Extraordinary Toyota GR Yaris is a rally car for the road packed with power & bespoke parts… I might even buy myself one

SUNDAY. Toyota scores an epic 1-2-3 on the toughest Rallye Monte-Carlo for years.

Monday. I have a go. On the same icy roads. In a Toyota Yaris.

Except mine’s got cup holders and Apple CarPlay.

Now, I should perhaps explain there are THREE types of Toyota Yaris.

The ultra-reliable £24k runabout your Nana drives.

The wild, fire-snorting rally car that dominates the World Rally Championship.

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Then, somewhere in the middle, the extraordinary GR Yaris I’ve just tested.

Basically, a rally car for the road.

Small, light, trick suspension, four-wheel drive, limited-slip differentials on both axles, and the most powerful three-cylinder engine in the world.

I think I’m going to buy myself one.

Only the headlights, wing mirrors and roof antenna are lifted from Nana’s Yaris.

Everything else is bespoke.

The original GR Yaris was developed by Toyota’s WRC team in Finland five years ago. Not for mass appeal or to make money. A halo car.

It was an instant hit. The modern-day Subaru Impreza.

Later models turned the power up and now we have the GR Yaris Aero Performance inspired by Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance racers.

Three-stage adjustable rear wing, lower front-lip spoiler, bonnet scoop, side ducts, flatter floor — you get the picture.

You’d have to go flat out on a track day to really feel the difference.

You have two special modes to play with.

What pleases me most is the upright handbrake personally requested by Toyota chief Akio Toyoda.

What a guy.

Give the handbrake a tug and the four-wheel-drive system disconnects the rear halfshafts to help rotate the car on the spot.

I’m told some owners even put a rubber cap on top — to keep the button pressed in — so it has the feel of a hydraulic handbrake. Like a WRC car.

Now, I did mention Subaru earlier.

This car doesn’t sound like an Impreza. Not much does. It’s not blue with gold wheels, either. But it does have a better power-to-weight ratio and shorter wheelbase.

So it’s more agile on a twisty French Alpine road.

Plus, you have two special modes to play with.

Track mode has a 60:40 front-to-rear torque balance entering a corner, then 30:70 on the way out.

That’s my favourite. It’s so controlled and predictable and encourages you to press on.

Gravel mode is 53:47.

I suppose the ultimate validation of this car is that Monte winner Oliver Solberg has one back at his gaff.

As does team-mate Elfyn Evans, who finished second, and nine-time world champ Sebastien Ogier, who was third.

In fact, Ogier wheeled out his £60k special-edition GR Yaris just the other day.

Solberg said: “I’ve got a GR Yaris at home. It’s an incredible car, like driving a Group N rally car.

“This is what Subaru did in the early days, they built a road car for the people to have fun with. Now Toyota is doing it.

“The dream is to have my own special-edition with my name on it, like my dad. Subaru did 555 cars of the Petter Solberg Edition.”