A Garage-Built Half-Scale Toyota GR Yaris WRC Rally Car Conquers Monte Carlo

Photo credit: Justin White
Justin White spent 13 months working in his Australian garage on a project that evolved from humble beginnings to something far greater than anyone had anticipated. He had set out to build a half-scale duplicate of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. This was not a model, however; it was a single-seater built to travel down real roads rather than rest on a shelf. The finished design piqued Toyota Gazoo Racing’s interest, and they quickly flew both White and his innovation to the Rallye Monte Carlo, the season opener for 2026.

To begin, White employed a cross-kart frame and expanded the wheelbase by 580 millimeters to achieve the proper dimensions to match the full-size WRC challenger. He planned and produced 123 distinct body panels on his 3D printer, then meticulously bonded and sanded each one until the wide body form appeared to be ready for the gravel stages. A high-revving motorbike engine sits in the back, producing 118 horsepower to the rear wheels alone. The entire package weighs nearly nothing thanks to the printed plastic body, and early tests revealed that it could easily reach 94 km/h with much more speed on tap.

Getting the handling right proved difficult at first, as the sticky tires gripped too hard, making the car seem jittery around curves. White replaced them with standard trailer tires, which allowed the rear to slide properly. He also fiddled with the roll cage’s rear supports and jacked the chassis loose so it could flex organically rather than bouncing like a pogo stick. With a few minor tweaks, the entire car was changed for use on rough surfaces.

Hopping inside the cockpit is a bit of a non-event because there are no doors, only a removable roof panel that allows you to climb inside. Sliding plexiglass windows keep the wind out, allowing you to see every bump ahead, while working headlights and taillights offer a nice finishing touch. To complete the design, Toyota provided the official 2026 Gazoo Racing vinyl wrap in clean white, red, and black.

With the car finished, White shipped it to Monaco ahead of the rally. Toyota arranged for him to test on a closed stage in the French Alps, where he could drive the small Yaris on the same gravel roads as the WRC cars later in the week. Back in the service area, the miniature replica was parked next to the full-size GR Yaris Rally1. Jari-Matti Latvala, team principal, stopped by to have a closer look, and driver Oliver Solberg walked up to offer it a smile. Sebastien Ogier took a break from his own preparations to go check it out.
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