This Little 880hp 3-cylinder Is WILD! | World's Fastest GR Yaris

In this interview, we sit down with Charles from Lamspeed to explore what it takes to turn Toyota’s GR Yaris into a record-breaking machine, using a surprising amount of standard parts! The team currently holds the title for the world’s fastest GR Yaris, with a 9.6-second quarter-mile at 155 mph at the time of filming and a 9.4-second pass since then, resetting their own record. Charles dives into the challenges and engineering breakthroughs Lamspeed encountered along the way.

To push the Toyota Yaris G16E-GTS 1.6-liter, three-cylinder engine to extreme levels (pushing almost 900hp out of a 3-banger is impressive!), Lamspeed rely on key components from top brands, including MoTeC for advanced engine management, handled by Phil from Armour Motorsport, and Carrillo CP for custom pistons and rods to support the high-power demands.

For turbocharging, Lamspeed initially used a Garrett G30-770 for circuit racing and has since continued refining setups to extract maximum performance with a Kelford Cams valve train aiding in great turbo response along with the retained variable valve control system. A ported head and supporting mods added around 180hp along with head studs custom-produced by ARP to address head-sealing issues early in development, a critical factor for reliability under high boost.

Transmission upgrades include a Kotouč 7-speed sequential gearbox for drag racing reliability and previously tested options from Drenth. With Lamspeed’s detailed and iterative approach, every part and upgrade has been meticulously selected and tested to push the limits of the GR Yaris platform without compromising performance.

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TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Lamspeed Racing - World's Fastest GR Yaris
0:18 - Development Process
1:00 - Iterative Process
1:15 - Cylinder Head Sealing | ARP Studs
1:40 - Head Gasket
1:50 - Getting Aftermarket Parts Manufactured
2:31 - 150kw to 650kw | Stock to Modified Output
3:14 - Factory Engine Output Capability
4:08 - Reliability
4:26 - Tuning | Aftermarket MoTeC ECU
4:53 - GR Yaris Plug & Play ECU
5:10 - Aftermarket ECU Trade-Off
5:18 - Direct Injection & Port Injection
6:00 - Engine Internals
6:40 - Circuit Racing - Cylinder Head
7:03 - Drag Racing - Cylinder Head
7:20 - Ported Head Performance - 134kw
7:48 - Turbocharger Progression
8:25 - More In The Tank
8:51 - Power Band vs Turbo Size
9:30 - Drivetrain Upgrade Progression
9:54 - Kotouc Sequential
10:13 - Aftermarket Gearbox Options
10:40 - Driveshaft & Axles
11:15 - Future Plans
11:45 - Tuning
12:17 - Fuel Surge Tank Kit
12:37 - Future Goals - 8 Second Pass
13:33 - Thanks Charles!
14:00 - Time Attack In-Car
15:54 - BUILD.TUNE.DRIVE