MOTORSPORT NEWS
Martin Koloc finishes fourth at DRY CREEK RALLY in first-ever WRC car drive
Stepping in for his daughter, the usual team driver Aliyyah Koloc, Buggyra ZM Racing CEO and team principal Martin Koloc made a surprise entry into the driver ' s seat at the Dry Creek Rally in Vanuatu last weekend. Remarkably, despite this being his inaugural experience in a WRC car and facing technical challenges, Martin Koloc managed to secure fourth place in the final round of the 2025 Vanuatu Championship.
The last-minute driver change was part of the team ' s intensive pre- Dakar preparation strategy, with Aliyyah opting to focus on physical training during the family ' s extended training camp in Vanuatu.
Learning over results
" It was a surprise to swap seats with Aliyyah," Martin Koloc said. " We came here for almost a month to do a training camp with Aliyyah, and a few days before the rally, she decided to focus on her physical training. If she were racing, she wouldn ' t be in the shape required for the Dakar."
Martin Koloc took on the two-day event in his Ford Fiesta Proto Mk8 alongside local 17-year-old navigator Noah Dinh. The rally proved to be a steep learning curve, with Martin Koloc facing fierce competition from experienced Pacific drivers who knew every corner by heart.
" I have never driven a WRC car. It is completely different from rally raids," he explained. " I would never have believed how physically demanding it was, especially the second racing day, where we had four long stages out of seven. Driving a WRC car requires hyper-intensity."
Despite the challenges, Martin Koloc ' s performance improved steadily throughout the event. " I got faster with each stage, competing with the top guys at the end of the rally. I am very happy with my performance and learning rate."
Technical challenges overcome in family effort
The Dry Creek Rally tested both the driver and the entire https:// www. buggyra. com / ZM Racing team. Martin Koloc faced significant technical issues that cost valuable time but also provided the team with important operational experience.
" We finished two stages on a flat tire and had to drive very slowly to the finish. Then we suffered a broken shaft on the last stage. Still, I was quite competitive, finishing fourth. I ' m very happy with that," Martin Koloc reflected.
The event showcased the family nature of Buggyra ZM Racing ' s operations, with team members taking on multiple roles as needed. Martin Koloc ' s nephew, serving as the CEO of Buggyra Academy, joined the team ' s logistics manager to handle mechanical duties during the rally.
" It is a family affair through and through," Martin Koloc noted. " They did an awesome job despite the issues we had. This was the first time we ' ve fully operated and serviced our own WRC team. It was challenging but executed well from all aspects."
WORDS IN ACTION 36 NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025