- The brand new bodyshell try built since light that one may, most of the rubbish out of undesirable situation is eliminated
- Leading suspension system brackets had been moved to bring broad track and you will a great deal more castor
- Rear suspension mounts were installed to incorporate limitation grip, front and rear tune try an identical
- Bilstein suspension, 170lb front springs, 146lb solitary leaf buttocks springs
- The original car becoming installing having alloy x pack arches, fabricated into the-family during the Gartrac
1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2
Gartrac introduced trucks getting John during the their rally cross job. This Mk2 Escort was a clone of your own automobile put getting Martin Schanche prior to now, besides the Ford motor which in fact had a good Chevrolet Vega tube head which have big ability and you may brought specific 3 hundred BHP.
1981 – Rothmans Industry Rally Team
Gartrac was created alert a-year ahead you to definitely Ford perform feel pulling out away from community rallying to pay attention to development the fresh Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold are allowed to help you an event during the Boreham and you may try told the latest performs Escort Mk2 rally development was going to an prevent.
Rothmans, the latest sponsors out-of Ford’s community rally efforts inside 1979, planned to keep its wedding regarding the athletics https://escortlook.de/en/switzerland/canton-of-bern/biel-bienne/ and you will molded the brand new Rothmans globe rally people that was to operate Escort Mk2’s getting Hannu Mikkola and you may Ari Vatenen for the 1980. The new class was to become treated because of the David Sutton just who Gartrac got before worked with employing transactions that have Ford people Clark & Simpson.
The group might be established at David Sutton Trucks for the West London area and Gartrac was commissioned to continue creation of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and you will bits to your actually manage globe rally party regarding the 1980 and you can 1981 community rally 12 months.
This was to prove an extremely requiring several months to have Gartrac. There is a leading turnover of bodyshells are lead at this some time Gartrac had to remain two fully prepared shell’s inside the hands as the support to current manufacturing conditions.
1980s – Audi Quattro
David Sutton and his awesome class went away from Ford and Escort Mk2 immediately following profitable this new 1981 World Rally Title which have Ari Vatenan, whilst turned into clear Ford was not able to offer a competitive auto into 1982 season. His interest turned to protecting a deal to run Audi Quattro’s in the British Rally Championship and later Community Championship occurrences.
At the beginning of 1980s Gartrac worked with David Sutton once again which have the new Audi 80 Coupe and later delivered three performs Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells which have been sent over away from Ingolstadt inside Germany. Audi always lead everything in Germany, which means this is actually quite uncommon during the time.
The new Audi bodyshell’s had been a little quick. Care must be taken to make certain that most of the bracketry are absolutely correct and also the move crate is installing precisely for biggest shelter. The job had to speak to German conditions, hence Gartrac visited great lengths to get to.
Even though the functions wedding got concluded which have Ford, this was a highly busy period for Gartrac working for most other makers such as for instance Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and you can Austin Rover to mention but a few.
Lookin straight back, it is hard to imagine just how this all try attained just like the Gartrac was still heavily involved in promoting and you will promoting parts to have consumer Escort’s and you may development a unique systems for instance the G3, G6 and you can G4 Mk3 Escort’s.
eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort
Ford got done production of brand new Escort Mk2 along with revealed the latest Mk3 that important form are front-wheel push, and therefore at the time wasn’t competitive to possess rally explore. Gartrac decided to convert new Mk3 so you’re able to bottom wheel drive and you may fool around with as numerous Mk2 pieces that you can.