Australian rally driver Molly Taylor is pondering the
possibilities for 2015 after a strong finish in the 'grand final'
of the 2014 Junior World Rally Championship.
Despite missing two rounds of the series due to lack of funds,
Taylor and British co-driver Seb Marshall made a return to the
stages at Wales Rally GB, finishing fourth in the category. The
result left Taylor sixth in the J-WRC points standings for the
year.
Taylor, an ambassador with the 'Rexona #IWILLDO' campaign, went
into the event (November 13-16) setting herself the goal of winning
a stage, and came oh-so-close, being second fastest by just two
seconds on one competitive section. She posted third and fourth
quickest times during the event, despite being out of the car for
three months leading up to Rally GB.
"I knew it was going to be a tall order to come into the event
in this way without much prep, but I put everything into making it
happen," Taylor says.
"It took a few stages to get a good feeling with the car because
we didn't get a chance to really do any testing before the event,
and with a bit of a break out of the car [her previous event was
the WRC round in Finland, in August], we were kinda working it out
on the run.
"No matter what happened, it was always my plan to go out and
give it my best, which we did, so I can't ask for more than that.
We showed we have the pace, even if it wasn't always smooth
sailing.
"I am disappointed to not win a stage despite coming so close, but
we posted some fastest splits on other stages and in any case we
were on the money, so that's positive."
Aside from trying to meet the goals she had set herself, Taylor
says more than anything else, she just really relished the
opportunity to be back in the car and competing again.
"There is nothing I enjoy more than driving and I am so grateful
to the CAMS Foundation, Rexona and my supporters for making this
possible. When everything comes together on a competitive stage,
there is no feeling quite like it!"
Taylor is now back in Australia and already working to fund a
drive for next year.
"We're looking at every possible avenue but at the moment, after
Rally GB, I am completely broke!
"I would love to step up into a 4WD car but can't see a
realistic chance of that happening, although there are some other
options. I just need to put the funding in place. For sure there is
no way I am finished chasing my dream. I still have a lot to do in
rallying."
Taylor ran a Citroën DS3 R3T in selected rounds of
this year's J-WRC, after winning the inaugural Ladies Trophy in
last year's European Rally Championship.
The young Australian, who is officially ranked as the world's
number one female rally driver, moved to Europe in 2009 to build
her career after winning several class championships locally. In
2011, she was one of six young drivers to win a scholarship in an
international shootout between 18 drivers from around the
world.
That gave her a fully funded drive in the WRC Academy, a junior
section of the World Rally Championship. For the last two years,
she has contested selected rounds of the European Rally
Championship (ERC) and the WRC, posting several class victories
along the way and winning the ERC Ladies Trophy last year.
The 'Rexona #IWILLDO' campaign is a branded content initiative
designed to motivate and assist people in achieving their
goals.
The program is spearheaded by AFL star Adam Goodes and also
features BMX Olympian and World Cup Champion, Caroline Buchanan.
Rexona has also partnered with the Australian Institute of Sport to
deliver exclusive content to #IWILLDO participants.
The Rexona social media initiative encourages the general public
to join in by setting themself a goal and receiving motivational
tips from the
ambassadors and the AIS to achieve that aim.
Molly Taylor Motorsport
Liz Swanton │Media Liaison
www.mollytaylor.com.au
Telephone │ 02 9771 1277 │
International │+ 61 2 9771 1277
Mobile │ 0417 232 643 │
International + 61 417 232 643
Email │ lizswanton@hotkey.net.au