What we do
About Buggyra Academy //
The Academy program leads their participants into different fields of motorsport. Here is an overview of current categories and participants
What we do
About Buggyra Academy //
The Academy program leads their participants into different fields of motorsport. Here is an overview of current categories and participants
The Buggyra Academy is the brainchild of Buggyra Racing CEO, Martin Koloc. As a double European truck racing champion, Martin knows all sides of the motorsport industry, behind the wheel and behind a desk, managing a team. In 2019, he decided to establish the Academy to give young and aspiring motorsport talents the opportunity to learn on the task, with experienced coaches.
Four years later, the Academy has four poles at different locations around the world: Rally Raid (off-road), Endurance Racing, Karting and Truck Racing. Buggyra’s experienced talent scouts find the best young drivers around the world to give them the opportunity to become the best in their chosen field of motorsport.
Rally Raid //
The rally raid pole prepares its trainees for the tough environment of off-road rallying with the main target of the Dakar Rally. Started in 2022, last year’s program saw a number of young drivers and co-drivers attend the 2023 Dakar Rally, both behind the scenes to learn how such a difficult rally is run, and behind the wheel.
Aliyyah Koloc, at just 18 years of age, became the youngest female driver in the history of this rally, to enter the grueling event. Tough she couldn’t start the final stage due to a technical issue, she was still classified in 33rd in her category (T3).
Members
Aliyyah Koloc
Téo Calvet
Yasmeen Koloc
Ali Syed (Dubai)
Taye Perry
Drivers coaches
Martin Koloc – CEO and driver coach
Stéphane Duplé – Technology & Navigation
David Vrsecky – Driving and telemetry coach
Rudolf Sieben – Performance Engineering
Pavel Knittel – Team management
Josef Kalina – Rally Raid Coach
Josef Machacek – Rally Raid Coach
Jan Kalivoda, Alexandra Schieren – Media & PR
Marek Pitas – Digital Media
Hugues Jaillon – Mental Coach
Syed Ali Nusrat – Mena Region Coach
Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah
Location
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah
From the T3 to the T1 category //
The rally raid pole prepares its trainees for the tough environment of off-road rallying with the main target of the Dakar Rally. Started in 2022, last year’s program saw a number of young drivers and co-drivers attend the 2023 Dakar Rally, both behind the scenes to learn how such a difficult rally is run, and behind the wheel.
Aliyyah Koloc, at just 18 years of age, became the youngest female driver in the history of this rally, to enter the grueling event. Tough she couldn’t start the final stage due to a technical issue, she was still classified in 33rd in her category (T3).
Truck Racing //
The Buggyra Academy France is the first program world-wide to offer specific training sessions for truck racing.
Established in 2020 at the Nogaro circuit in the south of the France, Buggyra Academy France offers both initial as well as advanced training sessions for active race truck drivers. The sessions, organized in partnership with the Nogaro circuit, take place over two days. All aspects of truck racing get covered.
From the theoretical basics of a 5-ton machine to the techniques of driving a racing truck, trainees are coached during their dedicated training sessions, specific to this XXL sport. Accessible from the age of 16, the Academy has already welcomed and coached many well-known drivers. From young twins Florian and Nathan Defaye who made their debut in 2019, to the more experienced José Sousa, the spectrum of the Academy is wide. The Rivals brothers and Yvan Rodrigues also completed a training session to optimize the management of their 1200 hp trucks. Raphaël Sousa, also completed a full training course which helped him to achieve his first victories in the French championship. The first non-French driver, Rio Longdon, an 18-year-old Englishman, who will quickly make a name for himself, also attended the Academy program.
Téo Calvet, a former participant of the Truck Academy, who is now also the lead driver coach for the Truck Academy, became the 2021 French Truck Champion at just 20 years of age at the time.
Raphael and Jose Sousa as well as Florian and Nathan Defaye are currently representing Buggyra Academy in the 2023 French Truck Racing Championship.
Members (former or current)
Téo Calvet
Florian and Nathan Defaye
José and Raphaël Sousa
Lucas and Romain Rivals
Yvan Rodrigues
Antoine Languillat
Rio Longdon
Kevin Bassanelli
Pierre Yves James
Dimitry Treuvey
Coaches
Téo Calvet – professional driver
Fabien Calvet – technical expert
David Vresky – driver and race car engineer
Robin Dolej – engineer
Jean-Philippe Belloc – race management
Location
Nogaro circuit, France
Program //
- Technical lessons with analysis of the truck and its functioning
- Theoretical driving lessons
- Study of the different circuit layouts
- with track analysis on-site
- Initial testing on track
- Truck driving on track
- Analysis of results, correction and implementation of new techniques
Karting //
Buggyra Academy has developed an extensive and tailored training program for karting drivers to help them navigate through the various levels of karting, the foundation of many motorsport careers.
In 2023, five promising young drivers are competing in various championships representing Buggyra Academy (which series?).
Entry is on merit only and our experienced talent scouts are continuously making sure to find the best young drivers.
Members
Filip Nedoma – Class ROK GP , TEAM OKKART
Michael Hlaváček – Class OK junior , FEBER RACING
Matyáš Puršl – Class KZ2 , SPIRIT RACING
Nicolas Lacko – Class Easykart 60 , SPIRIT RACING
Coach
Adam Lacko – driver coach
Rudolf Sieben – driver coach
Location
Dubai Autodrom
Endurance Racing //
The Endurance Racing Pole prepares young and talented drivers to get into professional endurance racing. The currently chosen series is the 24h Series with 6, 12 or 24h races around the globe.
At present, Aliyyah Koloc is competing for the first time in the full 24h series, having made her entry last year at selected races. The talented 18-year-old is already making a name for herself, having impressed with speed and consistency. Her best result was a class victory in her Mercedes GT4 at the 2023 6h of Abu Dhabi.
Aspiring endurance racers have been added to the Academy this year. It is their target to get prepared for the 24h series next year.
The program can only be entered on merit and future trainees will be selected by our experienced team of talent scouts.
Find out more about their program, the 24h Series Classroom here.
Members
Aliyyah Koloc
Marko Kazarka
Tomas Kazarka
Yasmeen Koloc
Coaches
Martin Koloc – CEO & driver coach
David Vrsecky – driver coach & telemetry
Adam Lacko – driver coach
Pavel Knittel – team management
Rudolf Sieben – Performance Engineering
Hugues Jaillon – Mental Coach
Jan Kalivoda, Alexandra Schieren – media & PR
Marek Pitas – Digital Media
Location
Prague, Czech Republic