- January 20, 2025Sports
Seven and LIV Golf announce multi-year extension
The world’s first global team golf league featuring many of the sport’s biggest stars will return live and free to the Seven Network in 2025 and beyond, as the network today announced it is retaining the rights for every round of the LIV Golf League. Fans can follow all the exciting action and rivalries of the upcoming season on 7plus Sport, beginning with LIV Golf Riyadh on 6 to 8 February and then LIV Golf Adelaide from 14 to 16 February as the tournament visits The Grange Golf Club once again. LIV Golf Adelaide 2024 saw a groundbreaking tournament unfold on Seven, with the league's first-ever team playoff between the all-Australian Ripper GC and the all-South African Stinger GC. More than 2.7 million viewers tuned in to Seven and 7plus Sport across the three days to watch the action as the home team reigned supreme for a sensational win on championship Sunday. Seven Network Director of Sport, Chris Jones said: “The LIV Golf broadcast is absolutely world-class, and we cannot wait to embark on another huge year of action on Seven and 7plus Sport. “LIV Golf continues to innovate both on and off the course, and we’ve loved working with the LIV team to take viewers behind the stories of the tournament’s biggest names and see the personalities behind the sport’s most exciting players. “At Seven, we’re genuinely excited to continue our partnership with LIV, not only for the Adelaide event that has become a landmark on the Australian sporting calendar, but for all LIV Golf events which will continue to be broadcast live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport,” he said. Seven Network Commercial Director – Sport, Renee Quirk said: “On behalf of the Seven Network, we are thrilled to announce an extension to our valued partnership with LIV Golf. “At Seven, we’re proud to have been with LIV Golf from the very beginning in Australia. It’s a competition that has undeniably put golf back on the map, showcasing the biggest names in the sport in a way that captivates audiences both on screen and on the ground. Together with LIV, we have seen strong audience results on 7plus Sport, not just for the Adelaide event, but worldwide, and we’re thrilled to continue working with them to bring this incredible experience to fans in Australia." Seven Network’s broadcast in 2025 will bring all the drama, celebrations and incredible competition to Australian fans as the sport continues to draw in new audiences and modernise golf through a team lens. Entering its third official full league season in February, the LIV Golf League features an exciting blend of individual and team competition that has supercharged the sport, redefined how golf is experienced and captivated fans worldwide. For all LIV Golf League events, fans can watch the star-studded field featuring 14 major champions with a combined 28 major wins, including 2024 LIV Golf Individual Champion, Jon Rahm (Legion XIII), Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC), Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC), Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC), and more, with Australian golfing icons Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC heading into the season as the reigning team champions. LIV Golf Senior Vice President of Broadcast Partnerships and Programming, Ron Wechsler, said: “It’s great that Australian fans will be able to get close to the LIV Golf action across the globe from the comfort of their homes for all events thanks to the Seven Network. Through 7plus Sport, fans will be able to feel the LIV Golf energy and excitement as the League takes on exciting new destinations, new players, and new heights in 2025 and beyond.” For more information on the 2025 schedule and the LIV Golf League, visit LIVGolf.com For further information, please contact: Emma Francis Senior Publicist, Sport, Seven M: 0415 721 413 E: [email protected] Sam Okely PR Manager (TGI Sport on behalf of LIV Golf Adelaide) M: 0433 595 706 E: [email protected] James Lloyd PR Executive (TGI Sport on behalf of LIV Golf Adelaide) M: 0424 789 386 E: [email protected] Maddie Barras PR Executive (TGI Sport on behalf of LIV Golf Adelaide) M: 0410 200 175 E: [email protected] About the Seven Network The Seven Network is part of Seven West Media (ASX: SWM), one of Australia’s most prominent media companies, with a market-leading presence in content production across broadcast television, publishing and digital. The Seven Network alone reaches about 17 million people a month. The company owns some of Australia’s most renowned media businesses, including the Seven Network and its affiliate channels 7two, 7mate, 7flix and 7Bravo; the digital platform 7plus; 7NEWS.com.au ; The West Australian; The Sunday Times ; PerthNow ; The Nightly ; and Streamer . The Seven Network is home to Australia’s most loved news, sport and entertainment programming, including 7NEWS, 7NEWS Spotlight, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Voice, Home and Away, Australian Idol, My Kitchen Rules, SAS Australia, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Chase Australia, Better Homes and Gardens, RFDS, The 1% Club and the TV WEEK Logie Awards . Seven Network is also the broadcast partner of the AFL, Cricket Australia and Supercars. About LIV Golf The LIV Golf League is the world’s only global golf league featuring 13 teams, a 14-tournament schedule, and many of the world’s best golfers. Launched in 2022, the League was designed to expand the sport on a global level and create new value within the golfing ecosystem while enhancing the game’s societal impact. A landmark investment by LIV Golf also launched The International Series, a set of 10 enhanced events sanctioned by the Asian Tour, with elevated prize funds in world-class destinations, offering a pathway for leading professional and amateur golfers from around the world into the LIV Golf League. Only three years into operations and with tournaments across North and Latin Americas, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe, LIV Golf remains committed to developing the sport at every level and exposing more people to the positive virtues of the game through its unique blend of intense competition and entertainment. LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission are centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.
