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Lacko finishes fifth on rally raid debut as Koloc retirement adds to Buggyra’s Baja TT Cuenca experience

May 12, 2026

Adam Lacko, competing in his first-ever rally raid event, finished fifth in the Ultimate category alongside Italian co-driver Mirko Bruno in a Red-Lined Revo T1+. Aliyyah Koloc and Polish navigator Marcin Pasek ran as high as third in their Red-Lined Revo T1+ GTR, also in the Ultimate category, before a driving error on a slippery, muddy section in the final stage sent their car into a tree, causing a tire failure and ending their race. Lacko completes debut without major incident The Czech driver, a veteran of kart, truck, and GT circuit racing, made his off-road debut at an event that featured nearly 390 kilometers of timed stages around Cuenca in central Spain, a course characterized by fast tracks, rocky terrain, and high average speeds. Competing at Baja TT Cuenca, Lacko improved his pace progressively throughout the event and reached the finish without major incident. “For me, it was a completely new experience. Rally is something entirely different from circuit racing. You have to learn to listen to the pace notes, work with the car off-road, and think differently than on asphalt. But with every kilometer, I felt more confident. I’m happy we made it to the finish and gained valuable experience,” said Lacko. The team entered Lacko with the stated goal of building experience in long-distance rally competition. On a technical course with shorter but highly intense stages, where competitors were at maximum pace from the opening kilometers, Buggyra ZM Racing considered a top-five finish in the Ultimate category a positive outcome for a first rally raid appearance. Koloc DNF in final stage after contact with tree Aliyyah Koloc and her co-driver Marcin Pasek were competitive throughout the event and held third place in the Ultimate category heading into the final Sunday stage. Shortly after the start of that stage, Koloc lost control on a slippery, muddy section of road. The car made contact with a tree; the impact caused a tire to detach, forcing the crew to retire. “Of course, we’re disappointed not to reach the finish. On the other hand, we managed to gain valuable kilometers and more experience, which will be important for the season. European bajas have a different pace and character compared to the events we usually compete in,” said Koloc. The Cuenca result was part of Buggyra ZM Racing’s broader focus on the FIA European Baja series this season, alongside longer-format rally events. The team experienced the distinct character of European baja competition firsthand: shorter stages compared to marathon rallies, but with a high, consistent pace throughout. What’s next Aliyyah Koloc is scheduled to compete in the Taklimakan Rally in China, a two-week event crossing China’s northwestern Taklimakan Desert region, which begins on May 20. The team will continue to analyze data from Baja TT Cuenca in parallel with preparations for the Chinese event. 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

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