# Lamborghini Diablo GT1, GTR and SV-R (1996–2001)

- Source: https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/lamborghini-diablo-gt1/
- Publisher: Racing Car Network (racingcarnetwork.com), the race car marketplace
- Type: car · Brand: Lamborghini
- Discipline: gt-racing, historic-collection
- Series: gt1, one-make-cup
- Era: 1990s
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

Three factory-backed racing Diablos: the SV-R one-make car of 1996, the SAT-built GT1 that raced in Japan from 1997, and the 590 hp GTR of 2000. Only about 65 cars exist across all three. Buyers are collectors and historic GT racers who want a V12 Lamborghini with real period history.

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | V12, naturally aspirated: 5.7 L (SV-R), 6.0 L (GT1, GTR) [11][0][4] |
| Power | SV-R 540 bhp; GTR 590 hp at 7,300 rpm; GT1 655 hp at 7,550 rpm [11][6][1] |
| Torque | GTR 640 Nm at 5,500 rpm [6] |
| Weight | GTR 1,395 kg (65 kg under the Diablo GT); SV-R 191 kg under a road Diablo [8][13] |
| Gearbox | SV-R 6-speed manual; GTR 5-speed manual with optional short fifth; rear-wheel drive on all [12][4] |
| Chassis | Steel tube frame with integrated roll cage; carbon body panels, steel roof, aluminium doors (GTR) [4][7] |
| Brakes | SV-R: Brembo 355 mm front, 335 mm rear; GTR: Brembo racing calipers on the GT system [11][4] |
| Wheels | 18-inch magnesium: OZ then Speedline (SV-R); Speedline centre-lock (GTR) [11][6] |
| Years | SV-R 1996; GT1 1997–98; GTR 1999–2001 [11][0][6] |
| Class | One-make Supertrophy (SV-R, GTR); FIA GT1 homologation (GT1); JGTC GT500 (GT1) [4][0][2] |
| Built | SV-R 28 to 34 depending on source; GT1 2; GTR 30 numbered cars [11][12][0][5] |

## History

Lamborghini had never run a factory racing programme before 1996. That year it built the Diablo SV-R for a one-make series backed by watchmaker Philippe Charriol and organised by SRO [12]. The first 28 cars were built between February and June 1996, and all 28 started the opening race at Le Mans on 14 June [11]. Power rose to 540 bhp through revised injection and variable valve timing, glass became Plexiglas, and air jacks were fitted [11][13]. Buyers paid through a LeasePlan France package that included a season of racing and a road-legal conversion kit [14].

In August 1996 Lamborghini, then owned by Megatech, contracted Signes Advanced Technology of Toulon to build a GT1 car [1][0]. SAT made a carbon body on a new tubular chassis, with a stroked 6.0-litre V12 rated at 655 hp [0][1]. Two cars were built: race chassis VLA12001 and a yellow road-legal Stradale, chassis WLA12000, for homologation [0][1]. The FIA and the Italian ministry confirmed homologation in 1998, but the European programme stopped when Audi took over the company that year [1][0]. The race car went to JLOC in Japan and ran in JGTC GT500 from 1997 to 2000, scoring three points in 1998 [2].

The Diablo GT road car of 1999 gave Lamborghini a base for a new Supertrophy car. The GTR was shown at Bologna in late 1999 and 30 cars were planned for the season opening at Nogaro on 11 June 2000 [6][4][9]. The 6.0-litre V12 gained a lighter crankshaft, titanium rods and revised intake for 590 hp [7][6]. The body was carbon except the steel roof and aluminium doors, with a frame-mounted rear wing and a 5-speed gearbox with an optional short fifth gear [4]. Weight fell to 1,395 kg [8].

After the series ended in 2001, GTRs spread into the FFSA GT Cup, the Spa 24 Hours and Australian GT racing [3][10]. Reiter Engineering ran a modified GTR in FIA GT from 2000 to 2002, scoring points once in 2001 [15]. JLOC rebuilt its GT1 into the JGT-1 for 2001 and kept racing it until 2004 [2].

## Palmarès

The SV-R raced only in its own series: 10 rounds at five circuits in 1996 and 1998, 14 rounds in 1997 [12]. Chassis LA12603 finished second overall in 1996 and third in 1997 [13]. The JLOC GT1 managed 9th, 10th and 11th places in JGTC 1998 for 3 points and 16th in the standings [2]. GTR 12481 won the 2001 GTR Supertrophy and 12478 was runner-up, both under Mig Power [9]. In Australia GTR number 4 won the 2002 Sandown 500 with Paul Stokell and Anthony Tratt, finished 8th in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour, and won 10 of 15 Australian GT races in 2005 with Peter Hackett [10]. In the FFSA GT Cup a Riverside GTR won at Pau in May 2002 [3]. Reiter's FIA GT Diablo scored points once, in 2001 [15].

