Rising Sydney rally star, Molly Taylor, will compete in the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Race from February 20-22 for Jim Hunter Motorsport, then prepare to travel to Great Britain to compete in a Suzuki Swift one make series run in conjunction with the British Rally Championship.
At Bathurst, in what will be her circuit racing debut, Taylor will drive a 2 litre Subaru RS with Heather Spurle and New Zealand single seat racer, Christina Orr.
The all-girl-team is part of a three car Jim Hunter Motorsport Subaru team, and they will run head to head in class G against team mates Matthew Windsor, Steven Shiels and Paul Newman, three Bathurst drivers in an older RS Subaru. The third Subaru is a WRX STi, and will be chasing outright victory with drivers John Bowe, Jim Hunter and Gavin Bullas.
For Taylor, the 20 year old daughter of Australian Rally champion co-driver Coral Taylor, it is a challenge she is looking forward to.
“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to compete, not only in my first ever circuit race, but a 12 Hour event at Bathurst! This will be a huge learning experience for me. I have completed one test in the car and have another this week.â€
“ I am really enjoying the tarmac; it is quite a different discipline to driving on gravel roads. I drove around Mt Panorama for the first time a few weeks ago - what an awesome track. I was surprised at the steep gradient, which really doesn’t come across on the TV. It is a very challenging circuit, but that’s what makes it all the more exciting.â€
“After the 12 Hour I am planning to head off to the UK to compete in the Suzuki Swift one make rally series, run in conjunction with the British Rally Championship, so a lot of new things are happening this year!â€
“ I am very grateful to Jim Hunter Motorsport for this opportunity,†she said.
In 2006 Taylor won the Rallye Des Femmes in Canberra by over 5 minutes, and in the same year became the NSW two wheel drive and 2 litre Rally Champion. She was also recognized by CAMS as the NSW Young Achiever of the Year.
An ARC rookie, Taylor contested the Australian Rally Championship in 2007 in a Mitsubishi Mirage competing in the F16 class, and after five of the six rounds, clinched the F16 title.
Last year, she once again won the F16 Australian title, finished 10th outright and was first 2 wheel drive in the Australian Rally Championship.
Like her two team mates in the all-girl team, she has had international experience. She recently made her international rally debut at the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire (UK) where she competed in a Suzuki Swift, impressing many with her talent as she drove a left hand drive car for the very first time!
Since she began driving competitively, Taylor has been fortunate enough to have been mentored by four-time Australian Rally Champion and TRD works driver Neal Bates, who would be handy to have in her corner in the 12 Hour Race, for he has also had extensive experience racing at Bathurst.
After her initial test drive in the Subaru, team owner and driver of the STi Subaru, Jim Hunter, was very pleased with Taylor's performance.
“Her driving skill and car speed is undoubted, however her main attribute as a race driver is her willingness to listen and learn. Her steady improvement was excellent, and her sympathy for the car was great. I have no hesitation in her driving in my team,†said Hunter.