car program by the second half of the season. For the opening rounds, he and Martin Koloc will share a non-turbo T1+ car, while Aliyyah runs the turbo-powered T1+ GTR. From the end of July, the team plans to field a third car, giving all three drivers their own machinery for the remaining events of the season.
Buggyra ZM Racing heads to Cuenca to establish itself in a new championship and to begin a new phase in a partnership that now spans three disciplines.