With both hands on the steering wheel and one foot firmly on the accelerator, motorsport champion Molly Taylor is living life in the fast lane - and showing no desire to hit the brakes anytime soon.
At a remarkably young age, Molly has amassed a swag of accolades, having won the Australian Rally Championship, European Ladies Championship and Peter Brock Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in Australian motorsports.
In a sport dominated by men, Molly is proud to be defying stereotypes. She was the first female driver to achieve a podium position in the Junior World Rally Championship, finished third in the illustrious Rally Finland - the fastest event in the WRC and two years later, became the first female and atthe time, the youngest-ever driver to win the Australian Rally Championship.
There are probably easier careers she could have chosen than motorsport, which involves speeds of up to 200km/hr, splitsecond decisions and cabin temperatures of up to 60 degrees - but Molly thrives on the challenge of this high-adrenaline sport.
Indeed, her passion, fierce determination and willingness to take risks are major components of her winning formula. At the age of just 20, Molly threw in her university studies and moved to the UK to try her luck on the European rally circuit. Money was tight - she had to work on her car herself because she couldn’t afford a mechanic - but her natural talent and commitment to her dream saw her win three of the six events she contested in the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup, as well as becoming the British Ladies rally champion twice. In 2011 she was one of six drivers selected internationally for the Pirelli Star Driver World Rally Championship scholarship program.
In 2021 she won the championship of the inaugural the Extreme E Series - a five race global voyage spanning four continents and designed to highlight the impact of climate change and human activity on some of the world’s most remote locations, whilst promoting sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to protect the planet. The series also takes the lead on gender equality in motorsport seeing teams field both a male and female driver in its races.
No stranger to the camera, in 2020 her fitness and cool-head under pressure shone through on the reality TV series SAS Australia and she is a popular and experienced motorsports commentator who has appeared on both Fox Sports and the Seven network.
In 2022 she took on her greatest challenge to date, the famous Dakar rally, earning a 14th place in her debut.
Talking Points
Talent Wins a Race, Teamwork wins Championships
Motorsport is the ultimate test of teamwork and winning takes absolute trust and confidence - in yourself, in your car, in your co-driver and in your team. Your ability to work efficiently under pressure, communicate effectively and know your role is critical to success just as it is in any work environment.Talent Wins a Race, Teamwork wins Championships
Molly educates audiences on the power of each member of the team knowing their role, the impact it can create, and the risks when it doesn’t.
Under the Helmet Gender is Irrelevant
As one of Australia’s most successful rally drivers, Molly’s path to the top was not without obstacles. And whilst her sport is dominated by men, motorsport is one of the very few sports in which men and women can compete on equal terms.Under the Helmet Gender is Irrelevant
In this session, Molly shares her journey to the top, the lessons she’s learnt and how success on track is about more than just what goes on under the helmet and inside the car.
To the Limit
There are probably easier careers Molly could have chosen than motorsport, which involves speeds of up to 200km/hr., split-second decisions and cabin temperatures of up to 60 degrees - but Molly thrives on the challenge of her high- adrenaline sport. Indeed, her passion, fierce determination and willingness to take risks are major components of her winning formula. Here, Molly shares her tips for finding the edge of grip, the strategies she’s learnt to overcome fear, how we can all operate out of our comfort zone and truly push ourselves to the limit.
To the Limit
Molly was a guest speaker for our Women In Auto event, which was an event encouraging greater female participation in the Automotive industry. Molly shared her life experiences within the Au ... keep reading Westpac
