The headline should be an indication that this is no ordinary Yaris, and I think I need to talk to someone in Health and Safety – sharpish.

With a three-cylinder 1.6 litre engine, it shouldn’t be a concern to the hi-vis brigade. However, that relatively small engine delivers a staggering 276bhp in a tiny Yaris weighing only 1.2 tonnes, and the drive is delivered through all four wheels. On paper: bonkers, pure and simple.

This was a review I was looking forward to – a couple of months back I had the GR86 on test from Toyota, and I was keen to see what the new GR Yaris could deliver.

But first, I should set the scene. Toyota wanted to enter the World Rally Championship, but instead of taking one of their existing road cars and tweaking it for the rally stages, they designed the car for the championship and then made enough road versions to meet the strict rules on homologation. So, in simple terms, this is a road-legal rally machine. What could possibly go wrong?

A rocket-powered roller skate

No surprise, this is a pretty fast little thing given those headline specs, but so many times you have something like this on paper and in reality it just doesn’t work. With the GR Yaris, Toyota has managed what many have failed at; what feels like a genuine rocket-powered roller skate.

It doesn’t look very Yaris-like either – wider, flared wheel arches and with a very aggressive stance, front grill and twin exhausts. There’s no doubt that anyone who wants a hot hatch will see the GR Yaris as very desirable.

Everything is focused on the experience

This is first and foremost a driver’s car. Everything is focused on that experience. Is it nice for passengers? According to my family, not so much. But for the person behind the wheel? The short shift gear change, the curve of the dash that focuses everything to you and the lack of clutter (other than that dash) means that when driving, the focus is on the road and the data you get from the car.

It struck me, driving at night, that there was no light anywhere else in the cabin. I could see the road, the instruments and nothing else. Everything else was just black, totally focused on the drive and with nothing to distract you and divert your focus.

I do, however, have one problem and it’s a big one – namely the price. I mentioned when driving the GR86 that I was intrigued what the team at Gazoo Racing would do with the Yaris and, while it’s incredibly impressive, the GR86 for me was more fun.

There’s not a great deal between them in practicality

There’s not a great deal between them in practicality – the GR86 has a bigger boot, is marginally slower to 60, and has a little less power, but for me, it was a much more enjoyable car, made more sense and a better noise.

Finally, it was two-thirds of the price. A £45k Yaris, or a £30k sports coupe. For me, there’s no contest and the Yaris would sadly be left by the kerb as I disappeared in a cloud of noise in the GR86.