Molly Taylor and co-driver Malcolm Read have confirmed they will compete in the 2019 CAMS Australian Rally Championship as part of a new look Subaru outfit.

Taylor confirmed the duo would tackle the 2019 in a brand new Orange Motorsport prepared Subaru WRX, with the manufacturer continuing its commitment to rally with a new team.

Orange Motorsport, headed up by Craig Brooks, will take on responsibility for preparing the car, meaning a move away from Les Walkden Rallying after several successful years for Taylor and Subaru.

“We can’t thank Les enough for all that we’ve achieved over the last three years and, of course, winning the Championship in our first year, in 2016, was fantastic and will forever remain a highlight of my career,” Taylor said.

“Equally, we look forward to working with Craig and his operation to challenge for the championship in a highly competitive field.

“Tasmanian-based teams have the ingredients to reach the heights, so we’ll be aiming for the stars.”

It is another positive sign for the ARC, with Toyota Gazoo Racing already committing to a two car factory team, with brothers Harry and Lewis Bates to run two Toyota Yaris AP4s.

Taylor, the 2016 ARC Champion, will be keen to return to the top of the standings after finishing fourth in this year’s Championship, but will face a tough challenge with the fast AP4 cars proving highly competitive in recent outings.

Subaru’s re-commitment to the sport ensures yet another hard-fought Championship battle, with the ARC’s first round getting underway in April.

Managing Director of Subaru Australia Colin Christie also thanked LWR’s service to the rally squad in recent years. LWR will continue its long and respected association with the sport by preparing vehicles, including Subaru WRX STIs, at its Launceston workshop.

“We’ve had a fantastic three years with LWR, spearheaded, of course, by Les Walkden, who has brought so much to the sport – and of course Subaru – over several decades,” Christie said.

“We now look forward to continued success with Craig’s team. It’s a hugely competitive landscape since the advent of lightweight high-speed AP4 and R5 rally cars in the Championship, but we figure we can give them a good run for their money this year, which will make it a gripping contest all round – great for the series and fans alike.”

The full ARC calendar can be found here.