Although not this heralded a different section off production of Escort Mk2’s

• The new bodyshell was dependent once the light as you are able to, all scrap out-of undesirable issue was eliminated
• Leading suspension mounts have been relocated to bring broad track and you can more castor
• Bottom suspension supports was basically strung to provide limit grip, front and rear track are an equivalent
• Bilstein suspension, 170lb front springs, 146lb unmarried leaf buttocks springs
• The original automobile is fitted that have metal x pack arches, fabricated into the-home from the Gartrac

1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2

Gartrac put trucks for John during his rally get across job. So it Mk2 Escort was a duplicate of car introduced having Martin Schanche in earlier times, apart from the Ford motor which had good Chevrolet Vega cylinder direct having big potential and you may lead certain 300 BHP.

1981 – Rothmans World Rally Class

Gartrac was made alert a year beforehand you to Ford do end up being pulling out of world rallying to concentrate on developing the fresh Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold was greeting so you can a meeting within Boreham and you may is actually told brand new works Escort Mk2 rally design are coming to an avoid.

Rothmans, the fresh new sponsors off Ford’s globe rally effort for the 1979, wanted to keep the engagement from the recreation and you may formed the fresh Rothmans community rally people which was to run Escort Mk2’s to possess Hannu Mikkola and you will Ari Vatenen inside 1980. The fresh new team were to feel addressed from the David Sutton whom Gartrac got in past times worked with the help of its transactions with Ford people Clark & Simpson.

The group might be oriented at the David Sutton Cars in Western London area and you can Gartrac was accredited to carry on creation of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and you will pieces on the actually run community rally team about 1980 and you will 1981 business rally year.

This is to show an incredibly requiring several months getting Gartrac. There clearly was a high return off bodyshells getting produced at that some time Gartrac needed to remain one or two completely waiting shell’s during the hand as the backup so you’re able to present production conditions.

eighties – Audi Quattro

David Sutton along with his party moved off Ford together with Escort Mk2 once profitable the fresh 1981 Industry Rally Title which have Ari Vatenan, because it became obvious Ford was not able to promote an aggressive automobile towards 1982 12 months. Their focus considered protecting a great deal to run Audi Quattro’s on Uk Rally Championship and soon after World Championship events.

During the early 1980s Gartrac worked with David Sutton once more with brand new Audi 80 Coupe and soon after put three works Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells which have been delivered more than of Ingolstadt during the Germany. Audi usually put everything in Germany, and this try some uncommon during the time.

The brand new Audi bodyshell’s have been slightly easy. Proper care had to be taken to ensure that the bracketry is actually certainly best and the roll cage is actually suitable truthfully to possess ultimate shelter. The task had to meet with browse this site German requirements, and therefore Gartrac went to high lengths to achieve.

Whilst the works involvement got finished which have Ford, this was an extremely busy period for Gartrac working for other brands for example Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and you may Austin Rover to mention but a few.

Looking straight back, it is not easy to assume just how all this try attained while the Gartrac was still heavily involved in producing and you may promoting bits to own consumer Escort’s and you will development its ideas for instance the G3, G6 and you can G4 Mk3 Escort’s.

mid-eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort

Ford got accomplished production of new Escort Mk2 together with announced the newest Mk3 that standard means was front wheel push, and this at that time wasn’t competitive for rally use. Gartrac decided to convert the fresh Mk3 in order to buttocks controls drive and you can have fun with as numerous Mk2 bits that one can.