The Resilience of Extreme H Drivers - Roll to Podium Within a Week

What does it take to get back in a racing car after a big crash, and what lessons can we all learn?

London, UK, 28 May 2026: Australian racing driver Molly Taylor knows what it takes to be a winner. She is the reigning FIA Extreme H World Cup champion, multiple Extreme E champion, and remains the only female to have won the Australian Rally Championship.

But crashes are a reality of motorsports and happen to even the most successful drivers, and Molly experienced a race-ending rollover in the final round of Extreme E in October 2025, prior to the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup event.

Molly walked away from the crash and was back racing the very next day. In the following week, she and her teammate Kevin Hansen went on to win the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup representing local outfit Jameel Motorsport. Extreme H sat down with the fearless racer to ask what it took to return after such a serious incident.

That incident looked terrifying from the outside, rolling four times before finally stopping on the roof. What did it feel like inside?

Pretty violent! When the car was rolling, I was just wondering when it was going to stop.

How soon after the accident were you able to get back into the race car?

The next morning. That was the earliest opportunity, after I’d been cleared medically and my car was back in action. I think it’s important to get back in action as soon as possible.

Even when you’re physically ready, what does it take mentally to get back in a race car?

I work through three stages. 

First, I try to understand what I can control in the moment and focus just on these inputs. This is a psychological technique that acts as an anchor in difficult situations. It gives me a tangible process to work through.

Second, momentum is key. I know the sooner I can get back into the car, the better. For sure, there’s a bit more apprehension on that first lap, but if I’ve done the work to understand what happened and learn from it, I can concentrate just on the next action. That’s all that matters in that moment. 

Third, having the right people around me is crucial. People who believe in and support each other and have each other’s back. The confidence that builds is very powerful. Once you’re strapped in, you need to have the confidence to go for it.

That’s a good point. Getting in the car after an incident is one thing - racing at 100% is another. How do you get back to that place?

Competitive adrenaline helps! But performing at your peak is always about living in the moment. As a racing driver, I need to feel the grip and feel it change, every second of every lap. If my mindset leaves that window, my performance is compromised.

That’s true every time I’m on track, from shakedown and testing to qualifying and racing. And it’s no different the first lap back after a big crash. I concentrate on the small moments and the job I’m doing in each, and those add up to getting back my groove.

You said that having the right support is important. How did that show up after this incident?

Everywhere: the safety and medical professionals on site, the people who accompanied me all the way to the hospital and back, the team working to get back out on track, and the outpouring of support on social media from fans. I was surrounded by positivity.

This is what makes motorsport so special. When you win, it’s the work and passion and belief of a whole group of people that makes it possible. And when something goes wrong, you’re never alone either.

Those of us who aren’t racing drivers will probably never experience this sort of incident. But are there lessons we can learn?

As racing drivers, we know the game we play, and we know there will be rough and smooth. The same is true of almost anything in life, from work to family life to hobbies.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is: do you understand your “why”? In other words, what do you want to achieve? What’s the reason for putting in all this effort? If you can define that, you’ll be able to find a way forward even when things are mentally uncomfortable.

Next, I can’t stress how unbelievably important it is to have the right people around you. You’ll be much better prepared when something goes awry, and they’ll help you build back sooner.

Finally, never let momentum get away from you. Own it. Focus on your next step, the one you can control, and then the next one. Before you know it, you’ll be back on top and winning again.

I’m just about to start a brand-new adventure in life: a baby! My first child is due this summer (or winter for us down under). I know it will be a completely new challenge, wonderful and daunting – and I know the lessons I’ve learned on my journey so far can only help.