It was the first time that the girls participated in an international rally event. Aliyyah started strong by winning the first stage while also winning the national cup in the overall standings and achieving a 2nd place finish in the T3 category of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. Yasmeen brought home a great 3rd place in the T3 category despite technical issues in the first and third stage.
Aliyyah and Yasmeen Koloc, the 17-year-old twin racers, both participated with outstanding results in last week’s Hail International Rally in Saudi Arabia.
Both sisters ended their first off-road rally experience on the podium of their T3 category. Aliyyah’s experienced 51-year-old French co-driver Xavier Panseri said: “I knew that I’d be navigating a 17-year-old girl with minimum rallying experience, so the result exceeded all my expectations. When we won the first stage, I was speechless. Aliyyah is a great listener and she took every piece of advice to the track. She never gives up and is a real fighter. She knows perfectly well when to use full throttle and when to take it easy.”
Yasmeen Koloc’s co-driver Stéphane Duplé has pretty much the same opinion: “To finish 3rd in your category on what is your first rally is excellent. It was clear that Yasmeen and her sister had practiced a lot. A good start, continuous improvements. Sometimes it was necessary to go a bit easy, but it was great overall.”
“Of course, I’m happy. I would like to thank the whole team for a fantastic job. I just drove and listened to Xavier. I kind of regret that Yasmeen and I can’t race at the Dakar this January already,” said Aliyyah Koloc after brining home her car in first place of the national cup.
Yasmeen Koloc, third-placed in her T3 category, confirmed: “I am really pleased with my result, in particular as we had some technical issues on the first and third stage. I tried to stay focused and listened to what Stéphane said and it paid off. I am already looking forward to my next off-road event to learn more and prepare for the Dakar 2023.”
After a well-deserved Christmas break, both girls will participate in some events of the Saudi National Rally Championship in early 2022, yet to be determined. when they continue to train and gain experience for the 2023 Dakar Rally. They would have preferred to already start the 2022 edition but at 17 they are not yet old enough.
