AliyyahKoloc recordedthebest cross-countryresultof hercareer
FollowingtheirmaidenappearanceontheiconicDakarRallyinJanuary, AliyyahandFrenchnavigatorStéphaneDupléembarkedonanothernew adventureintheUnitedArabEmirates,contestingtheADDCforthevery firsttime.
Attheendofthegruellingevent, AliyyahandStéphanebroughttheir #310BuggyraZMRacingCan-Am homefifthoverallamongtheT3 runnersbutthirdinT3oftheW2RC registeredcompetitors.
"AbigthankyoutotheteamforrepairingthecaraftertheDakarRally,itisnowgoodas new."BuggyraZMRacingteamprincipal,MartinKoloc,wasequallyasimpressed:"It's thebestresultforAliyyah,fortheteam,there'snotmuchmoretosay.
Agreatjobbyalltheguys,Aliyyahand Stéphane,itwasreallyimpressive."
Prologue,Stages1&2Therallykicked
offonSunday26Februarywithashort 6kmprologueinAbuDhabi.
Despitesufferingabriefscareoverabrokendune,thepairmadeit tothefinishsettingtheninthquickesttime;theexperiencegained wasthemostimportanttakeawayfromstageone.
"It'snoteasybecauseit's onlysand.
Therewerealotofbrokendunes.
ThereweresomemomentswhereIgotalittlejump scarefromadune,Ididn'tseeanditwasreallysharp down,butwedidn'thavemajorproblems."Stagetwo wasalsoagoodoneforAliyyahandStéphanedespite aminordriveshaftissuetowardstheendofthe257k looparoundQasrAlSarab.
Stages3-5Aftertwohotdaysof action,stagethreewasdecidedly coolerintemperature,which meantafasterstageforAliyyah andStéphane.
Uponreachingthefinish,Aliyyahsatinanimpressive fifthplaceoverall,andthirdinW2RC.
Amissedwaypointforcedthepairtocirclebacksoasnottoincuraheavypenalty, whichdroppedthemaround30seconds,butAliyyahshowedsuperpacethroughout thestagedespiteabrokenbelt20kmbeforetheend,tofinishninthfastest.
"Todaywascoolerandcloudyso itwasrefreshingafterthepast twodayswhichhadbeenreally hot.
