Rosberg Xtreme Racing confirms Molly Taylor for inaugural Extreme E season

Extreme E, the new electric off-road racing series, today confirms that Rosberg Xtreme Racing has completed its driver line-up with the addition of Australian rallying ace Molly Taylor.

Taylor joins RXR ahead of Season 1 of Extreme E, which will see electric SUVs competing in remote environments around the world to draw attention to the increasing effects of climate change.

Taylor is an Australian Rally Champion - and the only female winner of the series to date -  with event victories to her name in national, regional and international rallying. In 2013, Taylor became the Number One International Female Rally Driver in the World Rally Rankings, before a third-place finish in the 2014 Rally Finland saw Taylor become the first female in Junior WRC to finish in a podium position.

Taylor has since been a frontrunner in the Australian Rally Championship, taking the series title in 2016 and finishing in the top three of the series standings four years out of five between 2015 and 2019. Ahead of joining RXR, Taylor was selected to join the Extreme E Drivers’ Programme, designed to promote professional drivers with a view to joining the series full time. 

A trailblazer in and out of the car, Taylor is an ambassador for FIA Girls on Track, an initiative set-up to support women entering the motorsport industry. No stranger to the extreme, Taylor also recently starred in SAS: Who Dares Wins Australia, a prime-time reality TV series that sees celebrities take on a series of physical and psychological tests set by an elite team of ex-Special Forces soldiers. 

Taylor joins RXR alongside recently-announced teammate Johan Kristoffersson. The female/male driver pairing is a feature of RXR and Extreme E's drive to promote gender equality and a level playing field amongst competitors.

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder at Extreme E, said: “I’m delighted Molly has been snapped up by Rosberg Xtreme Racing. As a member of the Extreme E Drivers’ Programme it is great to see her secure a seat for the first season.

“I’m sure Molly and recently announced teammate Johan Kristoffersson are going to be a strong paring on the track, and I’m looking forward to seeing them behind the wheel at the upcoming test.”

Molly Taylor, said: "It feels amazing to be joining Rosberg Xtreme Racing and Extreme E on this new adventure. 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."

Kimmo Liitmatainen, Team Principal of Rosberg Xtreme Racing, said: : "Molly is one of the best rally drivers in the world and we're delighted to welcome her to the team. Molly’s track record is a result of her speed and ability to develop a winning car, something that will be more important than ever in Extreme E. Her success and experience are matched by a willingness to work as a team to ensure that we make the best possible start to our new adventure."

Rosberg Xtreme Racing Founder and CEO Nico Rosberg said: "To welcome a driver of Molly's talent is extremely exciting for RXR. 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 3-4 April 2021, marking the first X Prix in a five-event schedule.

Extreme E:

Julia Fry, Head of Communications 
E: media@extreme-e.com / T: +44 7778 108754

Carla Corbet, MPA Creative:     
E: carla.corbet@mpacreative.com / T: +44 7944 077440

Diego Bustos, BE Mass Media (Latin America -including Brazil-, US Hispanics, Spain, Portugal)
E: diego.bustos@bemassmedia.com / +569-8829-9138 or +1-660-847-4645

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Extreme E:

Extreme E is a radical new racing series, which will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower carbon future for the planet.  

To minimise local impact, Extreme E races will not be open to spectators, with fans instead invited to follow the action through live TV broadcast, and on social media. 

The St. Helena, a former passenger cargo ship, has undergone a multi-million Euro refit to minimise emissions and transform her into Extreme E’s operations hub. The ship will be used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including vehicles, to the nearest port, minimising Extreme E’s footprint, as well as being used to facilitate scientific research through its on-board laboratory.

Extreme E is also pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology which will enable its race fleet to be charged using zero emission energy. This innovative solution from AFC Energy uses water and sun to generate hydrogen power. Not only will this process emit no greenhouse emissions, its only by-product will be water, which will be utilised elsewhere on-site. 

Season 1 Calendar: 

Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia
3-4 April 2021
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal 
29-30 May 2021
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 
28-29 August 2021
Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil 
23-24 October 2021
Glacier X Prix: Patagonia, Argentina  
11-12 December 2021

About Rosberg Xtreme Racing:

Rosberg Xtreme Racing is an evolution of Team Rosberg, which was founded in 1994 by 1982 F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg. The team is based in Neustadt, Germany and has successfully competed in various racing series, including Formula BMW, Formula 3 and the German Touring Masters Championship (DTM). Since its inception, Team Rosberg has claimed a total of 38 DTM victories as well as three driver and two team championship titles. Nico Rosberg will oversee the development of RXR in Extreme E as the team's Founder and CEO, while Kimmo Liimatainen takes on the role of Team Principal.

www.rosbergxtremeracing.com  

About Molly Taylor:

Born 6 May 1988, Molly Taylor grew up in a motorsport family, with Molly’s mother Coral a four-time Australian Rally Champion co-driver. However, it wasn’t until a later age, working at her father Mark’s rally school in the holidays, that Molly first drove a rally car. Following her introduction to the world of rallying, Molly went on to excel in national competition, winning the F16 class in the Australian Rally Championship twice in 2006 and 2007 before moving abroad - aged just 20-years old – to follow her dream of becoming a professional rally driver. Success in UK rallying earned Molly a place in the Pirelli Star Driver Program in 2011, securing a scholarship to compete in the World Rally Championship Academy, where she took a maiden stage win in the category. In 2013, Molly’s success in the European Rally Championship elevated her to World Rally Rankings Number 1 International Female Rally Driver, before becoming the first female to achieve a podium position in the Junior WRC’s history, finishing third in the 2014 Rally Finland. Returning to Australia in 2015, Molly finished second in the Australian Rally Championship, before going one better with Subaru in 2016. Now an established name in national and international rallying, Molly joins RXR with years of experience and success in off-road competition.

About Continental Tyres: Founding Partner and Official Tyre Partner 

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. Continental generated preliminary sales of €37.7 billion in 2020 and currently employs more than 235,000 people in 58 countries and markets. In 2021, the company celebrates its 150th anniversary.

The Tires business area has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 56,000 employees and posted preliminary sales of €10.2 billion in 2020 in this business area. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the Tires business area includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.

About CBMM: Founding Supplier
CBMM is the world leading supplier of niobium products and technology. Headquartered in Brazil, with offices and subsidiaries in China, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States. CBMM offers technical innovation to customers around the globe through a team of over 2,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals providing cutting-edge niobium products and technology to over 400 clients in around 40 countries.

About LuisaViaRoma:
Established in 1929, LuisaViaRoma has been an online luxury destination since 1999. In 2019, LuisaViaRoma celebrated the company’s 90th anniversary, as well as the 20th anniversary of its online business.