Show Car of the Year 2021

The GR Yaris is undoubtedly the iconic hot hatch of the modern age – a car that’s guaranteed to be reverentially whispered about by future generations in the same way that 40- and 50-somethings do about the 205 GTI today. And given that it’s such a stellar package right out of the box, it takes some real chutzpah to start tearing up a GR to rebuild it in your own image… but chutzpah is something Matias Mäenpää has in spades, and what he’s created here is unquestionably one of the finest Yaris builds on the planet. Matias’ history of modding has generally been focused along the lines of low-down stanced rides, but with this one he wanted to do something with a proper motorsport flavour. Taking that exquisite chassis to the next level with a set of BC Racing coilovers, he locked himself away in the garage over the winter to set about cutting up the metalwork and fitting the box-fresh new Pandem widebody kit. Topped off with a shouty Martelius exhaust, Volk Racing 21C wheels and an awesome custom livery, this little Toyota is a proper stunner.