- January 18, 2025Sports
Aliyyah Koloc was totally unlucky on the last day of the Dakar, Martin Šoltys was checked in the dunes by a helicopter
Fortunately, the car was repaired, and the fastest woman of this year's Dakar reached the finish line. Today, the Buggyra ZM Racing team driver finished 48th in the stage and 35st overall. In the elite Ultimate category, she was the only woman to complete the challenging event. Martin Šoltys, who started outside the final standings after yesterday's technical problems, had to replace the compressor during the stage. The experienced driver, competing for Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing, was classified 18th in the stage. His teammate, Karel Poslední, finished 15th today and claimed 11th place in the final truck standings. He also earned the title of best rookie in this category. The final stage of this year's Dakar proved literally brutal for Aliyyah Koloc, contrary to the 20-year-old rider's initial expectations. "I thought it would be a slightly easier day, and I thought I would enjoy the smaller dunes. But 20 kilometers before the finish, the triangle on my rear arm broke. We had to replace it, which took a really long time. Eventually, we managed to put it back together," she explained, describing the first problem. However, more issues soon arose. "When we got going, after about four or five kilometers, I felt something strange. I checked the car and saw that the wheel hub had cracked and started to smolder. So we had to replace the wheel hub as well. Plus, the rear brakes were literally fried. That's why we could only use the front brakes and had to lock the differential. Fortunately, there weren't too many big dunes in the last fifteen kilometers, so we managed to get to the finish. Sometimes we had to turn around because we didn't have power on all four wheels. I had to go around the dunes more, and I didn’t want to damage the differential. The finish was very tough, but we are finally here," Aliyyah Koloc sighed with relief. Martin Šoltys and his crew also faced mechanical challenges. "The compressor gave out—material fatigue. But we didn’t give up. When I got out of the car and saw how it was covered in oil and there was a big oil trail behind us, I felt completely helpless. Luckily, Karel Poslední gave us a compressor. We replaced it, even though we were the last car on the track. A helicopter even came to check on us, and a member of the organizing team asked if we planned to continue. But by then, we were already closing the side panels and were good to go," described Tomas Šikola, the mentally and physically exhausted on-board mechanic of the Tatra Buggyra EVO3. Dakar rookie Karel Poslední enjoyed the final day of his debut. "I’ve completed my first Dakar. I finished it, so that’s good. On the way, we helped Martin, and Alča was also on the track. Even the last sixty kilometers can be tricky. We are eleventh overall, which is great. I couldn’t have asked for more. The fact that I finished the Dakar is already a victory for me," said the Tatra Phoenix pilot. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 18, 2025Sports
Optimize Colorado Resort Trips with Ski, Snowboard, and Mountain Bike Rentals from Charter Sports
Travelers visiting Colorado resorts near Vail, Beaver Creek/Avon, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain can optimize their winter vacation with advanced equipment rentals from Charter Sports . The locally owned and operated sports supplier has longstanding relationships with some of Colorado's most well-known ski and summer resorts. In its 30 years of operation, Charter Sports has built a five-star reputation across 12 convenient locations as a reliable skis, snowboards, and mountain bikes (MTB) supplier. “We’re helping you make memories on the mountain,” Charter Sports founders said. “From beginners and first-time skiers and snowboarders to intermediate and experienced riders, we have the rental equipment you want from brands you trust.” In addition to convenience, savvy travelers can receive an additional 35% savings when they book in advance online . With the details handled for any excursions on the mountain, they can focus on the reason they came—to get out and enjoy the splendor of nature and adventure. Let the most tenured and knowledgeable team in the Vail Valley and Summit County help plan the best possible on-mountain experience. Ski rental packages from Charter Sports include skis, boots, and poles, with four different ski packages to meet skiers’ unique needs. The Demo Skis