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Molly Taylor Wins Peter Brock Medal

22nd February 2016

Young Sydney rally driver Molly Taylor has won one of the most prestigious awards in Australian motorsport, the Peter Brock Medal.

Named in honour of the late touring car legend and first presented by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) in 2011, the Medal is awarded to the driver who has demonstrated similar characteristics to the late Peter Brock AM, including outstanding ability, a fair and sportsman-like attitude and a willingness and capacity to promote the sport in the wider community.

Taylor, 26, who competes locally in the Australian Rally Championship after several years as a competitor in the British, European and World rally series, joins an elite club as the 2015 recipient.

The inaugural winner was the late V8 Supercar driver, Jason Richards, followed by fellow V8 star Craig Lowndes (2012), Taylor's mentor, four-time Australian rally champion, Neal Bates (2013) and Australian and New Zealand race and rally star, Jim Richards (2014).

Speaking after the presentation at the annual CAMS Motor Sport Awards 'Night of Champions' Gala Dinner in Melbourne, Taylor described herself as extremely humbled, surprised and grateful to receive such a meaningful award.

"Peter's ability to inspire and pass on his passion for the sport to so many was incredible," Taylor said.

"I remember meeting him at Targa Tasmania many years ago when I was very young, and even then he was a hero figure, particularly in a motorsport house like ours. To win something associated with him is surreal; to be named in this group of hugely successful drivers is amazing. I have some very big shoes to fill."

Taylor is the daughter of four-time Australian Rally Champion co-driver, Coral Taylor, and former regular state and national competitor, Mark Taylor. She had her first taste of rallying while her father was running a rally school and quickly caught the 'bug'.

She left Australia in 2009 to chase her dream of a professional driving career in Britain and Europe. She competed in the British, European and World Rally Championships and during that time she was named British Ladies Champion two years in a row, won the inaugural European Rally Championship Ladies Trophy and was officially recognised as the fastest female rally driver in the world (2013).

Last year, her first year back in the Australian Rally Championship, Taylor and co-driver Bill Hayes finished runners-up in the national series points tally. Through the year, Taylor made history as the first woman to win a round of the series, and also finished on the podium at every other event.