When legends meet
The name Serge Damseaux will be familiar to anyone who followed local rally racing in the '80s and '90s.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2021/06/GR-Yaris-317-scaled-1-780x470.jpg)
Piloting two generations of Toyota Conquests, Serge is no stranger to high-powered, 4WD Toyotas.
The locally developed AE82 Toyota Conquest 4×4 Turbo (in full Group B-trim) became a crowd favourite for its wild acceleration and four-wheel power slides. It was produced to compete against the international Audi Quattro rally cars in a time where rally racing really pushed the envelope.
It even went head-to-head with its WRC cousin, the Celica GT-Four, during an exhibition rally, where it infamously beat it on local turf.
![](https://lowvelder.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2021/06/GR-Yaris-305-scaled.jpg)
The Castrol-liveried AE92 proved to be one of the most successful local rally cars, helping Damseaux rack up a total of 74 National Rally Championship wins – a hugely impressive feat. Conceived as a bespoke “homologation special”, the GR Yaris was built as a rally car foremost and production car second.
In this regard, it is the spiritual successor to the Celica GT-Four and locally brewed Conquest 4×4 Turbo. The GR Yaris revives the analogue driver’s car philosophy in a thoroughbred modern package.
Watch the video to see Damseaux’s impression on the new GR Yaris and how it compares to his rally cars of yesteryear.
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Source: MotorPress