- New bodyshell are created given that light that you can, the garbage regarding unwelcome point try removed
- Leading suspension supports were relocated to render wide tune and you may much more castor
- Rear suspension brackets was basically hung to provide restrict traction, back and front tune is actually the same
- Bilstein https://escortlook.de/en/switzerland/ticino suspension, 170lb top springs, 146lb solitary leaf buttocks springs
- The original vehicle getting suitable with metal x package arches, fabricated inside-home within Gartrac
1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2
Gartrac brought autos having John throughout his rally get across community. Which Mk2 Escort is actually a duplicate of the vehicle introduced to own Martin Schanche in the past, besides the Ford engine which had an effective Chevrolet Vega cylinder direct which have large strength and you can lead certain 3 hundred BHP.
1981 – Rothmans Globe Rally Class
Gartrac was developed alert a year ahead that Ford would become pulling-out out of industry rallying to pay attention to developing the brand new Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold is greet so you’re able to an event within Boreham and you may is informed the newest functions Escort Mk2 rally design was arriving at a keen prevent.
Rothmans, the sponsors off Ford’s community rally energy inside the 1979, planned to remain its involvement about recreation and you will shaped the latest Rothmans business rally group which had been to perform Escort Mk2’s for Hannu Mikkola and you will Ari Vatenen inside the 1980. The brand new people were to feel handled because of the David Sutton just who Gartrac got prior to now worked with using their deals with Ford dealers Clark & Simpson.
The group will be built at David Sutton Automobiles within the West London and you will Gartrac was commissioned to keep creation of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and you will pieces to your personally focus on business rally people on 1980 and you can 1981 world rally season.
This is to prove a very demanding several months to own Gartrac. There can be a premier turnover off bodyshells becoming put at that some time and Gartrac was required to keep one or two totally waiting shell’s during the hands since support so you can present production requirements.
mid-eighties – Audi Quattro
David Sutton along with his group went of Ford and also the Escort Mk2 immediately following effective the fresh 1981 Industry Rally Championship having Ari Vatenan, because became obvious Ford wasn’t able to promote a competitive vehicles with the 1982 seasons. Their attract looked to securing a great deal to run Audi Quattro’s regarding the British Rally Championship and later World Championship events.
At the beginning of 1980s Gartrac worked with David Sutton once more having the fresh Audi 80 Coupe and soon after delivered around three performs Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells that happen to be delivered over off Ingolstadt within the Germany. Audi always introduced everything in Germany, which means this are quite unusual at the time.
The fresh Audi bodyshell’s was basically somewhat quick. Care needed to be delivered to ensure that most of the bracketry try undoubtedly best together with move cage try fitted truthfully to possess greatest security. The job needed to talk with Italian language requirements, hence Gartrac decided to go to high lengths to achieve.
Whilst the really works wedding had ended which have Ford, this was an extremely active period getting Gartrac employed by most other manufacturers eg Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and you may Austin Rover to name but a few.
Searching right back, it is hard to visualize just how all this work is achieved since the Gartrac was still heavily employed in generating and you may promoting bits getting customer Escort’s and you can developing its very own ideas like the G3, G6 and G4 Mk3 Escort’s.
eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort
Ford got completed production of the new Escort Mk2 and had uncovered this new Mk3 which in standard setting try front wheel push, and this during the time was not aggressive to have rally play with. Gartrac decided to convert the fresh Mk3 to help you rear controls drive and you may fool around with as many Mk2 bits that one may.