Most cars where running higher ride hight for more ground clearance.
I think some of the cars where riding to low or had a exaust that was mounted to low.
Btw that red mk4 ford escort was running a 400 hp cosworth engine and is converted to rear wheel drive pretty fast car.
The red escort is used in the norwegian hillclimb championship.

For the norwegian hill climb vidoe of the red escort whit cosworth klick on bakklop larvik.
http://www.xo-racing.com/div.filmer/