package offers access to the latest products featured in magazines and is ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers. The Performance Skis package is designed for beginner to intermediate skiers to support their continued skill development while providing an exhilarating mountain experience. Younger skiers aren’t left out of the fun. The Jr. Demo Skis and Jr. Performance Skis packages are perfect for advanced junior (12 and younger) skiers capable of tackling anything from all-mountain adventure skiing to jibbing in the park. Charter Sports also offers demo and performance snowboard rentals, snowshoes, helmets, and a wide range of MTB rentals and Vail Pass Tours. Colorado travelers have trusted Charter Sports to outfit their resort vacations and mountain adventures since 1988. The company has maintained its strong commitment to providing Colorado's best ski, snowboard, and MTB rental services since it opened its doors. “Our focus on service, quality equipment, and memorable experiences has made us the go-to shop for ski rental, snowboard rental, and bike rental needs across the Vail Valley and Summit County,” Charter Sports founders said. Visit the Charter Sports website to learn more about the available rental packages or to arrange an equipment rental. Book with the most trusted name in Colorado ski, snowboard, and mountain bike rental and save 35% by booking in advance. Call 970-684-4031 to speak directly with the customer service team. Follow Charter Sports on Facebook , Instagram, and X (Twitter) for social media updates.
- January 17, 2025Sports
Martin Šoltys lost his fourth place, but not his desire to finish the Dakar Rally. Aliyyah Koloc gave the massive dunes a hard time
He had to return from the dunes back to the start and will finish tomorrow outside the overall standings. Aliyyah Koloc finished 31st in the Elite Ultimate car category today but moved up one place to 26th overall. Karel Poslední finished 13th in the stage standings in his second Tatra Buggyra truck and is 11th overall. Martin Šoltys' fatigue and great disappointment were evident. A fatal technical failure likely deprived him of the best Dakar result of his career. The fourth-largest desert in the world placed great demands on his crew from the first kilometers. "Right at the beginning of the stage, there were high dunes. We went almost to the top, but unfortunately, we got stuck here. We dug out the Tatra, moved on, and since we didn’t have enough speed, we got stuck again. We dug twice, but we managed to get the truck out." But then came the breakdown that robbed Šoltys' crew of a promising finish. "Unfortunately, our crankshaft broke at the top of the highest dune. Well, that’s the end. We wouldn’t have been able to fix it on the spot, so we turned around and went down. That was the end of today’s stage for us. There was a time limit of six and a half hours to complete the stage, and we wouldn’t have made it even with the repair. Plus, we didn’t even have the required part with us. It would have taken us three or four hours to fix it there, but the guys in the bivouac will do it in peace," explained Martin Šoltys, who still aims to finish the full Dakar Rally. "After today, I was very disappointed and sad. The car had been working perfectly for the whole 14 days. We were determined to call it a day and not continue tomorrow. But when I arrived at the bivouac and saw the mechanics looking so sad, I reconsidered my decision. We will continue tomorrow and fight in the last 60 km stage. We’ll try to at least achieve a good stage result because we’re already out of the overall standings. On the other hand, it’s only the Dakar. Life goes on, and we’ll be back next year," added the Tatra Buggyra EVO3 driver. Aliyyah Koloc was slow to get out of the cockpit of her Red-Lined EVO3 in the bivouac. The hours spent in the challenging terrain full of dunes had taken their toll. "It was a very tough stage. I’m very tired. We drove the whole stage in the Empty Quarter desert. We had a very late start because of the morning fog, but luckily, we rode at the beginning, so we reached the finish in a reasonable time. There was a lot of camel grass in the dunes, so they were very bumpy," said the young racer. "I tried to push at the beginning, but the bumps made it too risky and dangerous. Then I calmed down a bit. We finished in one piece, and that’s the main thing. I’m happy that tomorrow is the last day of the Dakar Rally," said Aliyyah Koloc. Karel Poslední is a newcomer to the dunes, making the kilometers in such challenging terrain even more difficult for him. "The dunes in daylight are good, but not in the Empty Quarter. It was terrible from the start. Everything was rutted, we got stuck about twice. There were huge holes in the sand all over the place. If we’d fallen into one, it would have been the end. We did some of the runs three times because the sand was so hot and kept collapsing. We’re glad we managed to finish because it was probably the worst stage of the whole Dakar," said the Tatra Phoenix pilot. Tomorrow, the 47th Dakar Rally concludes with the last, relatively short stage, with both the start and finish in Shubaytah. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 16, 2025Sports
