The rally version Ford Escort Mk.II reached the climax of its career in 1979 with the world marque title, immediately followed by the retirement of the factory team. At the end of its technical evolution, the 1800RS Group 4 model (1993cc 4-cylinder 16-valve engine) reached about 270 horsepower with Kugelfischer injection, much less used than carburetors. In terms of victories, the most successful season was 1978, with 18 overall wins.
The Sun Star Group is an international conglomerate founded in 1981 as a company specializing in building construction and decorative fit-out. To meet its corporate diversification strategy, Sun Star entered the car model manufacturing business in 1989, including acquiring the Vitesse brand in 2001. Sun Star has wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures in Macao, Hong Kong, China, USA, UK and Japan active in many fields of trade and services.