Ex Don Gato Suzuki GTI coming to a stage near you!

[Rallyswift_370]

It's been a lot of hard work but I'm nearly finished getting the car ready for my first Costa Rica rally which will be the July 3,4,5 event. I really looking forward to getting back on the stages after a 4 year break. Past rallies have been in England, Middle East and USA so Costa Rica is going to be different. My past rally routine will apply of driving to the event in the rally car, competing and driving hone without any service....jajajaja I have a new co-driver, a new car to learn and new stages so it's going to be interesting.

[lucho_valverde]

Best of luck in this new adventure, hope to see u on rute

[Jorge Ballestero]

Pues bienvenido, aunque nos has acompañado a varios eventos, este será tu bautizo!

Nos vemos en NACAM

[kartooligan]

I hope you enjoy this passion that many Costaricans have for rally, just like to wish you good luck and hope you enjoy our rural ruotes!

Pdt: Pedal to the metal!

Regards!

[estebanvenon]

You got a very competive car!

You are going to enjoy and love Costa Rica Rallies, rallies in Costa Rica are like a family and you will parf of, it is just the begining....

Tell us a little bit about the car?

Did you make some performance modifications?

What about the body paint? Will we see a new car?

Good look and We hope see you soon on the NACAM the next month in Puntarenas!

Thanks for sharing this news with us!

[Rallyswift_370]

Thanks guys! The engine is as before because of N1 limitations. I rally a Subaru in the states so I've converted the front struts to Subaru STI. Most of the work was replacing worn out parts after years of rally abuse! The engine is a little tired but I hope it lasts this season as I plan to bulid a new one in the future. Overall the GTI seems quick enough on the road but in the stages is a different subject. Past rally cars have been a 1.6 MK2 Escort , N3 MG Maestro and the Subaru Legacy I own now.

The Costa Rica guys remind me of the guys in Lebanon(Middle East). Lots of passion for the sport!

The new paint job! My own work!



The STI struts fit....well after some welding work



The Legacy in action.

[pmontero]

Way to go man, I really hope you get to enjor your rallying time in CR, Top Cat´s Swift is an excellent platform to get involved with. How hard was it to fit those Subbie struts in there, and what about the car´s homologation? I wouldn´t have thought this would be possible to do and I bet it took some nice craftsmanship. Congrats on the paint scheme too, it looks really nice. By the way, that´s a Union Flag on the roof, right? Smoooooth!!!

Keep it up!

[Rallyswift_370]

Thanks for the nice comments.

It took some thinking to fit the STI struts. Basicly they are the same length as the Swift but of course much stronger. The car came to me with some wacky rear top mount suspension modification so I figured go wacky for the front! Actually the rules state that the oringinal suspension geometry remains the same so it does with this set up. In WRC I don't think they would accept it but we will see when the car gets teched. I'm on a tight budget so this was the only option. Cost me $220 for the pair to set up! jajajaj Plus I'm only going to do a few rallies in Costa Rica so I won't be stepping on any ones championship points. The aim is to be out there having some fun and playing for the cameras....then drinking some beer after jajajaja

[Rallyswift_370]

I forgot to mention the flag! It's half Union Jack and Half Costa Rica! Britrica rally team!

[pmontero]

I forgot to mention the flag! It's half Union Jack and Half Costa Rica! Britrica rally team!

AWWWW come on that´s awesome! I only saw the Union Jack half he he... all the best wishes for you and your co-driver.

[Rallyswift_370]

Thanks! Yeah I thought it was a nice touch. Also I have on the co-diver door top "Gracias rally worker" to thank all those guys that make the rally happen. Good news is I've just secured 2 more sponsors to cover some of the costs. This weekend I'm busy making spare struts and robbing the Terra Trip 303+ off the Rally Legacy. Next Sunday I'll be flying into CR.