Aliyyah Koloc shines with ninth place in the Ultimate car category in the tenth stage of Rally Dakar
The Buggyra ZM Racing driver approached the desert without any undue hesitation and drove to a sensational ninth place today, her best-ever result in the elite Ultimate car category at the Dakar Rally. She is now 27th overall. Aliyyah Koloc loves the dunes, as she proved from the first kilometres today. She was tenth at the opening timed point and then moved up one position. "It was very nice today. We had a long road route this morning, so Seb handled most of it. I drove the last hundred kilometres, so I rested in the morning. Today’s dunes were smaller and not too technical. Because it's not on power, because we don't have that, we could gain a lot there," the young driver began describing the stage. "We are close to the UAE border, so it feels a bit like home," Aliyyah Koloc remarked, noting that she spends a large part of the year in Dubai. The fact that she was faster than the competition leader, Henk Lategan, Czech star Martin Prokop, and third-placed Mattias Ekström underscores what a remarkable result this is. "The timed section was only 120 kilometres long. It was smooth, and we weren’t going full throttle. I really enjoy this type of stage. I achieved my best performance, so I am satisfied. Everything went well today—it was fun," said Aliyyah Koloc with a smile. Martin Šoltys secured fourth place in the truck category in today's tenth stage of Rally Dakar. In his first encounter with the Empty Quarter, the fourth-largest desert in the world, the Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing pilot finished fourth. The other member of the team, Karel Poslední, was sixteenth today and is thirteenth overall. Martin Šoltys thanked the Buggyra mechanics for their excellent work. "It was a great stage today; we had a great ride. Thanks to the mechanics, we had the truck perfectly prepared. The truck has been working beautifully since the beginning, and we have no technical problems," he said. The 51-year-old driver then talked about today's stage. "At the beginning, there were big dunes. Then the track was kind of bumpy. After that, we faced very steep side exits where the truck was going extremely sideways. It was almost heart-stopping, but fortunately, everything went smoothly. And toward the end, there were big dunes again," said the pilot of the Tatra Buggyra EVO3. Martin Šoltys was pleased with the number of Czech flags along the track. "I admire the huge number of Czech fans here. All the Czech flags—that's amazing. It's beautiful support, and I’m grateful for that." Karel Poslední enjoyed the dunes and even helped an opponent. "The morning crossing was long and tiring. We started in the biggest heat, and the dunes were the softest. We made it through, but about halfway, we helped pull out a Spaniard who had gotten stuck. We've got the first few miles in the Empty Quarter done, so we'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm handling the dunes and keeping my own pace. Martin advised me on how to navigate the tricky sections to avoid tipping over. I feel better in the desert now," said the Tatra Phoenix driver. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 15, 2025Sports
The very fast Aliyyah Koloc was slowed down by a technical fault, Karel Poslední almost shook a photographer off a tree branch
