RUN AROUND
Gary Lali’s Mk2 Fiesta track day tool may look unassuming, but with its sorted handling and rev-happy 1800 Zetec, this giant killer runs rings around more powerful cars on the race circuits of Europe.
We first spotted Gary Lali’s innocentlooking burgundy Mk2 Fiesta on track at Croft last summer. Its ability to catch up with and overtake virtually every other car on track that day was impressive to say the least, especially as there was some quite exotic machinery around! Obviously, we had to find out more!
“The question I get asked most in the paddock is what engine is my car running?” Gary laughs. There’s no monster turbo inside — essentially it’s an 1800 Zetec with a twist — but we’ll get to the details later.
Gary’s connection to Fords stems back to his Dad, Bill who ran them as daily drivers and modified more than a few over the years.
“I spent many evenings watching what he did,” he recalls, “trying to help and learning from his builds — right from the age of 11 or 12.”
Gary is just 22 now so he’s wasted no time continuing in his Dad’s footsteps. “When I passed my test, I bought a standard burgundy Mk2 Fiesta L which was identical to this one,” he remembers, “I left it standard for a week then set about fitting lowering springs and RS four-spoke wheels.” Just a month later, Gary was on the hunt for a Zetec engine and five-speed ’box to transplant into his Fiesta! “I found someone breaking an Escort GTi so I went and collected the 1800 Zetec and gearbox,” Gary explains, “I took the Fiesta off the road for a week to fit it all and ran it on one of my Dad’s spare twin-choke Weber carbs.”
More power
Within a few hundred miles along with some teething problems, Gary had become used to the extra power and was still wanting more.
“I managed to source a set of Honda CBR900 bike carbs to replace the Webers,” Gary tells us, “I spent many days playing around with the jets to get the carbs running well with the Zetec engine.” Once sorted, Gary decided to book his first track day, remember this was only two months after he’d passed his driving test!
“The track day went well, but I knew there were some simple improvements I could make,” Gary points out. “I dropped the suspension out, fitted GAZ coil-overs, polybushes and XR2 brakes.” Finally, the Fiesta had reached a stage Gary was happy with and he’d soon go on to take part in more track days and hone his driving skills. We can confirm this man doesn’t hold back when it comes to circuit driving!
“I was bored one evening and started browsing the classifieds and this Fiesta popped up,” Gary recalls, “I didn’t pay too much attention to it as it was identical to the car I
already had, other than for the mods I’d fitted.” Unknowingly, that advert would play a significant part in what would happen next.
“The following week I found myself in a garage at Donington Park with my bent and battered Fiesta in front of me after hitting the tyre wall at 70 mph,” Gary smiles. “Before I’d even loaded the salvaged wreck on to my trailer I had already tracked down the classified ad for the Fiesta I’d spotted the previous week and luckily it was still for sale.”
Gary arranged over the phone there and then to pay the full asking price for the car, knowing he’d be unlikely to come across another just like it any time soon. “I arranged to pick up the new Fiesta the next day and was amazed to find it had a genuine 20,000 miles on the clock,” Gary tells us. “It was in fantastic condition as it had been stored for a long time in an insulated garage.”
“I planned on swapping all the mods from the salvaged Fiesta into this one to recreate my previous car,” Gary explains. “I even swapped the numberplate over with the DVLA.”
As this latest incarnation was destined to become more track-focused, Gary decided to fit a full OMP roll cage this time round. Considering how well this Mk2 handles, you’d be surprised to hear the chassis set up is relatively simple. The GAZ coil-overs, polybushes and rear strut brace have been swapped over from Gary’s previous car, while camber bolts and a rear anti-roll bar have also been added. The negative camber up front also produces a pretty neat stance, too! In common with many keen track day regulars. Gary has numerous sets of wheels and tyres including four-spokes and pepperpots. “They still look cool and are light enough for me,” he smiles.
Zetec inside
The 1800 Zetec remains in-situ, though it’s progressed significantly over the last few years and is a world away from its humble GTi
beginnings. 81 mm Accralite pistons, PEC forged rods, Mahle Motorsport bearings, Piper cams and valve springs form an impressive combination while the ported and polished head, custom four-branch manifold and 2.5 inch system all help out. We should point out Gary is a Rolls Royce engineer by trade and he’s in his element developing the Fiesta, constantly tweaking and making improvements where he can and carrying all the work out himself.
The bike carbs have now given way to Kawasaki individual throttle bodies (ITBs) and it now runs an ME221 ECU which he prefers. You may have spotted the Mocal oil cooler located behind the front numberplate (the latter is removed for track days) while a Sierra Cosworth fuel pump and Accusump kit have also been recently added. As expected, the transmission has seen upgrades, too — the IB5 ’box benefits from an LSD and a paddle clutch has been added to cope with the extra grunt.
Weight loss
This 1988 Fiesta L may only have covered 20,000 miles in its lifetime, but that wasn’t going to stop Gary stripping out its factory-fresh interior. In his quest to reduce as much weight as possible only the bare essentials remain. A single Motordrive bucket seat with Sparco harnesses keeps company with an aftermarket steering wheel and a bank of AEM gauges on the standard dash. “My stereo is now just a pure ITB roar,” Gary laughs.
That ITB soundtrack may be addictive, but it’s the handling and feedback through the Mk2’s steering wheel and pedals that Gary really can’t get enough of. “It feels just like a go-kart to drive and I love to see people’s faces when they see an old Fiesta screaming around the track!”
While development of this unique Mk2 Fiesta is set to continue, Gary already has his eyes on a 2wd Sapphire Cosworth which he plans on keeping as a usable modified car. “I may venture out on track occasionally in it to perform the odd spectacular drift,” he laughs. And if that one turns out anything like his Fiesta, it’s likely to be the star of any track day it takes part in!