Rally Rest Day Offers Teams Time to Strategize
The 2025 Taklimakan Rally hit its final rest day in Makit County, Kashgar Prefecture, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the Chinese mainland, giving crews a critical pause before the desert’s decisive stages. Over 1,200 kilometers of dunes, gravel and salt flats lie ahead as competitors race against time, terrain and each other.
Martin Koloc, principle of Buggyra Racing Team and two–time European truck–racing champion, wears multiple hats: team owner, technical advisor and performance coach for his daughter, debutant driver Aliyyah Koloc. “I test every setup, analyze telemetry and fine–tune gear ratios to match Aliyyah’s style,” he explains. “With her twin as performance engineer, our pit lane feels like home—every adjustment brings us closer to peak performance.”
Data is queen in the desert. Connor Jones, engineer for Shaanxi Yunxiang Club, breaks down rider–driver synergy: “After each 300–kilometer stage, I dive into engine temperatures, suspension logs and GPS speed envelopes. Liu Yangui pushes the car to its limits—we make the car match his rhythm, whether it’s a dune crest or a rocky plateau.”
Engineering director Ian Davies of Wuhai Speedrush Club is back for year two, turning last year’s numbers into this year’s advantage. “Comparing 2024 and 2025 data in real time lets us optimize tyre pressures and suspension strokes on the fly,” says Davies. “With multiple cars sharing data links, we build the perfect baseline for every sector.”
As the rally makes its final push through wind–sculpted dunes and sun–baked flats, teamwork and tech are on full display. From family–run pits to international engineering crews, the Taklimakan Rally proves endurance racing is as much about collaboration and innovation as it is about raw speed.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