Unfortunately, a technical problem then caused a loss, so the 20-year-old racer ended up in 47th place today. However, she moved up a spot to 27th overall. Martin Šoltys, driving in the colors of Tatra Buggyra Racing, finished fifth in the stage and continues to hold an excellent fourth place in the truck standings, battling Dutchman Kees Koolen. His teammate Karel Poslední was 14th today and overall is 13th. Aliyyah Koloc particularly enjoyed the first part of today's stage. "At the beginning, we were going very fast, which I liked. But then the problems started. We got a bit lost and ended up stuck in the dust from the buggies that had passed us," she explained. However, the biggest problem for the crew of the young racer was yet to come. "Then the drive axle caused us trouble again, so we had to replace it. Unfortunately, it took us a little longer than before, but luckily, our efforts paid off. The navigation was quite tricky today, and it was a long day. But the car is fine now, so I'm happy," said Aliyyah Koloc. Martin Šoltys continued battling his Dutch rival on the track for fourth place overall among the truck drivers. "It was very fast today. We caught up with Kees Koolen at the start, we’re fighting him for fourth place. We passed him, but then we made a small navigational mistake, and he got ahead of us again. After that, we overtook him again. At the end of the stage, there was a trial section where we caught up with the buggies in the dust and had to fight them off. We actually drove the entire 350 km at a top speed of 135 km/h, which was great," said the experienced Tatra Buggyra EVO3 driver. Karel Poslední did not lose his good mood today, either. "Today's stage was good, we just hit a branch. But there was a photographer sitting on it, so for a while, we didn’t know if we had taken him with us," recalled the Tatra Phoenix pilot with a laugh. A minor complication arose in the last kilometers. "After the neutralization zone, we got a flat tire and spent some extra time finding one checkpoint. I wanted to make up for the lost time, so I took a shortcut. Seventeen kilometers before the finish, we jumped over two small valleys, and the cardan shaft broke. Somehow, we made it to the finish, and here we are," said Karel Poslední, relieved in the bivouac. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 14, 2025Sports
Aliyyah Koloc kept up with the top in the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally, Martin Šoltys' Tatra climbed the hills like a chamois
Martin Šoltys, from Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing, finished fifth in the stage and defended his fourth place in the overall standings. His teammate, Karel Poslední, achieved best-ever finish in his Dakar debut. He finished tenth today and currently sits 14th among the truck drivers. Aliyyah Koloc crossed the finish line exhausted but pleased with the result she achieved in her Red-Lined EVO T1+ car. "It was okay. The track was very much about top speed, and we lack that without the turbo. This stage wasn't suited to us, but otherwise, we drove well. It's behind us now, and we have another stage tomorrow," said the 20-year-old driver. Martin Šoltys struggled most with the ever-present dust during today's stage. "The stage was quite tiring and long. We started from the back, so we really struggled behind the Can-Ams. We were overtaking them in the dust, one after another. The first half was nothing but dust. In the end, though, we finished fifth, so I'm satisfied," said the driver of the Tatra Buggyra EVO3 truck. "It was a long day, but it was perfect; we didn’t get out of the car the entire time," said on-board mechanic Tomáš Šikola enthusiastically. However, he did recall one particularly dramatic moment: "One climb was really dangerous. On some kind of white rocks, there was a major incline.. I was worried that we might roll over because the car slipped into a small canyon. The Tatra was doing incredible things, but it kept climbing. It's unbelievable what that truck can handle," marveled the experienced mechanic. Rookie Karel Poslední celebrated his first top-ten stage finish at the Dakar today. "Top 10, amazing! I've been waiting for this the whole time. I’m gradually improving and gaining experience. Every day, I feel more comfortable with the car, and now we're really starting to work well together," said the Tatra Phoenix driver with a smile. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 13, 2025Sports
Aliyyah Koloc drove the best stage of this Dakar Rally so far, spending a long time running in the top 10
