Manic performance from this red hot baby Toyota

Toyota GR Yaris drive by Steve Rogers

It looks like a baby Toyota Yaris and has a Yaris badge on the tailgate but this pint sized scorcher has little in common with its big brother.

This is the GR Yaris, Toyota's WRC rally car minus a roll cage and tiptronic gearbox, but decked out in everything needed for comfortable everyday motoring.... and the performance is manic.

If I didn't have to write about this car I would be lost for words, it is the hooligan of all hooligans and without doubt the most exciting car I have driven in 40 years as a motoring writer.

So how can I get so excited about a Yaris? There are a few things to clear up. The GR shares only six components with the normal Yaris, the rest is pure rally car. And the great Finnish rally ace Tommi Makinen helped develop the car which has a bespoke platform, bodyshell and engine.

The build team's target was for the best possible downforce, aerodynamic performance and stability and they have smashed it. The bodyshell is a mix of aluminium and carbon fibre so the car is super light at 1260kg. The carbon polymer roof is so strong an adult can jump on it and has a severe slope to accommodate the wing for the rally car.

The engine is a turbo charged 1.6 litre with 257bhp and is the world's smallest, lightest and most powerful three-cylinder. To complete the performance story GR is four wheel drive.

There we have it then but what is it like to drive and be driven in. Ask my wife and she will say it is far too uncomfortable. Well it is a rally car dear so the suspension is bound to be stiff but she did concede it was 'very very fast'.

That said my view is that GR's staggering performance is pushed into second place by the sensational grip. There are plenty of cars that can beat the GR to 60mph but I doubt there are many that can hold the road as well.

The best analogy driving GR is that it's like being behind the wheel of a race car in a computer game. Mere mortals would have to be incredibly reckless to lose control of the GR because it will go round bends faster than we have the nerve to take them. Whatever your limit, and I am talking about good fast drivers, add 30 per cent for a GR in professional hands.

Coming back to reality the cabin of GR is standard Yaris apart from special rally seats, a raised gearstick for faster changes, and drilled aluminium pedals. It has a full suite of safety features and all the usual bells and whistles found on a top of the range model.

Because the FIA, the governing body for world motorsport, decreed that a homologation of the GR rally car had to be road worthy and fit for competition Toyota built 25,000 of which 2,200 came to the UK. The bad news is that they have all been sold and the lords and masters in Japan have not decided whether any more will be built.

One thing is for sure, the GR is going to be an expensive commodity on the second hand market.

I have driven some super fast cars in the last four decades but nothing compares with the GR Yaris.

Remember this car because it will go down as the hottest hot hatch of all time.

Fast facts

GR Yaris GR-Four

£30,020

1.6 turbo, 257bhp, 6sp manual

0-62mph 5.5secs; 143mph

34.3mpg combined

186g/km; 1st VED £870

Insurance group 35

Minister's pledge on Covid jabs for 12-15 year olds

As 12 to 15-year-olds across Wales start to receive their Covid-19 vaccinations, the Health Minister today (4 October) confirmed they will all be offered a vaccine by the end of October half-term. 

All 12 to 15-year-olds will be invited by letter to have the vaccine and the majority being administered at mass vaccination centres. In some areas, vaccination will be carried out at schools. 

Some of the most vulnerable 12 to 15-year-olds in Wales have already started receiving the vaccine and all health boards will have started rolling out the programme in their areas this week. 

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “Vaccines remain our strongest defence from the virus, helping prevent harm and stopping the spread of Covid-19. Some studies have shown show one in seven children who have been infected with the virus are thought to have also developed long-Covid. 

“We have provided resources and information to help this age group make an informed choice about vaccination. I encourage parents, guardians, children and young people to discuss the vaccination together.” 

Dr Gill Richardson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Vaccines, added: “We have seen the benefits that come from having as many people as possible vaccinated. 

“After careful consideration of the evidence, the four UK chief medical officers recommended the vaccination of healthy 12 to 15-year-olds after consultation with experts, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 

“They concluded that the health benefits, combined with the additional benefits of reducing educational disruption and effects on mental health meant that vaccination should be offered. 

“Children and their families will be receiving links to information with their invitation letters so they can make an informed decision about whether or not to have the vaccine.”

Work starts on 2020 project to re-shape town centre

* An array of road signs have gone up along Castle Street.

* The contractors' work team is briefed on the job in hand. 

