Engine failure appears to have caused the hot hatch to skid into a tire wall at a track day and burn to a crisp
July 18, 2025 at 12:30
- A Toyota GR Corolla driver shared a video of his car catching fire on track.
- The AWD hot hatch lost control approaching a turn and burst into flames.
- Its overheated turbo engine may have spilled oil onto the road and tire.
Even accounting for the wider range of driver abilities, track days are far less dangerous than real racing. However, they still have the potential to leave your car a smouldering wreck and you tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket. Just ask the owner of this GR Corolla, who watched his car go up in smoke and ended the day with a scorched shell.
Related: GR Corolla’s Airbags Went Off Without A Crash And Toyota Says That’s Normal
The GR Corolla driver, who goes by the name of @gogomorizo on Instagram, used to be the proud owner of a tastefully modified example of Toyota’s hot hatch. But a shocking accident destroyed the car, and those who have seen the video are arguing over whether the car or the driver is to blame.
A Seemingly Perfect Lap Goes South
In-car footage from a helmet-mounted camera shows the driver chasing a Porsche 911 as he carves through some corners at a track day. The sky is clear, and the track surface is bone dry. The conditions look perfect, and as safe as they can get. But seconds later, it’s game over for the GR.
On the approach to a fairly tight right-hander, the Corolla’s back end suddenly steps out to the right, sending it off the track and straight into a tire wall. The airbags fire, and pretty soon there’s real fire, too, one that the marshals have to put out. Fortunately, the driver walked away unharmed, but the car is a mess, and like most track day drivers who cross their fingers and hope for the best, he wasn’t insured.
Oil, Heat, and a Costly Chain Reaction
The accident happened near the end of the driver’s first session, so the oil was hot, and it looks like the Corolla just couldn’t take the heat. The 300 hp (304 PS) three-cylinder engine appears to have grenaded itself on the approach to the right-hander, throwing oil onto the track where it made contact with the rear tires, sending the rear axle sideways. The escaped hot oil in the engine bay soon catches alight, and it’s goodbye GR Corolla.
The driver graciously admits he’s still learning the art of track days, and not just the driving element, but also the preparation and observation of the way the car is behaving. And it’s easy to say from behind a phone or laptop that he should have noticed the low oil pressure and coasted past the turn with the clutch pedal down. But things are different when you’re having fun, caught in the moment, trying to reel in a 911.
It’s a rough outcome, but judging by the driver’s attitude, it likely won’t be his last lap. He may be licking his wounds for now, but it sounds like he’ll be back behind the wheel before long, and it’s hard not to respect that.