When it comes to track car builds, choosing a Toyota Starlet Car might seem out of left field. For me, this little car has been a passion project for nearly four years, and honestly, I think it’s fantastic! Forget the KP60 Starlet often seen in North America; mine is the EP82, a front-wheel-drive hot hatch with a small but potent engine, originally exclusive to the Japanese domestic market. Over the coming weeks, I’m excited to share the journey of this build with you. But first, allow me to introduce myself, recount my history with cars, and explain how I came to own my Toyota Starlet GT.
Silver Toyota Starlet GT EP82 on track, showcasing its potential as a project car.
My name is Tim Darracott, and I’m a Software Developer based in the UK with a serious passion for cars and motorsport. In my 15+ years behind the wheel, I’ve owned a rather diverse collection of vehicles, some well-known, others less so.
At the top of that list is an FD RX-7. Mine was upgraded with a Garrett GT35r single turbo, and it was the car I drove for my first ever lap around the Nurburgring. But my appreciation isn’t limited to Japanese cars; my E46 M3 was also incredibly special, as is my current daily driver, an E39 M Sport touring. There have been others too, perhaps less globally recognized, like a Peugeot 206 GTi with Jenvey throttle bodies that sounded so amazing I ended up owning it twice. The list goes on: an S14a 200sx, ST205 Celica GT-Four, Peugeot 106 GTi, and a Suzuki Swift GTi, just to name a few.
Tim Darracott working on the engine bay of his Toyota Starlet GT EP82 track car project.
For a long time, I avoided working on my own cars, fearing I’d break something and face a hefty repair bill. However, I was always fascinated by engineering and taking things apart. I needed a weekend project, something to dismantle and learn how to reassemble. That’s when I bought a Nissan Pulsar GTi-R, a car I had always admired, despite its reputation for gearbox issues and being difficult to maintain. I enjoy a challenge. Mistakes were made, but I learned a huge amount in the process.
Front view of the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R, the previous track car of the author, before the Toyota Starlet.
This Pulsar eventually became my track toy, the car I used for my first track days. Sadly, it was stolen. While it was recovered, the thieves had destroyed the engine, leading my insurance company to declare it a total loss.
The damaged engine bay of the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R after theft, leading to the Toyota Starlet project.
A couple of years later, a close friend began competing in club-level motorsport events with his R53 Mini Cooper S. After attending a few races, I was hooked and wanted to join the action. I convinced Andrew to let me use some space in his workshop to store and work on a car. As soon as he agreed, the search began.
Side profile of the Toyota Starlet GT EP82 in a workshop, ready for its transformation into a track car.
As is common with modified and less mainstream cars, many are stripped for parts and never driven again. The previous owner of my Toyota Starlet car intended to do just that until I intervened and made an offer for the complete vehicle. Initially, I was looking for a project needing repair, but this Starlet came up, already equipped with some desirable performance parts, and the body was in excellent condition.
Rear view of the Toyota Starlet GT EP82 highlighting its sporty hatchback design and Enkei wheels.
It was definitely more road-oriented than track-ready, but that suited my plan to carry out the necessary work myself. As mentioned, it came with some great upgrades, including a hybrid turbocharger, a stainless steel exhaust manifold, a KAAZ limited slip differential, Enkei wheels, Meister-r coilovers, and a full set of Whiteline anti-roll bars.
Close-up of the Enkei wheels and Meister-r coilovers, performance parts already installed on the Toyota Starlet GT EP82.
By now, you’re probably wondering, “What exactly is an EP82 Toyota Starlet GT?” Well, the EP82 was manufactured in Japan from 1989 to 1995. It features a turbocharged 1331cc 16v twin-cam engine producing around 130 horsepower. The car is remarkably light, weighing just 830 kg (1830 lbs). You certainly wouldn’t want to be in a high-speed collision in one. Factory options were quite impressive and included Recaro seats, TEMS electronically adjustable suspension, a rear strut brace, and a helical limited-slip differential.
Interior of the Toyota Starlet GT EP82, showing the potential for a driver-focused track car build.
The turbocharged engine made it a tuner’s dream. Famous Japanese Starlet tuning houses like ZEP Racing, JAM, and Cruise Power were well-known in the scene. Perhaps most famously, HRF was featured in an Option video tuning a Starlet to race and ultimately beat a Nissan Skyline R34 GTR around Tsukuba.
For my Toyota Starlet car, the next step was to strip it down in preparation for a Custom Cages weld-in roll cage. That’s where we’ll pick up in the next installment.
Starlet Build Part 2
Starlet Build Part 3
Starlet Build Part 4
Starlet Build Part 5
Starlet Build Part 6
