Molly Taylor
Rally racing // Sydney, Australia
Molly's Socials:
From equestrian to engines, Molly Taylor made history as Australia’s youngest Rally Champion, conquering WRC stages and winning the Extreme E championship while inspiring women worldwide.
Molly's Sponsors:
Finland in 2014, when we got a podium in the JR WSC because that’s notoriously the most difficult rally.
CHAT & RACER CALENDAR COMING
NEWS:
GRRL! Weekly Top-10 Newsletter
SubscribeSOCIALS:
VIDEOS:
FULL BIO: Molly Taylor
Molly Taylor has blazed a trail as Australia’s first female and youngest-ever Australian Rally Champion, breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of motorsports while building an impressive international career that spans from the World Rally Championship to Extreme E and the Dakar Rally.
EARLY YEARS
Born May 6, 1988, into a motorsport family deeply rooted in rally racing, Taylor’s father Mark was a rally driver while her mother Coral Taylor achieved fame as a four-time Australian Rally Champion co-driver. Growing up in Northern New South Wales, Australia, she attended New England Girls’ School and initially pursued cross-country equestrian events at a national level before selling her horse to purchase her first rally car—joking that she swapped “one horse for 100 horsepower.” While still in school, she participated in local motorkhanas, immediately showing promise by finishing first in class and ninth outright in her debut event.
EARLY SUCCESS
Taylor’s determination took her to the United Kingdom, where she turned heads in the British Rally Championship and impressed Pirelli and World Rally Championship Academy team scouts. Her first major breakthrough came at the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout, where she stood out among sixteen top young rally drivers to earn a coveted spot in the FIA World Rally Championship Academy. In 2011, she competed in the World Rally Championship, winning a stage at Wales Rally Great Britain and claiming the Richard Burns Trophy for her season. Her rise continued in 2013 when she entered the FIA European Championship, making history as the first female to podium in the Junior World Rally Championship with a third-place finish at the notorious Rally Finland. Back in Australia, 2015 saw Molly become the first woman to win a heat in the Australian Rally Championship, followed by an outright event victory at the National Capital Rally in Canberra, ultimately finishing second in the championship and earning the prestigious Peter Brock Medal.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2011: Won a stage at Wales Rally Great Britain and claimed the Richard Burns Trophy in the World Rally Championship Academy[1].
- 2013: Became the first female to podium in the Junior World Rally Championship at Rally Finland[2].
- 2015: First woman to win a heat in the Australian Rally Championship and an outright event at the National Capital Rally[1].
- 2015: Awarded the prestigious Peter Brock Medal for excellence in Australian motorsports[1].
- 2016: Became the first female and youngest-ever winner of the Australian Rally Championship[1].
- 2021: Won the inaugural Extreme E championship season with Rosberg X Racing[1].
- 2023: Claimed victories in Extreme E rounds including the Desert X-Prix and Hydro X-Prix[3].
REPUTATION
Beyond her racing achievements, Taylor has built a formidable reputation as a trailblazer who defies stereotypes in motorsport. Her grit and determination were showcased during her appearance on the television program SAS Australia in 2020, which broadened her fanbase and highlighted her resilience beyond the racing circuit. Known for refusing to blend into the background, Molly has earned respect for thriving under intense pressure and challenging conditions. Her success isn’t wrapped in privilege—she carved her path the hard way, making history as she went and inspiring a generation of young women to pursue careers in motorsport. As the first Australian woman to compete in the grueling Dakar Rally, her versatility across rally disciplines has established her as one of the country’s most accomplished motorsport competitors.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Looking ahead to 2025, Taylor is confirmed as the first female driver for the Race of Champions, set to compete in front of her home crowd at Sydney’s Accor Stadium where she’ll showcase her skills against motorsport legends like Sebastian Vettel and Sébastien Loeb. While not currently committed to a full Extreme E season, she plans to continue expanding her off-road racing portfolio with select Extreme E events and other rally competitions. With backing from sponsors including Boost Mobile, her long-term aspirations focus on establishing herself as a versatile competitor across multiple motorsport disciplines while elevating her profile and advocating for greater female representation in racing.
References:
Molly Taylor Official Biography
Australian Rally Championship History
Extreme E Championship Records
Race of Champions 2025 Announcement
Women in Motorsport: Breaking Barriers
Have Molly updates or corrections? Please let us know – We’d love to keep this profile current.
