There's precious little excuse for pointing you at this video, aside from the fact that watching it reconfirms just how terrifically excited we are about the GR Yaris's fast approaching debut in the UK. Toyota are pretty excited about it, too - the 'Rally Drive' footage was used to introduce a 90-min deep dive into the new model in its domestic market. Honestly, the gist of it is easily conveyed in 54 seconds: the GR Yaris is (sort of) derived from a WRC machine, and, yes, it goes sideways like one.
Additionally, the manufacturer has been at pains to explain that the connection to motorsport is deeper than melted tyre tread. Toyota revealed earlier this month that it has pioneered something called the 'GR Factory' - which isn't a factory at all, but rather a dedicated production line at an existing plant. A silly name, perhaps, but the reasoning is sound enough when you learn that the new line is conveyor-less and has Toyota (the undisputed king of build efficiency) indulging in cell assembly.
Apparently, this is essential to building each model to the prerequisite precision - a precision which involves a special structural adhesive and 200 additional spot welds, not to mention the carbon construction method used in the roof and the unique engine. Moreover, the GR gets many more inspections than a conventional Yaris would, and is subjected to a final driving test a purpose-built course before the engineers sign it off. The manufacturer says this commitment to perfection is being pursued "to a degree unthinkable for a regular commercial vehicle". Clearly there's more than a little marketing spin there, too - but for now we're unashamedly drinking it all in while we wait on the edge of our seats.