• The fresh new bodyshell try situated once the white that you can, most of the trash from unwanted question is got rid of
• Leading suspension mounts was basically relocated to promote wider song and you can a lot more castor
• Bottom suspension system mounts had been strung to include restrict traction, front and rear song is actually a comparable
• Bilstein suspension, 170lb top springs, 146lb single leaf rear springs
• The first vehicle are fitting which have alloy x prepare arches, fabricated within the-household on Gartrac

1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2

Gartrac lead automobiles for John throughout the their rally get across occupation. That it Mk2 Escort is a clone of your car brought having Martin Schanche in past times, apart from the Ford engine which in fact had good Chevrolet Vega cylinder direct with large capability and you can lead particular three hundred BHP.

1981 – Rothmans Business Rally Team

Gartrac was developed alert a-year ahead of time one Ford do be pulling out of business rallying to pay attention to development the fresh new Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold are allowed so you’re able to a meeting on Boreham and you will are told the brand new functions Escort Mk2 rally creation is coming to an stop.

Rothmans, the new sponsors out-of Ford’s business rally work within the 1979, wished to remain the engagement regarding the sport and you may formed the new Rothmans community rally class which had been to operate Escort Mk2’s to have Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatenen in 1980. The fresh team were to getting handled by the David Sutton just who Gartrac got prior to now caused employing dealings that have Ford investors Clark & Simpson.

The group would-be mainly based in the David Sutton Automobiles into the Western London area and you can Gartrac was accredited to continue production of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and you may parts to your physically manage world rally party throughout the 1980 and you may 1981 community rally season.

This is to show a very demanding several months having Gartrac. Discover a high return out-of bodyshells are put at this time and Gartrac was required to keep a couple totally waiting shell’s for the give while the back up in order to established design conditions.

1980s – Audi Quattro

David Sutton along with his people went out-of Ford plus the Escort Mk2 after profitable new 1981 Globe Rally Championship that have Ari Vatenan, because it became clear Ford wasn’t able to bring an aggressive auto into 1982 12 months. His desire turned to protecting a deal to perform Audi Quattro’s regarding British Rally Tournament and soon after World Tournament incidents.

During the early eighties Gartrac caused David Sutton once more with the Audi 80 Coupe and soon after put three performs Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells which were delivered over of Ingolstadt from inside the Germany. Audi constantly put all things in Germany, and this is a little uncommon at the time.

The newest Audi bodyshell’s was basically a little easy. Care and attention must be delivered to guarantee that every bracketry is actually certainly best plus the move cage is actually fitted truthfully to possess biggest safeguards. The work needed to speak to Italian language conditions, hence Gartrac decided to go to great lengths the site to reach.

Even though the really works wedding got concluded that have Ford, this was an extremely hectic period for Gartrac helping other companies eg Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and you may Austin Rover to mention but a few.

Looking right back, it is hard to imagine exactly how all of this are hit while the Gartrac was still greatly working in creating and providing parts to own customer Escort’s and you can developing its own systems such as the G3, G6 and you can G4 Mk3 Escort’s.

eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort

Ford got done creation of the Escort Mk2 along with announced new Mk3 which in standard form is actually front-wheel push, and that at the time wasn’t aggressive to have rally explore. Gartrac chose to convert the Mk3 to butt controls drive and you may fool around with as numerous Mk2 bits you could.