Aliyyah Koloc, the youngest women competitor in the Ultimate category, handled the stage with confidence, maintaining a 10th place standing during the race. Her final position of 24th was affected by complications due to an error in the roadbook, which caused many drivers to lose their way. Subsequently, the organizers annulled 20 kilometers of that part of the stage, impacting the final rankings. Despite these challenges, the Red-Lined REVO T1+ car of the Buggyra ZM Racing team navigated the obstacles successfully. "Today was really tough. We started very early, but it’s nice to finish while it’s still light. I think it was a mix of everything. There were dunes, sand, rocks. At the beginning, we weren’t too confident about the tire pressure. We increased it to avoid punctures, which caused us to lose a bit of time in the sand due to higher pressure, but after that, it was mostly fast. Overall, I’m really happy with how we finished. I think it’s our best result ever," said Aliyyah Koloc. The Buggyra ZM Racing team praised her performance and fighting spirit, especially under the tough conditions of the mountainous terrain. Both Aliyyah and her co-driver, Sebastien Delaunay, demonstrated their ability to tackle the demanding challenges of the Dakar Rally. The crew moved up to 29th place in the overall standings. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 12, 2025Sports
Martin Šoltys took third place in the sixth stage. Aliyyah Koloc, after starting from the back, rode off in the dark to a top-30 position
Aliyyah Koloc, in Buggyra ZM Racing colors, finished 30th in the ultimate car category today, moving up four places to 32nd overall. Karel Poslední, driving the second truck placed thirteenth in the day's classification, and his overall Dakar position is fourteenth. Martin Šoltys admitted that the organizers had prepared a truly challenging route for the crews and their trucks. "Today was a massacre. The first half was very fast. We were flying, and there was no navigation problem. Then came a long route, followed by 220 racing kilometers. They said it would be only a few percent dunes, but it was more or less all in sand. The track was very challenging. Our truck has no issues; everything is fine," said the experienced Tatra Buggyra EVO3 driver. He especially praised his navigator, Vlastimil Miksch. "I have to praise Vlastik because he is improving a lot. We were lost a little bit just before the finish and lost about two or three minutes when we had to go back. But that was the only place where he hesitated. In the dunes, he was perfect," added Martin Šoltys. For Aliyyah Koloc to even start the stage, a challenging 36-hour logistical operation had to take place at the Buggyra bivouac, resulting in a repaired Red-Lined REVO T1+. This allowed the young pilot to return to Dakar with full vigor. "I had to be gentle with the clutch, which was especially difficult in the dunes," admitted the 20-year-old Buggyra racer. Today's stage was not easy at all. "It was crazy. It was very dusty for the first hundred kilometers. We thought we passed one car, but we passed two at once," she described. Starting from the back, she finished the stage in absolut darkness. "It was beautiful to see the sunset, but I tried to hurry to minimize the time spent in the dark. Then, when we passed other cars or motorbikes in the dunes, it was very dusty. And with the lights, you can't see anything. That's why we were slower there," Aliyyah Koloc explained. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 10, 2025Sports
Aliyyah Koloc shows fighting spirit in challenging first Dakar week
Despite having a car with less power than her competitors in the Ultimate category, she finished the challenging Chronostage48 on Monday as the fastest woman in 27th position. She is currently 36th in the overall Ultimate standings after the Marathon stage yesterday which saw her being towed to the finish line for over 200 kilometers by her teammate Karel Posledni. In her third Dakar and the second one in the highest car category, the Ultimate, Aliyyah Koloc has been battling with adversity nearly every day. Punctures, a broken window, a rear-axle fire, and a broken clutch due to which she spent all day yesterday being towed to the finish line through dust and rocks couldn’t dampen her fighting spirit. Nevertheless, the somewhat special second part of the Marathon stage yesterday tested Aliyyah and her navigator Sébastien Delaunay as well as Aliyyah’s teammate Karel Posledni in his Tatra Phoenix truck to the limit. This is how Aliyyah lived the day: “It was pretty brutal. We started far behind because of the problems we had yesterday (note: a stone punctured a cuff on the semi-axle of her car, causing it to jam and catch fire), so we caught a lot of dust. But we were catching a lot of trucks and cars in front of us. We had a pretty good pace and were in the Top 25.” But then, somewhere after kilometer 80, they started to have some car issues that they couldn’t place immediately. “We tried to fix the issue