Beyond Rally is the WRC’s umbrella platform for sustainability initiatives that contribute to shaping the future of motorsport and materialise its positive impact on society. In 2024, the WRC launched the Women’s Development Programme within Beyond Rally. It saw nearly 100 drivers applying for the ultimate opportunity of a fully supported drive in the FIA Junior WRC. American driver Madelyn Tabor is one of the drivers among the 15 shortlisted driver to compete in the shootout. Recently we had the chance to chat with Madelyn. Here’s her rallying story.
©️ All photos provided by Madelyn Tabor
Practically growing up in the rally paddock, rallying didn’t click for Madelyn Tabor at the very beginning. But once she learned more about the ins and outs of motorsport, her interest was ignited. “My family have been competing in stage rally since 1998. I was born into the sport. I attended my first rally at 4 weeks old. What we did in our free time as a family was going rallying, and I was there to hang out with my family. But I wasn’t necessarily drawn to racing and driving when I was growing up. Being a kid in the paddock can be a bit boring because the adults would leave for hours to drive, and you don’t have a lot to do. It wasn’t until I was around 13 when my younger brother started karting and I went to all his races and figured out the mechanics behind racing, that I started being interested in it.”
Once her interest was sparked, Madelyn quickly got down to racing. At 18 years old, Madelyn ‘inherited’ the family business, and finally let her passion and her family’s legacy seamlessly merge into one. “I got myself a kart for my 13th birthday, and I joined my brother in karting. I was racing in three classes at one point. When I was 18, I needed to move out of karting. My grandma and my aunt were rallying in a car together, and they needed to change to a new car. So I got a car available for me to go rallying. I’ve been rallying ever since.”
Being so close to other cars on track is nerve-racking for me. In rallying, we are 1-minute space apart; it really is about you and your co-driver in the car with the nature around you. There’s a sense of peace to it. At the same time, you’ll never have the same outcome at the same rally twice, so there’s a level of discipline to it.
In rallying, an important component is the co-driver. Madelyn found her co-driver, Sophia McKee, when she first started out in rallying, and they’ve been growing together as a team. “Sophia had been involved in rallies for a long time. She had volunteered in the advance cars and sweep cars. When I met her, she was trying to get into the competition, and I had only done my first event with my dad. We connected instantly. I’m very fortunate to have a long-term co-driver to progress together. It’s been fun to experience it all together with her.”
I’m very easygoing, especially being in a comfortable environment, being in a car that I understand and with a person I understand. In a rally, sometimes you have to be willing to pivot if something doesn’t work. You have to figure out a new way.
In 2024, Madelyn’s potential was recognized when she was selected as one of 15 drivers shortlisted for the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Program. In a three-day shootout, she was going for the fully funded seat in Junior WRC. Even though Madelyn didn’t go to the final, the experience was already a great stepping stone for her future in racing. “There are so many different aspects of rallying that people don’t really think about. This experience helped me become a more well-rounded individual in racing. It’s great to be one of the 15 drivers. You get to hear about other people’s experiences. We also had a lot of mentors and instructors working with us, so being able to ask them questions and hear about their experiences in the field has been really helpful.”
Despite missing out on the Junior WRC spot, Madelyn earned a sponsored seat in a Ford Fiesta rental program, enabling her to step up to the Rally3 class in the American Rally Association (ARA) series. With her experience in the shootout testing the car, and her takeaways from fitness and mental exercises, Madelyn was able to accelerate her development as a driver. “This season, I finished runner-up in the LN4 Drivers Championship after Travis Pastrana, a big motorsport icon. One of my highlights of the season was the Overmountain Rally Tennessee in September. Five out of the six people on the LN4 podium were women, and I was one of them. I don’t know if that’s ever even happened in ARA history, but it was cool to be a part of it. It’s also proof that the sport is growing in a positive direction.”
However, not every rally is a step forward. The season also presented significant challenges. In May, Madelyn had a crash in front of the spectator spot shortly after a strong performance in a previous event. “My car flipped over in front of a lot of people, and it was right after I had a standout event in the previous round. It’s difficult to come back from those experiences, and it shows in your performances. It taught me a lot about how to process things in the moment and have a controlled reaction. I have been working with a sports psychologist to work through my self-doubt. It’s good to work with him to address this moment.”
The best way to overcome it is to get back on the horse and do it again. You just have to keep going and give it another try.
Now a recent college graduate, Madelyn can devote herself entirely to racing. She is already preparing for the next season while building toward her ultimate ambition. Yes, she’s got her eyes on WRC. “I’m working to get my Madelyn Tabor brand and our family’s Tabor Racing brand more sponsor-ready. We go out to trade shows to meet people in the industry. Hopefully, we can secure funding from sponsors for next season. I definitely want to do another year in the ARA and maybe also add some European rounds. For the long term, I want to aim for the WRC for sure.”
Paddock Sorority 
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