- The bodyshell try centered since the light you could, the rubbish off unwanted point was removed
- Leading suspension supports was gone to live in render wide track and you may more castor
- Rear suspension mounts was in fact hung to include limit grip, front where to find escorts Baar and rear tune was an equivalent
- Bilstein suspension, 170lb side springs, 146lb solitary leaf rear springs
- The initial car to be installing having metal x prepare arches, fabricated inside-home on Gartrac
1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2
Gartrac brought trucks to possess John throughout their rally get across profession. It Mk2 Escort are a duplicate of your own vehicle introduced getting Martin Schanche in past times, besides the Ford motor which had a great Chevrolet Vega tube lead with huge potential and you may put some three hundred BHP.
1981 – Rothmans Globe Rally Group
Gartrac was developed aware annually ahead you to definitely Ford perform end up being taking out out of community rallying to concentrate on developing this new Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold is welcome so you can a conference at the Boreham and is actually told the latest work Escort Mk2 rally production are arriving at an enthusiastic avoid.
Rothmans, the brand new sponsors off Ford’s industry rally efforts in the 1979, planned to keep the engagement about athletics and you will molded brand new Rothmans globe rally class which was to operate Escort Mk2’s getting Hannu Mikkola and you will Ari Vatenen in 1980. The latest cluster would be to end up being managed of the David Sutton exactly who Gartrac got in past times caused the help of its negotiations with Ford buyers Clark & Simpson.
The team could be based at David Sutton Trucks from inside the West London area and you can Gartrac try accredited to continue production of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and you will pieces towards personally work with business rally group regarding 1980 and 1981 world rally 12 months.
This was to show a very demanding several months for Gartrac. There was a high return of bodyshells are brought at that some time Gartrac must continue a few completely prepared shell’s inside the give once the back-up in order to existing creation standards.
eighties – Audi Quattro
David Sutton along with his party gone off Ford therefore the Escort Mk2 once effective the newest 1981 Industry Rally Tournament which have Ari Vatenan, because turned clear Ford wasn’t capable offer a competitive vehicle for the 1982 season. His appeal looked to securing a package to perform Audi Quattro’s in the British Rally Title and later Community Tournament situations.
During the early 1980s Gartrac caused David Sutton again which have the fresh new Audi 80 Coupe and later lead three functions Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells that have been sent more than of Ingolstadt in Germany. Audi always introduced all things in Germany, and this is actually somewhat strange during the time.
The new Audi bodyshell’s was basically quite quick. Worry had to be taken to make certain every bracketry is definitely proper together with roll crate was suitable truthfully getting biggest protection. The work must meet with Italian language standards, hence Gartrac visited high lengths to attain.
Whilst really works engagement got concluded with Ford, it was an extremely hectic several months getting Gartrac employed by other manufacturers instance Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Austin Rover to call just a few.
Looking back, it is not easy to assume just how all this are achieved just like the Gartrac had been greatly in producing and you may supplying bits having consumer Escort’s and you will development a unique strategies like the G3, G6 and you will G4 Mk3 Escort’s.
mid-eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort
Ford got accomplished production of the new Escort Mk2 along with uncovered the newest Mk3 that basic function try front-wheel push, which at the time was not competitive having rally use. Gartrac made a decision to convert the new Mk3 to buttocks wheel drive and you may fool around with as many Mk2 bits that one can.