Growing up, Taylor "chased quite a few rallies" alongside her father, Steve, and listening to his friends tell tales from racing at the Otago Rally had her hooked.
She has even jumped in the car as a co-driver for Thomas Paul, of Cromwell, and Daph O’Rourke, of Rangiora, at the rally through the years — but now it is her time in the driver’s seat.
Taylor, 25, has been earmarked as a rising driver packed with potential and booked her spot at the rally after winning an Otago Rally scholarship, aimed at supporting the next generation.
North Canterbury driver Harri Silcock also received a scholarship.
While there are a few nerves ahead of this weekend, Taylor cannot wait to get out on the roads herself.
"Having that scholarship has helped me immensely," she said.
"It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. It’s been a bucket-list thing for me, really, since I was little."
The Cromwell driver will race in her Subaru Impreza in the classic 4WD class.
The car was put together by her brother, Simon, who works in Australia as an auto electrician and provides plenty of support for his sister.
It will be her second official rally with the car, after she impressed at the Southern Lights Rally last year before having to retire early.
"I was coming second in class until a mechanical.
"I’ve kind of proven to myself that I’ve got the pace."
Taylor has been around motorsport since she can remember, practically growing up at the speedway watching her father race while her mother, Wendy, would be in the lap-scoring box.
When the Central Otago Motorsport Club was formed in 2011, her father and brother started doing the odd hill climb, and as soon as she was old enough at 13, Taylor joined.
Among her highlights were co-driving for various drivers at rallies and when she won the classic 4WD class at the Ben Nevis Hillclimb a couple of years ago.
"That was kind of the sticking ground for me," Taylor said.
Racing at the Otago Rally as part of her small family-owned team, Taylor Motorsport, was special and she was grateful for all the support she had received from her community.
It was one of the things she loved most about the sport, she said.
"I think along with the adrenaline, it’s kind of the camaraderie.
"It’s not every driver for their own. We’re almost like a big family.
"Everyone’s encouraging, and helping out with everyone, and it kind of draws you in."
Taylor is no stranger to being behind the wheel in her day job, either. She recently joined Fulton Hogan as a machine operator as part of a crushing crew at Parkburn Quarries and previously worked at another quarry for five years.
