Seb Alfano’s journey with his boosted Toyota GT86 is more than a tale of perseverance. It’s a showcase of what happens when careful tuning, community support, and turbocharged ambition come together.
From subtle beginnings to forged internals and a club legacy, this build captures what makes the GT86 platform so special, and you’ll find it on display with Cult86 at Trax 2025.
Dreams, Written Off
For Seb, the Toyota GT86 wasn’t just another car, it was a milestone. “It was a dream goal of mine when I first passed my driving test,” he says. That dream materialised in 2018, when he bought a white 2014 GT86 Aero. Unfortunately, things unravelled quickly. “A couple months later… I decided to run out of talent and smash it up.” The result? A write-off and one bruised ego.
Most would call it quits. Seb flew to Inverness instead and drove home in an identical 2015 GT86 Aero, same spec, same colour, same obsession. A fresh start.
Turbo Time
Like most of us in the modifying world, Seb didn’t plan to go wild. The car looked good out of the box; just a few subtle tweaks, maybe a new exhaust, some springs. You know how it goes.
“I didn’t want it to be outrageous on the road,” Seb says. “Although the wing is pretty in your face…” But the real shift came in 2020. “The desire for some more power arose.” Enter the Tuning Developments turbo kit.
Boosting the FA20 with a UEL manifold and a screamer pipe turned the mellow 86 into a boosted Toyota GT86 brute, complete with 272bhp and 230lb.ft of torque. Quiet it was not.
But then came the killer blow.
Rod Knock & Redemption
On Seb’s birthday, the engine gave up. “Boom, the cursed rod knock decided to wipe out all birthday joy.” With the FA20 dead and options limited, Seb doubled down. Rebuild time.
This wasn’t just a refresh; it was a full internal makeover: forged pistons and rods, lightened flywheel, uprated injectors, new fuel pump and a Stage 2 turbo kit. “Now running approx 340bhp,” Seb says, and built to take even more. “It’s perfectly capable of being tuned to handle 400+ BHP.”
But for now? “I’m happy knowing it’s overbuilt for the power it’s at.” That’s what makes this boosted Toyota GT86 such a standout. It’s got headroom, and plenty of it.
Not Just Go, Show
Despite the serious hardware, the 86 still wears its power modestly. Visually, it’s understated — that is, unless you catch a glimpse of the front mount intercooler or the carbon fibre engine cover, one of Seb’s favourite mods. “It was 1 of 3 made by a chap in Poland. I really love it… it massively complements the turbo.”
Inside, things are more refined than raw: a Rockford Fosgate sound system, door soundproofing, and one of the most slept-on mods in the 86 world. “The MTEC Shifter Spring Kit with Powerflex Positive Shift Bushings. Completely reviving the notchy gearbox.”
It’s those kinds of touches, practical, personal and often community-driven, that sum up Seb’s build philosophy. That mindset bleeds through every detail of this boosted Toyota GT86.
Cult86
Running a car club isn’t easy. Running Cult86, a GT86/BRZ/FR-S club with a national following? That’s next level. Seb’s poured just as much energy into the community as he has the car, and the results speak volumes.
At Japfest, Cult86 scooped the award for Best Modern Club. And later this year, they’ll be out in full force at Trax 2025, taking over Silverstone with a fleet of boxer-powered coupes. Expect a proper turnout, full of boosted Toyota GT86 builds, clean styling and owners who live and breathe the platform.
Thinking of joining the GT86 scene? There’s no better place to start than Trax. Check out what’s on at Trax here.
The Future of Seb’s GT86
With the powertrain finally solid, Seb’s now focusing on the finer details. Plans include respraying the wheels and bumper, upgrading the lights and fitting a triple gauge setup, “terribly unnecessary, but it’ll make it feel more race car!”
It’s been a journey powered by resilience, backed by community and fuelled (literally) by turbocharged boost. From wrecked dream to club-leading boosted Toyota GT86, Seb Alfano’s 86 is more than just a fast car. It’s proof of what can happen when you refuse to quit.
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