• The bodyshell was founded as white that you could, all of the scrap of undesired situation try got rid of
• Leading suspension brackets was relocated to bring broad tune and so much more castor
• Buttocks suspension system brackets was in fact strung to incorporate limit grip, back and front track was an identical
• Bilstein https://escortlook.de/en/germany/bavaria suspension system, 170lb front side springs, 146lb solitary leaf rear springs
• The original vehicles to get fitted which have alloy x prepare arches, fabricated into the-domestic within Gartrac

1981 – John Welch Escort Mk2

Gartrac put vehicles getting John through the their rally cross profession. This Mk2 Escort is a duplicate of auto produced for Martin Schanche previously, aside from the Ford system which in fact had a beneficial Chevrolet Vega cylinder head which have large capability and you may delivered some three hundred BHP.

1981 – Rothmans Community Rally Class

Gartrac was created aware a year ahead of time one Ford would getting taking out out of industry rallying to pay attention to developing the Escort RS1700T. Dave Bignold is actually enjoy so you’re able to an event during the Boreham and you will is actually informed the fresh new really works Escort Mk2 rally design is actually visiting an prevent.

Rothmans, the sponsors of Ford’s community rally efforts during the 1979, desired to continue its engagement about athletics and you may molded the fresh Rothmans community rally team which was to run Escort Mk2’s to own Hannu Mikkola and you can Ari Vatenen inside 1980. New group was to getting handled by the David Sutton which Gartrac had in past times worked with with the negotiations having Ford people Clark & Simpson.

The group might possibly be depending in the David Sutton Vehicles in Western London area and you will Gartrac is accredited to keep production of Escort Mk2 rally bodyshell’s and pieces to your myself run industry rally party on the 1980 and you will 1981 world rally year.

This was to prove an incredibly demanding period to possess Gartrac. There’s a premier return regarding bodyshells are brought at this some time Gartrac needed to continue a couple of fully prepared shell’s within the give since back-up in order to present design requirements.

1980s – Audi Quattro

David Sutton and his awesome party moved out of Ford and the Escort Mk2 immediately after successful the brand new 1981 Industry Rally Tournament having Ari Vatenan, whilst turned into clear Ford wasn’t in a position to give an aggressive automobile into the 1982 season. His notice looked to securing a deal to run Audi Quattro’s on Uk Rally Championship and soon after Globe Championship situations.

In early eighties Gartrac worked with David Sutton once more having the fresh Audi 80 Coupe and soon after brought three performs Audi Quattro A2 bodyshells that have been delivered over of Ingolstadt inside Germany. Audi usually produced all things in Germany, which means this was a bit unusual at that time.

This new Audi bodyshell’s was a bit simple. Worry must be delivered to make sure the bracketry are certainly right together with roll crate are installing correctly to possess biggest security. The work must speak to German requirements, and therefore Gartrac went along to higher lengths to attain.

As the performs engagement got concluded which have Ford, this is a very active months to possess Gartrac employed by almost every other producers eg Audi, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota and you will Austin Rover to mention but a few.

Searching right back, it is hard to imagine just how this all is actually reached because Gartrac was still heavily working in creating and supplying parts to possess customers Escort’s and you can development a unique tactics including the G3, G6 and you can G4 Mk3 Escort’s.

eighties – Gartrac G3 Rally Escort

Ford had done creation of this new Escort Mk2 along with shared the newest Mk3 that fundamental function is actually front-wheel drive, hence at that time was not aggressive getting rally fool around with. Gartrac made a decision to transfer the brand new Mk3 in order to butt wheel push and you will have fun with as many Mk2 parts to.