Kelly Racing has confirmed that 30-year-old Australian Molly Taylor will race one of the team’s Subaru WRX STi cars in the inaugural TCR Australia series this year.
Taylor currently competes for the factory-backed Subaru do Motorsport team in the Australian Rally Championship, and she will make the switch to circuit racing for the coming season in one of the Top Run Motorsport-built cars.
Taylor has already sampled the car, having tested at the Cremona Circuit near Milan in Italy last year.
“This is an exciting opportunity for me and I’m extremely grateful to Kelly Racing for giving me the chance to make my circuit racing debut this year,” said Taylor, the daughter of four-time Australian Rally Champion co-driver Coral Taylor.
“Rallying has always been my passion. I grew up around it and it continues to consume me everyday, but I’m always up for a new challenge.”
Having won the 2016 CAMS Australian Rally Championship [ARC], Taylor has already tasted success in motorsport and she is keen to also prove her pace in circuit racing in TCR.
“TCR is something that I have been interested in, particularly when the Subaru WRX STI was introduced to the series.
“While I was in Europe late last year, I had the opportunity to drive one of the Subaru TCR cars and it was an awesome experience.
“I know I’ll have a lot to learn, switching my rally style to circuit racing, but having the support of the Kelly Racing team is going to be a huge advantage. The team is very experienced in touring car racing and I know they are going to get the best out of me.
“I really can’t wait to get into the WRX again for the test and to be as prepared as I can for the first round at Sydney Motorsport Park.”
Taylor will be unable to contest the final two rounds of the series due to clashing commitments with Subaru in the ARC. A substitute driver will be announced in due course.
Todd Kelly, owner of Kelly Racing, is looking forward to Taylor, who is also the CAMS delegate to the FIA Rally Commission.
“Kelly Racing is very excited to confirm that Molly will drive one of our Subarus in the TCR Australia Series,” said Kelly.
“You don’t win the Australian Rally Championship by accident. Molly is a serious motorsport talent and we are looking forward to transferring her rally speed into circuit racing speed.
“She has already tested one of the cars, so that is a huge bonus for us. It will give all of us a slight advantage as we head into our first test and the opening round in Sydney.”