Australian Rally star Molly Taylor will add a new string to her bow in 2021 when she competes in next year’s inaugural Extreme E series.
Confirmed to race for Rosberg Xtreme Racing in a two-car line up, Taylor will join Swedish driver Johan Kristoffersson in the series where electric SUVs will compete in remote environments.
No stranger to running in a variety of categories, Taylor first made a name for herself in the rally car having become the first female to claim a podium in Junior WRC, and then in 2016 was the first female to win the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship.
In 2019, Taylor tried her hand at circuit racing, competing for Kelly Racing in the inaugural TCR Australia Series behind the wheel of the Subaru WRX STI.
Now, Taylor will make the switch again and to experience a new discipline for the team founded by 2016 Formula 1 Champion Nico Rosberg, whose aim is to promote gender equality and the impacts of climate change.
“It feels amazing to be joining Rosberg Xtreme Racing and Extreme E on this new adventure,” Taylor said.
“I’m so excited to be able to compete on the international stage again, and to be part of a completely new team and series makes it even more special.
"Alongside fighting climate change, I'm excited to work together as a team and series to promote equality. One part of motorsport I’ve always admired is that once the helmet goes on, your gender becomes irrelevant and the stopwatch has no bias.
“There's still a lot of work to do to improve the diversity in our industry, but the work RXR and Extreme E are doing will provide new opportunities to reshape the image of our sport in the eyes of young fans, and I'm thrilled to be a part of that."
For Rosberg, having Taylor join the team was a big honour.
“To welcome a driver of Molly's talent is extremely exciting for RXR,” Rosberg said.
“Her experience and success in off-road racing speaks for itself, however Molly's determination to be proactive in addressing climate change, and support our mission to promote and implement equality are also key factors in Molly joining the team.
“In Molly and Johan, I believe we have one of the most competitive driver line-ups on the grid both inside and outside of the car, and I can’t wait to see what they can do together with the rest of the team.”
The inaugural season of Extreme E will begin in Saudi Arabia on 20-21 March 2021.