URUMQI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- As the roar of her engine pierced the desert stillness, Aliyyah Koloc's fingers tapped a rhythm on the steering wheel. In her rearview mirror, a curtain of dust swallowed the trail she had just blazed through the sand.

It was the 2025 Taklimakan Rally - one of China's most demanding cross-country races. The 20-year-old was deep in the heart of Asia, crossing the vast Taklimakan Desert, known as the "Sea of Death", with nothing but her tires and willpower.

"This is by far the most challenging rally I've ever done," said Aliyyah. "Some dunes here are just extreme - things I've never experienced before. But the landscapes are so beautiful, I've really enjoyed it despite the difficulty."

Aliyyah's path to this barren battleground was anything but conventional.

At the age of four, she and her twin sister Yasmeen fell in love with tennis. For the next decade, they trained relentlessly, chasing the dream of becoming the next Williams sisters. But at 14, an injury abruptly ended Aliyyah's tennis dream. Just a year later, Yasmeen faced the same fate, bringing their shared pursuit to a sudden halt.

"We were devastated at first," they recalled. "We put our all into a tennis career, and it was tough to admit it was over before it really had begun."

Enter their father Martin Koloc - a former racing driver who nudged his daughters in a different direction.

"The girls are real fighters," says Martin. "I told them, 'If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'"

In 2019, Aliyyah joined her father for a racing test. Climbing into the cab of a roaring truck, the one-time tennis hopeful felt a spark she hadn't known in years.

"It just clicked," she said. "I knew this was it."

Her racing DNA awakened. Aliyyah's transition from tennis to motorsport was swift and remarkable. That same year, she drove a five-ton truck to two world speed records in the French Truck Racing Championship. Karting, NASCAR Euro Series and rally raids followed, each one building her skills and her reputation.

In 2023, she made her debut at the Dakar Rally - known as the toughest off-road race on Earth - going wheel-to-wheel against seasoned male drivers.

"Women do face extra challenges in endurance rallying," she said. "But once you're in the driver's seat, it's not about gender - it's about who you are. What I lack is experience."

That pursuit of growth brought her eastward to China.

"We're thrilled to be racing in the Taklimakan Rally," said Aliyyah. "The atmosphere is great, the fans are incredibly enthusiastic, and the diverse terrain pushes my abilities in the best way."

Born in the United Arab Emirates to a Czech father and a Seychellois mother, Aliyyah has always embraced her multicultural roots - a globally diverse upbringing that fuels her desire to connect cultures through racing.

"Xinjiang is such a unique place - the contrast between modern cities and untouched nature is fascinating," she said. "It's not about one specific thing, but the overall experience. I'm excited to explore the landscapes, the remote areas, and take it all in. It's my first time in this region, and I just want to soak up as much as I can."

Back on the course, Aliyyah recognizes that she's part of a growing wave of women breaking into rally raid's toughest stages - and she doesn't take it lightly.

"I want to see more girls in motorsport," she said. "Seeing women at Dakar or Taklimakan gives me hope. If I can inspire just one person to chase this dream, that's everything. If you can imagine it, you can do it." Enditem