Leading rally star Molly Taylor joins eco-friendly off-road series driving gender equality
Australian rally champion Molly Taylor is set to return to the revolutionary Extreme E off-road racing series after a brief hiatus.
Taylor won the inaugural competition with the team spearheaded by Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg.
Since winning with Rosberg X Racing, Taylor has competed on and off in the series, including a one-off appearance with another Formula 1 champion, Jenson Button.
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Now, Taylor will join Veloce Racing alongside series front-runner Kevin Hansen for a full campaign in 2023.
The all-electric series travels around the world to unique locations with a mission to raise awareness for climate change.
Courses are built at locations already affected by climate change, which is offset by a legacy program.
The Extreme E off-road racer that Molly Taylor will drive. Supplied
Races are held without spectators with coverage of the racing provided via broadcast and social media.
Hydrogen fuel cells which utilise solar and water create electricity for powering the race vehicles.
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Teams are also limited to how many people they can bring to an event with just seven onsite staff, including its two drivers.
In the first season, Extreme E offset its carbon footprint by investing in environmental certificates for a wind farm in Patagonia, Argentina.
Molly Taylor and her Can-Am off-road racer. Supplied
During the first season, Extreme E contributed to forest rehabilitation in Brazil, mangrove planting in Senegal, and climate change education in Greenland.
In Italy, organisers supported the recovery response to forest fires in Sardinia.
Extreme E also formed a partnership to support the endangered green turtle and critically endangered hawksbill turtle in Saudi Arabia.
The series also looks to balance gender equality, with men and women sharing driving duties in-race.
"I had an incredible year with Extreme E in 2021 and I believe wholeheartedly in what the competition represents, both with respect to its commitment to sustainability and to gender equality," said Taylor.
"Having had the benefit of a win in last year's championship, it feels amazing to know that I'm going to be back in the Extreme E paddock.
Molly Taylor won the 2016 Australian Rally Championship in a Subaru WRX STi Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
"I think we are building a very special team with the combination of Veloce's ambition and experience as well as Kevin's skill and commitment.
"We are setting our targets high and I'm looking forward to being back in the action."
Before their full tilt at the title in 2023, Taylor and Hansen will contest this year's season finale – the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix in Punta del Este.
Taylor is part of the Stan Sport commentary team for the SpeedSeries, which comes to a conclusion on November 11-13 with the Bathurst International at Mount Panorama.
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