* A sign on Abbey Road warns of long delays ahead.

* Workmen ready to set up traffic lights are set up on Castle Street.  

Work started this morning (Monday) on the 2020 scheme to re-shape Llangollen town centre.

Contractors appointed by Denbighshire County Council arrived in Castle Street at around 8am and were briefed by bosses on how the major exercise should be carried out.

Road closure signs were erected and temporary traffic lights put in place.

The scheme is being undertaken by the council in partnership with Welsh Government and Transport for Wales.

It involves making a number improvements along Castle Street, has been developed following extensive consultation with the local community, local county councillors and Llangollen Town Council.

Work includes:

1. Widened footways on both sides of Castle Street;
2. New footway construction using natural stone paving materials;
3. A raised junction table at the junction of Parade Street/Bridge Street/Castle Street;
4. A raised junction table at the junction of Market Street/Oak Street/Castle Street;
5. A new uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Abbey Road near its junction to Castle Street;
6. A raised table at the existing controlled pedestrian crossing on Mill Street near its junction with Castle Street;
7. New traffic signals on the Castle Street/A5 junction;
8. Junction improvements at the Hill Street/A5 junction;
9. The resurfacing of Abbey Road / Mill Street junction & Castle Street;
10. A permanent one-way restriction on Market Street between its junctions with Castle Street and East Street;
11. New street lighting;
12. The permanent introduction of the temporary one-way restriction on Church Street (i.e. east to west vehicular flow). 

Works are expected to take up to six months to complete and a variety of different traffic management options, including temporary traffic signals and a limited number of road closures, will be used to minimise disruption, says the county council.

Cllr Brian Jones, the council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “I’m delighted we are now able to start the work and bring these improvements to Llangollen.

“This work provides more space for pedestrians and improved pedestrian crossing facilities making it easier for pedestrians to walk around the town centre, while upgraded traffic signals will improve the flow of vehicles.”

A Parry Construction Co Ltd has been appointed as principal contractor for the work.

The council says it will work closely with local businesses and residents throughout the project to ensure any disruption is minimised and any concerns or issues are identified and addressed as soon as possible.

The Llangollen 2020 Castle Street scheme will take place at the same time as Welsh Government’s on-going retaining wall stabilisation works located on the A5, towards Llangollen Golf Club, and the council says its officers are working closely with the Trunk Road Agency and Welsh Government to coordinate traffic management operations so disruption is minimised.

Two taken to hospital following yesterday's A5 crash

North Wales Live has given an update about the crash which shut the A5 near Glyndyfrdwy in both directions for five hours yesterday evening.

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/what-know-far-crash-shut-21741290

Police drone helped to fight Llan mountain fire

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin with Chief Inspector Jon Aspinall and one of the drones.

A new police drone team has been hailed as “highflying heroes” after saving three lives and playing a key role in putting out a major gorse fire.

The praise came from tech savvy North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin who is keen to expand the unit.

Mr Dunbobbin was briefed on their successes by Chief Inspector Jon Aspinall who leads the dedicated team which includes a sergeant and four constables and was established in April this year.

He also showed Mr Dunbobbin dramatic footage of how the team played a vital part in tackling a huge fire on Llantysilio mountain near Llangollen in early June, alongside 11 crews from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

A drone was used to identify hotspots on the mountain so that a helicopter from Natural Resources Wales could drop water on them.

Days later the team located a missing pensioner, Roy Giblin, 82, from Abergele, in a patch of long grass near the town’s train station. His grateful family said that without the assistance of the drone “he didn’t stand a chance”.

Rescuers had "little doubt"  the drone  unit saved the life of another  elderly man, Robert Davies, 86, from Morfa Bychan, in Gwynedd, who had gone missing in July.

After a major multi-agency search, he was located by the police drone, hidden from view in tall shrubbery on a hillside above the village and flown to safety by helicopter.

The third life-saving incident came when a man fell down a steep drop at a quarry in Denbigh and landed on a ledge.

Chief Inspector Aspinall said: “He had a severe head injury and I would say that was a situation where our drone flight saved his life because he might not otherwise have been found.

“In addition to finding missing people, the drones are used for a range of different police work including catching criminals fleeing from vehicles or houses, or people who have been involved in domestic abuse and fled the scene. There’s countless examples of the good work that they’re doing.

