While the 23-year-old Sydneysider and British co-driver Seb Marshall did not finish the event, they set some of the fastest times and were in a close battle for first in their class.
“I am really happy with what we achieved in this event,” said Taylor.
“Obviously we’re disappointed not to finish, but the idea was to drive as fast as we could, get some more miles under our belts and battle with the top guys in our class, and we did all of that.
“The conditions were very tricky – rough, slippery, definitely not easy – but it was the most fun I’ve had in conditions like that, and it was great preparation for the last Academy round in Wales next month [Rally GB, November 10-13].”
Taylor was second in class and 21st outright, when the control arm bolt broke in the final forest stage of the event and left them with no drive.
Secure your spot today.
“But we did what we wanted to do,” said Taylor.
“Our goal was to increase our pace against the other Fiesta drivers, and we were right up there. We were in second, but the gap to first was very close. However the main thing is that we were on the pace – now we have to take that speed, and the confidence we’ve gained, into Rally GB.”
The final round of this year’s World Rally Championship is also the final round of the WRC Academy, the one-make junior driver development series Taylor has been contesting all year. However, she is not prepared to leave the Scottish event as her only preparation in the lead-up to this crucial rally.
“Rally Spain is on this weekend and if all goes to plan, I want to do the reconnaissance over there for some more experience,” said Taylor.
“Then, the week before Rally GB, I have another meeting of the FIA Women & Motor Sport Commission in Paris. I’m going to go to Europe a few days before the meeting and do some more training at Vittorio Caneva’s rally school in Italy.”
Taylor spent two days with Caneva in the lead-up to the WRC round In France. He is well known in European rallying circles, having fine-tuned the skills of Kris Meeke, Guy Wilks and Xavier Pons.
