Baggsy and his Corolla before the tear-down took place
There are modified car builds, and then there are projects that stop the entire scene in its tracks. Steve “Baggsy” Biagioni’s latest creation is looking very much like the latter.
The professional drifter and SB Motorsport boss has revealed the first stage of his ambitious new project, a Toyota GR Corolla that’s being transformed into what could become Europe’s first dedicated GR Corolla drift car. And if the opening chapter is anything to go by, this thing is going to be absolutely wild. Even better? Once the build is complete, it’s heading to TRAX at Silverstone, where UK enthusiasts will get one of the first opportunities to see the car in person and, crucially, watch it being driven as intended.
To me, to you, to me…
From Hot Hatch Hero to Drift Monster
Like many great modified car projects, this one started with a seemingly sensible idea. Baggsy originally bought the GR Corolla after falling in love with the model during a trip to Japan. The plan was simple enough: import one to the UK and use it as a daily driver. Unfortunately for the Toyota, it had arrived in the ownership of a man best known for building tyre-destroying drift machines. The daily-driver dream didn’t last long. Instead, the team quickly decided to push the platform into completely uncharted territory, turning Toyota’s rally-inspired all-wheel-drive hatchback into a full-blown drift car. Not only is it an ambitious project, but it could also be the first build of its kind anywhere in Europe. Naturally, that meant the spanners came out almost immediately.
No turning back now
The Point of No Return
The first build update documents the beginning of the transformation, and it’s both fascinating and slightly painful viewing. Within days of arriving at the workshop, the factory-fresh GR Corolla was being dismantled piece by piece. The interior was stripped, trim panels piled high, suspension removed and the engine extracted from the car altogether. Watching a highly desirable modern performance car reduced to a bare shell would be enough to make most enthusiasts break into a cold sweat, and even Baggsy himself admitted there were moments where the reality of the project started to sink in. The team, however, never hesitated. After just a few days of work, the Corolla had effectively reached the point of no return, becoming little more than a shell ready for its next stage of development.
Serious Hardware Incoming
Before the strip-down began, the GR Corolla made an important stop at KW Automotive in Germany. The suspension specialists carried out measurements and development work on the car while preparing a new suspension package specifically for the project. Considering the demands of modern drifting, from huge steering angles to relentless abuse on track, getting the chassis setup right from the outset is a critical part of the build. Meanwhile, Baggsy spent time at Tokyo Auto Salon discussing future components and partnerships for the project, suggesting there’s plenty more exciting hardware still to come. For now, many of the finer details remain under wraps, but judging by SB Motorsport’s previous projects, nobody should expect a mild build.
Off to SW Motorsport for the fab work to commence
Next Stop: Fabrication
With the strip-down phase now complete, the shell is heading to SW Motorsport where the fabrication work begins. A custom roll cage and further chassis modifications will form the foundation for everything that follows, turning Toyota’s performance hatch into a machine capable of handling serious drift action. At this stage, the GR Corolla already looks dramatically different from the car that first rolled into the workshop. And somehow, the biggest changes are still ahead. Make sure you stay tuned on here for build updates and also make sure to follow Baggsy, TRAX and FC Socials if you haven’t already.
One of TRAX’s Must-See Builds?
It’s still early days, but we’re already calling it: this has all the ingredients to become one of the standout builds of the year. A GR Corolla is a rare enough sight in the UK as it is. A purpose-built drift version developed by one of Britain’s most recognisable professional drifters? That’s something else entirely. We’ll be following the project closely as the build develops, but one thing is already firmly in our calendars. Seeing this thing make its public debut at TRAX. If the finished car is anywhere near as outrageous as the plans suggest, we have a feeling it’s going to attract a crowd wherever it goes. And honestly? We can’t wait to see it sideways at Silverstone on the 16th of August.
The post Baggsy’s GR Corolla Drift Car Is Officially Under Construction – And We Can’t Wait to See It at TRAX appeared first on Fast Car.