somehow and it worked for a few kilometers before the clutch went completely. We had to stop around kilometer 90 for quite a while,” Aliyyah explained. Help in the form of a truck The crew was lucky though as teammate Karel Posledni, driving a Tatra Phoenix truck, saw them and immediately towed them with his truck to neutralization. They then decided to tow Aliyyah and her navigator all the way to the finish so the crew wouldn’t get a stage penalty. “Karel towed us for over 200 kilometers. It was a really long day for both of us but I am really grateful to him as otherwise I would have been stuck there. I am glad we are at the finish line,” Aliyyah said. Martin Koloc, Buggyra’s CEO and team principal, hails Aliyyah’s resilience and strength in yesterday’s stage. "It was an incredible and heroic performance. Aliyyah showed tremendous determination to finish this difficult stage. She made it look easy while being towed, but she had to endure all the dust and flying stones." Good first week despite many car issues Overall, Aliyyah is happy with her performance of the first week. “I think we have been doing pretty well. Our pace has improved since last year. In stage 4, we were in the top 20, even top 15 at some point, that was really cool. We had a lot of issues in the first week though, but we managed well. I think I am driving cleaner, especially yesterday (during stage 4) with no punctures. It could be better but it could be worse too. I am happy. We made it through the first week and hopefully we can fix our issues before we reach the dunes next week.“ Today is a rest day for all crews which is not only needed to restore physical and mental strength but it also gives the team’s mechanics some more time to hopefully fix the car for tomorrow’s stage 6. Summary of week 1 in Aliyyah’s words Prologue, January 3 "I am very happy that the Dakar has started. We’ve been here for a few days, and we finally got on the track today. The prologue was fast, we covered a lot of kilometers at top speed. Our car is not the fastest, but I’m looking forward to the first stage tomorrow," Stage result: 29th / Overall: 29th Stage 1, January 4 "The track was very narrow in places. We didn't bump into anything, we were just brushing branches. Unfortunately, one of them damaged our window so much that we had to kick it out. But even without it I tried to keep a fast pace. Overall, not bad for the first day." Stage result: 36th / Overall: 36th Stage 2 - Chronostage 48 hours, January 5-6 “It was a very challenging two-day stage. Yesterday, we covered 600 kilometers. We had an issue with the car and stopped for half an hour but managed to reach the makeshift camp, where we worked on the car until late into the night. Today, it was very dusty throughout the whole stage. There's still a lot of work to be done on the car, but we're at the finish line, and that's the most important thing,” Stage result: 27th / Overall: 26th Stage 3, January 7 "The start was pretty rocky. We started at the back, so it was very dusty. Trucks and some cars came past us, and we got caught by a lot of buggies. Luckily, we didn't have any punctures. It was slower than yesterday, so I'm happy," Stage result: 28th / Overall: 28th Stage 4, Marathon stage, part 1, January 8 “Aliyyah had a very good stage today. She drove at the level of the top 15 for a long time. Unfortunately, she lost 37 minutes with 150 kilometers to go when a stone punctured a cuff on the semi-axle of her car, causing it to jam and catch fire. Worse than the time loss is the fact that she will have to start from the back tomorrow,” said Martin Koloc, Buggyra’s CEO and team principal. Stage result: 39th / Overall: 26th Stage 5, Marathon stage, part 2, January 9 "The clutch went ‘boom’ and it was gone. It had already been giving us trouble during the second stage. We thought it was fixed, but no—it’s completely gone now. For 200 kilometers, Karel towed us in the Tatra. It wasn’t fun as it was very dusty. As a stage without any issues I would have really enjoyed it because it was a fast stage. But we couldn’t go over 100 kilometers as otherwise I couldn’t see anything. Karel had issues before us so he was a real trooper and I would like to thank him very much! I’m totally exhausted but happy that we made it to the finish. Tomorrow is a rest day, and I want to keep racing.” Stage result: 52nd / Overall: 36th https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
- January 10, 2025Sports
A heroic feat, Aliyyah Koloc swallowed 200 kilometers of dust. Martin Šoltys already fourth overall!
