Fensport GR Yaris - 2023

Build and modifications for 2023

Winter 2023 - we had to make our Fensport GR Yaris faster!

Although we won the Sprint Series in 2022, we also know the competition for this year will be even quicker and we can't rest on our laurels, so off to the workshop we go!

One of the best ways to make any car faster is to reduce weight! This was to become our main objective throughout 2023. Less weight helps everywhere!

We started the year at 1177kgs and ended up at 1112, not bad for a car that was already stripped! Read on to see how we did it!

The first job was to strip the front end, one of the most important places to save weight is the front. Everything that could go did and everything that was needed was lightened :)

The front splitter was remade using 25% thinner Poplar plywood and a carbon top skin. Headlights were stripped to leave just the outer lenses.  

Next up was the rear end and the rear bumper has been modified to reduce weight but more importantly to let any trapped air out and reduce the "parachute effect". Also added was a titanium exhaust system saving a further 12kgs.

Further front end modifications included the fantastic Verkline tubular subframe, this reduced weight by 7kgs and the fit was perfect. Note we still use standard wishbones, just a personal preference due to others having bad experiences with aftermarket rose jointed suspension.

On the rear we also fitted the Verkline tubular rear subframe and Verkline alloy diff mount, saving a further 7kgs. Another big plus with the tubular subframes is there is so much more room everywhere!

A big thank you to Toyo Tires for a fresh set of Toyo 888R in 275/35x18 fitted on our BC racing forged wheels :)

So a massive 65kgs reduction in weight, how does it drive now? .... Absolutely amazing difference and we won the 2023 championship against some serious competition! Read on to see the results ...

Javelin Sprint Series 2023 results

Blyton Park round 1 - 1st overall by 5/100s of a second - we knew it was going to be close!

Adrian: The car is incredible, it just turns in and you can carry so much more speed in the corners, the weight saving has paid off and I set a personal best time nearly 1 second faster! We must reduce the weight further throughout the year!

Croft circuit - Round 2 - 2nd overall on this one, Richard Wright took the win by 0.2 of a second in his Impreza. 

Adrian: Crazy difference at Croft for some reason we were nearly 4 seconds faster than last year! I can't put all of it down to the new modifications, some of it has come from inside as I'm really gelling with the car now and it feels fantastic. I hesitated on one corner which was enough for Richard to get the win!

Blyton Park - Eastern Circuit - Round 3 - 2nd overall on this one, Richard Wright took the win by 7/100ths of a second in his Impreza.

Adrian: This was a very tough battle between Richard and I, we were only a few hundredths apart all day long! Racing this close pushes the limits and we were both setting personal bests. The Yaris was fantastic all day, we just need a little more weight off to beat the Impreza!

Three Sisters - Rounds 4 & 5 - 1st overall both days for the double win :)

Adrian: I'm very proud of our Yaris, 1st overall both days in atrocious wet conditions! The Yaris was an absolute joy to drive in such terrible conditions, the handling was sublime, able to drift the car gently and keep it online to give us our biggest win on the Saturday of just over 2s to Barry Smithson in his Evo 6 RS.

Mallory Park - Round 6 - 3rd Overall - Just 0.49 covered the top 3 cars, Barry Smithson took the win in his Evo 6 RS.

Adrian: Very close racing today, the Yaris was going well but we knew this one would be a "power track" and the other 2 just pipped us! Overall happy as the Yaris is able to get in the mix with the bigger engine cars, our weight saving is working as we can carry so much more speed through the corners :)

Cadwell Park - Round 7 - 2nd Overall on this one, Richard took the win by 0.25 of a second in his Impreza!

Adrian: Cadwell is my favourite track and I really wanted the win here, I had the lead on run 4 but Richard just pipped me on the last run. I was very happy with our Yaris as I beat my personal best by 1.2 seconds on a track that was not 100% dry.

Javelin Sprint Series Championship 2023

2023 Championship - 1st Overall

Adrian: Wow a dream come true to win the series again against some very stiff opposition is amazing :) The racing between Richard, Barry and I could not have been closer, most races were down to 100th's of a second! I'm very proud of our GR Yaris :) :)

Huge well done to both Richard Wright 2nd overall (below left) and Barry Smithson 3rd overall (below right) for a fantastic year of super close racing :)

Well 2023 is a wrap, a fantastic year and we have now found the "GR Yaris Magic" 
Looking forward to 2024 there's a lot of modifications on the way, I know the competition will get even faster so we will have to work hard to keep up!

Fensport GR Yaris V3 - 2024 coming soon!

A huge thank you to all of our team, sponsors and supporters for all your help in 2023 :)

Ecumaster
Toyo Tires
BC Racing
Hel Performance

Here's the video of our final lap at Cadwell Park 2023