- The fresh new bodyshell try mainly based just like the light that one can, most of the garbage out of unwelcome issue is eliminated
- Leading suspension system mounts had been transferred to render wide song and even more castor
- Bottom suspension system supports have been strung to add restriction traction, back and front tune is actually an equivalent
- Bilstein suspension, 170lb front side springs, 146lb single leaf rear springs
- The first auto getting fitted with alloy x pack arches, fabricated from inside the-domestic from the Gartrac
1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2
Gartrac put cars to own John during their rally mix career. That it Mk2 Escort try a clone of car brought to possess Martin Schanche previously, apart from the Ford motor which had a good Chevrolet Vega cylinder lead that have larger strength and you will lead specific 300 BHP.
1981 – Rothmans Business Rally Party
Gartrac was made alert per year ahead you to Ford manage become pulling out out of community rallying to pay attention to development the latest Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold was greet in order to an event on Boreham and you can are informed new performs Escort Mk2 rally development is going to a keen avoid.
Rothmans, the fresh new sponsors regarding Ford’s world rally effort inside the 1979, wished to remain the involvement throughout the sport and molded the fresh new Rothmans globe rally party that has been to perform Escort Mk2’s to own Hannu Mikkola and you can Ari Vatenen within the 1980. This new people would be to be treated of the David Sutton which Gartrac had in earlier times worked with making use of their transactions having Ford buyers Clark & Simpson.
The team is founded at the David Sutton Automobiles in the Western London and you will Gartrac are commissioned to carry on production of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and you will pieces to the personally focus on world rally party throughout the 1980 and you will 1981 globe rally year.
This was to prove a highly requiring several months to own Gartrac. There is a premier turnover out-of bodyshells being put at this some time Gartrac must remain two fully waiting shell’s within the give due to the fact back-up so you can established manufacturing criteria.
mid-eighties – Audi Quattro
David Sutton and his party gone out-of Ford and the Escort Mk2 after winning the latest 1981 Business Rally Championship having Ari Vatenan, because turned obvious Ford was not able to render a competitive vehicle on the 1982 12 months. His attention considered protecting a deal to run Audi Quattro’s on Uk Rally Championship and soon after Industry Title occurrences Kiel escort site.
During the early eighties Gartrac worked with David Sutton once again having the fresh new Audi 80 Coupe and later delivered about three really works Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells that have been sent more than out-of Ingolstadt for the Germany. Audi usually put all things in Germany, so this was slightly uncommon at the time.
The brand new Audi bodyshell’s was in fact some quick. Care had to be taken to guarantee that all of the bracketry is actually certainly correct in addition to roll cage try fitting accurately to have greatest shelter. The job was required to speak to Italian language criteria, and therefore Gartrac went to high lengths to achieve.
Whilst really works involvement got finished with Ford, this was an extremely hectic months for Gartrac doing work for most other manufacturers including Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and you will Austin Rover to call just a few.
Looking straight back, it is hard to visualize how all this work was reached as the Gartrac was still heavily in generating and supplying parts getting customer Escort’s and developing its own projects like the G3, G6 and you may G4 Mk3 Escort’s.
eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort
Ford had finished production of the new Escort Mk2 along with expose brand new Mk3 that basic mode was front wheel push, and therefore at that time wasn’t aggressive to own rally play with. Gartrac decided to transfer the fresh Mk3 to help you rear wheel drive and you can fool around with as numerous Mk2 pieces as you are able to.