• The mini GR Yaris uses 123 3D printed parts and a motorcycle engine.
  • A claimed top speed of 93 mph makes it more than just a static model.
  • Toyota Gazoo Racing flew the build out for the Monte Carlo season opener.

Most garage projects end with a half-finished engine on a stand and a marriage on the rocks. This one ended in Monte Carlo. While the rest of us settle for diecast scale models or hobby-grade RC cars, one Australian DIYer spent 13 months constructing a half-scale Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 he could climb into and drive. The result is a single-seat WRC tribute act, scaled to fifty percent and entirely functional.

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The man responsible is Justin White, who documented the build on his YouTube channel, Garage Avenger. Gazoo Racing took notice and rhey flew White and his creation to the season opener in Monte Carlo earlier this year, which is not a thing that typically happens to people who build things in their sheds.

A Bodyshell 3D Printed In 123 Pieces

The bodywork of the mini GR Yaris was created using a 3D printer. A total of 123 parts were glued and sanded into a cohesive form that mirrors the aggressive wide-body of the real WRC contender. The 1/2 scale model doesn’t have doors, but you can easily access the cabin through the removable roof. It even has functional headlights and taillights, along with sliding plexiglass windows.

The finishing touch was a professional vinyl wrap in the official 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing livery of white, red and black, supplied by the team itself.

He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called
He Spent 13 Months Building A Mini GR Yaris WRC In His Garage, Then Toyota Called

Justin White / Facebook

Underneath the printed skin sits a cross-kart chassis, its wheelbase extended by 580 mm (22.8 inches) to get the proportions right. A high-revving motorcycle engine drives the rear wheels, producing roughly 118 hp (88 kW / 120 PS) in a car that weighs almost nothing.

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Early testing returned 94 km/h (58 mph). White says it is good for 150 km/h (93 mph), a number that reads differently when you remember the car was assembled in a domestic garage from printed plastic.

Not everything went to plan. Excessive mechanical grip caused early handling issues, so the sticky rubber was swapped for trailer tyres and the roll cage was reworked to let the chassis flex.

Following the official invitation by Toyota, the mini-Yaris was put through its paces at WRC stages in the French Alps, proving it is not just a toy. It was also exhibited alongside the real GR Yaris Rally 1 in Monte Carlo.

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The miniature rally car even drew the attention of team principal Jari-Matti Latvala and WRC driver Oliver Solberg, both apparently charmed by its appearance in the service park. The lesson, if there is one, is that limited resources and a year of stubbornness will get you a convincing tribute. The rest is detail.