RallySport Magazine August 2016

INTERVIEW: MOLLY TAYLOR
SO FAR, SO GOOD
Story :
PETER WHITTEN
Subaru driver, Molly Taylor, has
hit the ground running this year,
impressing all with three faultless
drives in the new Subaru do Motorsport
WRX STI.
With a three-month break between
ARC rounds, Molly headed to Europe
to catch up with her partner, Hyundai
driver Kevin Abbring, and to watch his
progress in Rally Finland.
Despite the distance, Peter Whitten
asked our fastest female her thoughts
on the season so far.
RSM: Three events into the ARC this year,
how have you seen your own development as
a driver in the Group N Subaru?
Molly Taylor: This is my first season in
an AWD car and my first season as a
factory driver, so there is certainly a lot
which I am learning in a short space of
time.
I am really relishing every moment of
this opportunity, and as a driver I am
now in a different position than I have
been before, which definitely requires
some adaptation.
The team have made a strategic decision to
stay with a production car this year, meaning
your car is heavier and less powerful than
26 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2016
many of your rivals. Has this made the start
of the season more challenging?
I think rallying is challenging for
Molly and the Group N Subaru in action in
Rally of Queensland. (Photo: Pete Johnson)
everyone, but for sure running in a
different specification adds a unique
challenge for us.
However, I think so far we have had a
great start in our season and as well as
a challenge, it’s also really satisfying to
be able to prove what we can achieve in
a production car.
It’s great motivation for the whole
team and really shows how well
everyone is working together, and how
strong the NR4 STI is.
You have performed faultlessly this year,
not putting a mark on the car. How satisfying
is that, given it’s your first drive in a factory
car?
Thank you! This is a huge opportunity
for me, so of course it’s very important
to start on the right foot and prove that
I deserve the job.
It’s a new situation and a new type of
pressure, but this is what I have been
working towards for the last 10 years,
so it’s a fantastic feeling to be taking it
on.
I’m very aware it’s a long road and
PHOTO: Geoff Ridder