The Subaru do Motorsport Team reactivates this weekend for the International Rally of Queensland, which is regarded as an endurance round in the Kumho Tyre Australian Rally Championship 2016.

Some high speed stages on hard-packed clay - and the possibility of rain forecast - could make it great All-Wheel Drive weather for the Group N production class Subaru WRX STI piloted by Molly Taylor and co-driver Bill Hayes.

Molly said: “It tends to be either very grippy or, if it rains, like ice, so one extreme or the other.

“There are some super fast stages and the attrition rate can be high, so our past experience on this event is valuable.”

The duo finished third overall in Queensland in 2015, taking third on Heat One and fourth on Heat Two.

Molly is keen to build on her outright third place in the Australian Rally Drivers Championship, in front of an international audience, with 32 cars including eight from five other countries, stretching from Indian to Japan and New Zealand.  

She added: “Queensland is also an Asia-Pacific Rally Championship round, so there’s the added excitement of international drivers, crews and cars in the mix, which also makes us focus on being our best on a global stage.”

Molly reports no mechanical issues with the WRX STI going into Queensland, following a gearbox change at the National Capital Rally in Canberra just three weeks ago.

“We’re happy with the set-up and apart from some minor tweaks on testing this week, we’re good to go.

“We’re very focused on consolidating our position coming into the mid-season break.

“There’ll be nearly three months to the next round in South Australia, so it’s in our interests to really perform and set ourselves up for the final two rallies.”   

Subaru has a proud history in the Queensland event: Possum Bourne won in 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999 (equal), 2000 (equal), 2001, 2002; and Cody Crocker in 2003, 2005.

The rally action takes place on Imbil forest trails, north east of rally headquarters in Maroochydore.

In keeping with the healthy Sunshine Coast lifestyle, Subaru’s newest colour scheme on the WRX STI features a theme based on triathletes cycling, running and swimming – Subaru has been a vehicle partner of the Noosa Triathlon for several years. This year’s Noosa Triathlon Multisport Festival is on Sunday October 30.     

The colour scheme on the WRX STI is changing for each event in this year’s Championship, paying homage to key lifestyle or recreational activities held in the area where the rally is hosted.

Molly has again been busy fulfilling Ambassador duties between events, including Subaru dealer network commitments in Tasmania and assisting Kumho Tyre Australia with building awareness of the McGrath Foundation’s efforts in supporting Australian women with breast cancer.

Last week Molly also participated in the Confederation of Australian Motorsport Foundation’s drive day at Sydney Motorsport Park, providing thrilling rides on the skidpan in Subaru Australia’s historic collection BRZ prototype and BRZ motorsport cars.

Saturday’s Heat One of the International Rally of Queensland covers eight stages, the longest 27.18 kilometres and shortest 5.87 km.

Sunday’s Heat Two covers a further eight stages.

The Queensland event is Round Three of the Kumho Tyre Australian Rally Championship 2016.

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