Toyota Vios: Racing with Heart

RACING WITH HEART

FRENCH ACCOUNTING MANAGER BENJAMIN ATTARD DRIVES HIS TOYOTA VIOS WITH A PASSION. 

When did you start driving? 
I first got on the road when I was 16, riding a motorbike in France. Then I got my car license when I was 18. 

What was your first car? 
The first car I drove was my mum’s 1999 Peugeot 206 Roland Garros 1.6, with which I picked up my driving skills in mountain passes in the Alps. I then moved on to a 1998 Nissan Maxima 3.0 V6 when I studied in the US. Now, I drive my 2006 Toyota Vios 1.5, which I bought second-hand in 2011. 

Your most memorable driving experience? 
The last track session I did, in September. The car felt good, I had grippy tires, and was able to push it closer to its limit. I also had an exciting “fight” during the five-lap race at the end of the day. 

Why did you choose this model? 
I first bought this car as a point A to point B, and honestly did not expect much from it. But it grew on me gradually as I started to get to know it better. It was when I first had a go at gymkhana with the car that I really got to fall in love with it. Going to the racetrack brought us to another level. 

What have you done to your Toyota to imprint your personal style on it? 
I wanted to put my heart and soul into it to reveal its real character. I started off with a white paint job – literally a white canvas on which I could paint the vision I had for my car. Then I gave it a customised decal job, and a new set of wheels to complete its looks. To get it ready for the race track, I strengthened the chassis and refined the handling. 

What do you like most about your Toyota? 
I think what I love most is how it showed me that under the common affordable econo-car skin, there’s a feisty little brawler always ready for a go around the track. And I don’t know many cars that can deliver this amount of satisfaction and still only drink 7L/100km (including track days). 

Your favourite Toyota drive? 
Every single day, from the first growl of the engine in the morning to the goodbye roar before I cut the ignition in the evening. 

“Its sturdy engine bellowing in my ears as I clip apexes gives me a high, and it’s those times that I know I made the right choice with my Toyota.”