Anita Taylor

Anita Taylor was a Yorkshire-born racer who carved out a genuine name for herself in 1960s British motorsport—not as “Trevor Taylor’s sister,” though she was that too, but as a formidable driver who won races, drove for factory teams, and showed up at Daytona and Sebring when most women weren’t even allowed in the garage.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 1936 in Yorkshire, England, Anita Taylor grew up in a family that clearly had petrol in its veins. Her brother Trevor became a Formula One driver and Jim Clark’s teammate, but Anita wasn’t content to watch from the sidelines. She started her motorsport career as a teenager in stage rallying, cutting her teeth on rough roads before transitioning to circuit racing. It was a gutsy move for a young woman in the early 1960s, but Taylor wasn’t interested in playing it safe.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Taylor’s interests outside of motorsport is not available in the research provided.

EARLY SUCCESS

Taylor’s first major result came in 1963 when she won the BMRC Trophy at Charterhall—and here’s the kicker: she was driving a Lotus Elan that had previously been raced by Jim Clark himself. The car had pedigree, sure, but Taylor had to actually pilot the thing to victory, which she did with style. It marked her arrival as a serious competitor and set the tone for what would become a seven-year racing career filled with genuine accomplishments. She primarily raced saloon cars, though her rallying background gave her an edge when conditions got sketchy.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1963: Won the BMRC Trophy at Charterhall driving Jim Clark’s former Lotus Elan in her first major appearance[1].
• 1963: Competed in the Brands Hatch 6 Hours with Anne Hall in a John Willment Automobiles Ford Anglia[2].
• 1964: Formed Aurora Racing with her brother Trevor to compete in the British Saloon Car Championship in Mini Coopers[3].
• 1964: Rallied in the Tour de France Automobile with Valérie Pirie in a Triumph Spitfire[4].
• 1965: Drove for Ford in a Broadspeed Anglia, achieving her best results[5].
• 1965: Competed in the British Saloon Car Championship for Automobile Racing Drivers School Ltd, finishing 8th in Class A[6].
• 1966: Raced for Team Broadspeed in a Ford Anglia in the British Saloon Car Championship, securing a class win at Silverstone[7].
• 1966: Competed in the Brands Hatch 6 Hours with fellow Yorkshire driver Anne Hall in a Ford Anglia[8].
• 1967: Joined the “Ring Free Oil Motor Maids” and raced in the Daytona 24 Hours with Smokey Drolet and Janet Guthrie, finishing 20th overall[9].
• 1967: Competed in the Sebring 12 Hours with Smokey Drolet in an Alpine-Renault A110, finishing 35th[10].
• 1967: Drove a Ford Cortina-Lotus with co-driver Terry Gillies in the Canadian Shell 4000 Rally before retiring[11].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Taylor’s specific inspirations is not available in the research provided.

REPUTATION

Taylor was a popular figure in British motorsport during the 1960s, respected not just for being a woman in a male-dominated field but for actually winning races and holding her own against top competitors. She was one of a small band of women racing at the highest level of the sport during that era, and she did it without fanfare or excuses. Her appearance at Daytona and Sebring in 1967 alongside Janet Guthrie and Smokey Drolet showcased her international appeal and willingness to tackle endurance racing’s toughest challenges. The British Women Racing Drivers Club later honored her legacy with the Anita Taylor Trophy, awarded for the best performance by a saloon car driver—a fitting tribute to someone who made saloon car racing look damn good.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Anita Taylor passed away in 2010. She retired from racing in 1967 after a successful seven-year career.

REFERENCES

[1] Yorkshire motorsport legends: Anita Taylor – Classic Yorkshire
[2] 1963 Brands Hatch 6 Hours – Wikipedia
[3] Yorkshire motorsport legends: Anita Taylor – Classic Yorkshire
[4] Valérie Pirie – Anita Taylor | Tour de France Automobile 1964 – EWRC Results
[5] BWRDC | Heritage – British Women Racing Drivers Club
[6] Anita Taylor | Driver Database
[7] 1966 BSCC – round 3 – History of Touring Car Racing
[8] Yorkshire motorsport legends: Anita Taylor – Classic Yorkshire
[9] Anita Taylor (Matthews) – Speedqueens
[10] Sebring 12 Hours 1967 – Photo Gallery – Racing Sports Cars
[11] Final results Canada Shell 4000 1967 – EWRC Results