Following a clutch failure in her Red-Lined REVO T1+, she was towed by teammate Karel Poslední’s Tatra Phoenix. The 20-year-old driver arrived at the bivouac with yet another quintessential Dakar story. Meanwhile, Martin Šoltys, in the Tatra Buggyra EVO3, climbed to an impressive fourth place overall after finishing fifth in today’s stage. "It was an incredible and heroic performance. Aliyyah showed tremendous determination to finish this difficult stage. She made it look easy while being towed, but she had to endure all the dust and flying stones," said team principal Martin Koloc. The Buggyra ZM Racing driver started today’s stage well. However, around the halfway mark, her car began rattling and eventually stalled. Aliyyah Koloc had no choice but to pull out a tow rope and ask for help. And who better to assist than a teammate? The savior of the fastest woman in this year’s Dakar so far was Karel Poslední. "The clutch went ‘boom’ and it was gone. It had already been giving us trouble during the second stage. We thought it was fixed, but no—it’s completely gone now. For 200 kilometers, Karel towed us in the Tatra. So thank you, Karel!" said Aliyyah Koloc with sadness in her voice. A loss of over 4 hours left her finishing 52nd in the stage and dropping to 36th in the Elite Ultimate category standings. "I’m totally exhausted but happy that we made it to the finish. Tomorrow is a rest day, and I want to keep racing," the young driver added. Karel Poslední, representing Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing, considered helping his 20-year-old teammate a natural act. "Yesterday, 100 kilometers into the stage, all our cabin shock absorbers broke off. Today, we saw Aliyyah standing on the track. We towed her—of course we did. We couldn’t drive too fast anyway, or we’d have been thrown around in the cab. So at least we could help," said the Dakar rookie, who finished 16th today and is now 13th overall. The best performance of the day came from Martin Šoltys of Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing. In yet another navigationally demanding stage, his crew briefly lost their way but maintained a steady pace to secure a spot just outside the podium positions in the Dakar truck category standings. "We couldn’t go full throttle because we couldn’t afford any more punctures after yesterday. The mood in the cab is great, although Vlastik Miksch is still sick. I still regret the loss at Chrono48—that was on me. Getting stuck in the dunes was my mistake. But I’m glad we managed to claw back an hour, and we’re still in the game," said Šoltys. After a grueling first half of the Dakar Rally, participants will have a well-deserved rest day tomorrow. However, the mechanics will spend the day maintaining the vehicles, while the crews focus on recovery. https://www.facebook.com/BUGGYRA https://twitter.com/buggyra_racing https://www.linkedin.com/company/buggyra-racing https://www.instagram.com/buggyra_racing/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buggyra
ALL NEWS
- MaxPrint Expands Services to Offer Customized Print Products for Corporate Branding
- Carrot and Daikon Banh Mi Announces Major Expansion Plans, Opening New Locations in Southern California and Las Vegas
- RxTechExam Partners with South Carolina Pharmacy Association to Advance Pharmacy Technician Education
- David Wambui Honored with a 2024 Global Recognition Award for Advancing Customer-Centric Manufacturing Through Innovation
- Nomadic UK Wins a 2024 Global Recognition Award for Excellence in Video Production and Digital Marketing
- Big Kev Announces New Singles for 2025 Following Viral Success and Industry Accolades
- Ingomu Wins Prestigious “Innovative App of the Year 2025” Award from Best Holistic Life Magazine
- New memecoin Pengu Unleashed raise $1.5M in first day of presale
- Cathay Securities Taps ViewTrade to Power Real-Time U.S. Fractional Trading Services
- SoCal Slim Empowers New Year Resolutions with Advanced Sculpting, Nutritional Support, and GLP-1 Peptide Therapies
- Lee A. Wright Launches New Platform to Inspire Personal Growth and Transform Lives
- Changes Healing Center Expands its Gilbert IOP and Accredited Gilbert Alcohol Rehab Services in 2025
- SensoriumArte: Use AR To Turn Life’s Most Precious Memories into Replayable Artwork
- Geraldo Jewelry: Timeless Creations Brought to Life
- 1642 Sodas Celebrates Success at Winter Fancy Food Show 2025
- Byrd's Pecan Delights Expands Offerings to Honor Family Legacy with Unique Pecan Creations
- Boster Biological Technology Revolutionizes Biotechnology Research with Advanced Multiplex ELISA Service
- Oracle Cards: Illuminating Paths in Modern Times
COMMUNICATE. COMMAND. COMMERCE.
Lead the conversation of your brand & win more customers with MarketersMEDIA Solutions.
Explore Now
Google
RSS