R5's,novas and corsas have a massive weight advantage over the escorts and even the fiestas in stock form.THIS MAKES A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE!!!!! im sure the jist of it would be to rasie the back up quite a bit,lower the front right down. Set the rear up to hard,this will stop the weight shifting to the rear (dippin) under hard throttle.Have the front slightly softer.Also run slightly less air in the front tyres(20-24 psi).This will aid grip.Amust is to get the camber set up so you have got maximum tyre to tarmac as possible..............
Finally you need to know how your car behaves and dont give it full beans off the mark....wheel spin dont equal fast.......
You will find the fastest cars will have very little/no spin off the mark then stamp on it at the end of second and into third!!!!!!!!!
these are the areas you need to look in.yet,is is not as simple as it sounds.GOOD LUCK MATE