Fresh from its GT4-class win at the 2023 Hankook 6H ABU DHABI, Buggyra ZM Racing will compete at all European rounds of the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook in 2023.
Words – James Gent
Images – Petr Frýba
CREVENTIC is pleased to announce that Buggyra ZM Racing has confirmed a full entry for the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook in 2023.
The UAE-based team, helmed by Martin Koloc, debuted in the 24H SERIES at last year’s Hankook 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, and made a successful return at the 2023 Hankook 6H ABU DHABI, picking up a closely-fought victory in the GT4 class in the process. With momentum on its side, Buggyra ZM Racing’s #416 Mercedes-AMG GT4 is now set to contest all European rounds on CREVENTIC’s calendar, starting with the Hankook 12H MUGELLO on 25-26 March.
The last European round of the 2023 season is scheduled to be the Hankook 24H BARCELONA on 15-16-17 September, with events to be held at Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, and Estoril in-between. The Hankook 12H KUWAIT on 6-7-8 December marks the beginning of CREVENTIC’s 2023/2024 Middle East Trophy.
Aliyyah Koloc, David Vršecký and Adam Lacko are expected to be among the principal drivers across the European season. The trio competed together in Abu Dhabi, while Aliyyah’s sister Yasmeen was on the team’s line-up in place of Vršecký at Spa-Francorchamps last year. Alongside her GT4 campaign (which includes the French GT4 Cup), Aliyyah, still only 18 years old, has previously competed on-track in GT3, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and European Truck Racing – becoming the youngest competitor ever to do so in 2020 – as well as off-road: in January, Aliyyah completed her first Dakar Rally aboard a Buggra-entered Can-Am, placing 33rd in the T3 Light Prototypes class.
Vršecký and Lacko meanwhile are both former European Truck Champions with Buggyra, Vršecký, also Buggyra’s chief designer, having taken the crown consecutively in 2008 and 2009, while Lacko took overall honours in 2017. Away from the truck stages, the latter previously enjoyed a part-campaign in the World Touring Car Championship in 2005 before moving into Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, the FIA GT Championship (briefly), and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo.
Founded as ‘Baghira’ in 1969 by Czechoslovak designer Václav Král, Buggyra ZM Racing was later purchased and re-branded in 2000 principally to compete in the European Truck Championship, taking five European Drivers’ championships since then. In 2012, the team made its Dakar Rally debut in the truck category before adding a Can-Am prototype to their entourage in 2019 en-route to T3 light prototype class victory in 2021.