“They  are incredibly versatile and essentially they have revolutionised policing. It’s enabling us to do things we were not able to do before.

“The fact that the Police and Crime Commissioner is keen on technology in general and drones in particular is music to our ears.”

The drones were deployed more than 350 times in the first three months after going operational.

The squadron includes two wet weather drones that can operate when it’s raining heavily and in winds of up to 35 miles an hours.

As well as having a thermal imaging capacity, the high powered video cameras have a 200x zoom enabling the pilot to tell the time on someone’s wrist watch from high in the sky.

The drones also have a geo-location facility so if the pilot presses a button, it can give officers on the ground the exact longitude and latitude.

If the battery is running low, the drone will automatically return itself to where it took off.

As well as being responsible for how North Wales is policed Mr Dunbobbin is  playing a key role in using technology, including drones, to fight crime across the UK.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners have elected him as their deputy lead for police technology and digital and deputy lead for economic and cybercrime, including fraud.

Fellow commissioners decided he was the perfect person for the job because of his background working in the technology industry.

Mr Dunbobbin said: “The drones are incredibly effective and versatile, and I’ve had conversations with the Chief Constable about how the drone team can move forward and what can be done there. 

“I made a pledge in my manifesto that we would make best use of the technology that’s available to us and this is what’s happening here.

“The introduction of drones has made a significant difference and at least three lives have been saved already. That’s just priceless.”

Senedd Member praises Dinas Bran's green credentials

* Pictures show Ken Skates MS during his visit to the school.

A Llangollen school’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint has been welcomed by the local Member of the Senedd. 

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates visited Ysgol Dinas Bran during its Great Big Green Week and was impressed by the eco-friendly measures being taken. 

“Dinas Bran has Eco-Schools Platinum status, and sustainability has been at the forefront of students' work over a number of years,” said Mr Skates. 

“Wales is becoming a cleaner, greener country thanks to a range of steps being taken at national level, and it’s really encouraging to see young people in Clwyd South embracing change and showing so much enthusiasm for the environment and sustainability.” 

The green project at Ysgol Dinas Bran and Llangollen Leisure Centre has seen solar panels installed on the school roof which will generate electricity onsite. 

Combined with other measures including heating control upgrades and LED lighting is expected to reduce the school’s carbon emissions by 73 tonnes a year. 

Mr Skates added: “I really enjoyed visiting the school again – this is such a fantastic initiative. Wales is at the forefront of environmental change in the UK and was the first to declare a Climate Emergency in 2019, and I’m thrilled that our drive as a nation has really caught the imagination of our young people.”

In recent years the Welsh Government has banned fracking, introduced strict regulations to reduce farming pollution and cut greenhouse gases and become the third best country in the world for recycling. 

Mr Skates said: “We want to be number one and the Welsh Government wants us to become a zero-waste, carbon net-zero nation by 2050 at the latest. Projects like this and the passion being shown by the students are certainly a huge step in the right direction.”

The Welsh Government has also said more single-use plastics will be banned during the current Senedd term, with firms also incentivised to reduce their waste. 

Eisteddfod announces new executive producer

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has announced the appointment of Camilla King (pictured) as executive producer. 

She joins the eisteddfod from her previous role as head of programming at Cheltenham Music Festival. 

An experienced classical music programmer, project and events manager with a 20-year long career in the arts and charity sectors, she studied music at King’s College London before working as an artist manager for Ingpen & Williams.

This was followed by a period in the casting department at English National Opera, running a choral education scheme for The Gabrieli Consort & Players, and a brief foray into fundraising with Freedom from Torture, an offshoot of Amnesty.  

She is also a writer and broadcaster, and her interview House of Music, with Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason and children, was streamed live from Cheltenham Literature Festival 2020 and later broadcast on Sky Arts and streaming platform Marquee TV. 

Ms King is a trustee of The Carice Singers, who are emerging as one of the most distinctive vocal ensembles in the UK. 

Ms King said: "It is an honour to be joining the team at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at this time of challenges and change, but also great potential. 

"As we prepare for LIME's 75th anniversary in 2022, our founding principles of promoting peace through the universal languages of music and dance have rarely felt more important or relevant."

Dr Rhys Davies, chair of Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: "I’m so delighted that Camilla King will be our new executive producer. 

"Camilla has a proven track record in delivering high-quality programmes and she impressed us with her vision. Her experience and achievements are the perfect fit for leading LIME.”