## What to check before you buy

Match the build number to the chassis and SRO records: SV-Rs are numbered to about 034 and GTRs 1 to 30. Auction catalogues name each car's number, first owner and series history, so a gap in that chain lowers the price. Find the chassis plate and engine number: On the SV-R the chassis number sits on the frame rail between engine and boot, the engine number between the cylinder heads. Confirm both are factory stampings. List every road-conversion part: Street headlights, indicators, aftermarket air conditioning and replacement cages are common on SV-Rs that lived in Japan or the US. Ask what original race parts come with the car. Ask which wheels are fitted: SV-R OZ wheels were replaced by Speedline during the series because they broke. GTRs use Speedline centre-locks. Inspect for cracks and ask for spares. Ask for the last engine, gearbox and clutch service mileage: GTR 12481 had engine, gearbox and clutch serviced at 21,200 km. On a Diablo these are engine-out jobs, so recent invoices matter more than hours since a rebuild claim. Verify the racing history against entry lists: GTRs ran in FFSA GT, Spa 24 Hours, FIA GT and Australian GT after 2001. Public results databases list team, drivers and finish for each event, so claims can be checked. Ask about Polo Storico paperwork: Lamborghini's heritage department certifies originality and makes spare parts for models up to the Diablo. A certificate or parts invoices through a dealer support provenance. Check which historic series will accept it: The 2026 Masters Endurance Legends list names the Diablo 132 GT1 but not the GTR or SV-R. The list is not exhaustive, so get written acceptance before buying for a specific grid.

## Did you know

- All 28 SV-Rs entered the first race at Le Mans on 14 June 1996 and all 28 finished [11].
- The JLOC Diablo GT1 was the first Lamborghini in Gran Turismo 3 because Sony paid JLOC for the licence; it appeared only in the Japanese version [2].
- GTR number 4 finished 8th in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour despite seven tyre failures, 40 laps behind the winning Monaro [10].

## Frequently asked questions

**How many of each were built?** Two GT1 cars (one race car, one Stradale). Thirty numbered GTRs, with Audrain quoting ten extra built and 40 spare chassis. SV-R counts vary: 28 in the first batch, 31 or 32 in most guides, and RM Sotheby's says 34. Ask for the build number and check it against auction catalogues.

**Is a Diablo GTR road legal?** No. It was sold on a bill of sale only for the Supertrophy, with a single seat, Plexiglas windows and no catalytic converters. Some owners use them for track days. SV-Rs were different: LeasePlan buyers got a road-legal kit, and many were later registered in Japan or the US.

**What is the difference between the GT1 and the GTR?** The GT1 was a 1997 SAT-built FIA GT1 car on a new spaceframe with a 655 hp stroked V12; only two exist and one raced in Japan. The GTR of 2000 is a production-based 590 hp track version of the Diablo GT, built in a run of 30 for a one-make series.

**Can I race one in historic GT series today?** The Diablo 132 GT1 is on the 2026 Masters Endurance Legends list for GT1 cars. The GTR and SV-R are not named there or on Peter Auto's Endurance Racing Legends page, so you need a written answer from the organiser. Many owners run them at track days instead.

**Where do parts come from?** Mechanical parts shared with the road Diablo come through Lamborghini Polo Storico, which makes original spares for models up to the Diablo and sells them through dealers. Race-specific items such as carbon panels, wings, Plexiglas and Speedline centre-locks are not catalogued and must be sourced or remade.

**What did a sold car fetch recently?** An SV-R converted for the road made USD 698,000 at RM Sotheby's Miami in February 2026. A GTR with 6,770 km hammered at JPY 122.1 million in Tokyo in January 2025. The Australian GTR with Sandown and Bathurst history sold for 700,000 at Shannons in May 2022.

## Sources

- Lamborghini Diablo GT1 - Guide — https://lambocars.com/diablo-gt1/
- 1998 Lamborghini GT1 Stradale — https://www.rarecarsonly.com/articles/lamborghini/1998-lamborghini-gt1-stradale
- JLOC — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JLOC
- Complete Archive of Lamborghini Diablo GTR — https://www.racingsportscars.com/suffix/archive/Lamborghini/Diablo/GTR.html
- The official press release of the Diablo GT-R — https://lambocars.com/the-official-press-release-of-diablo-gt-r/
- 2000 Lamborghini Diablo GTR, Monterey 2017 lot 258 — https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo17/lots/r181-2000-lamborghini-diablo-gtr/
- 2000 Lamborghini Diablo GTR, Super Car Auction result — https://bhauction.com/en/result/super-car-auction/lots/2000-lamborghini-diablo-gtr
- 2000 Lamborghini Diablo GTR — https://www.audrainautomuseum.org/super-to-hypercars-then-now/2000-lamborghini-diablo-gtr
- Lamborghini Diablo GTR (2000) — https://www.dkeng.co.uk/Vehicle_Archive/1974/lamborghini_diablo_gtr.html
- Lamborghini Diablo GTR — https://radical-mag.com/en/2025/03/21/lamborghini-diablo-gtr-2/
- Sandown 500-winning Lamborghini sells for $700,000 — https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/?p=47912
- Lamborghini Diablo SV-R - Guide — https://lambocars.com/diablo-sv-r/
- 1996 Lamborghini Diablo SV-R, Miami 2026 lot 168 — https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mi26/lots/r0045-1996-lamborghini-diablo-svr/
- 1996 Lamborghini Diablo SV-R profile — https://www.sportscarmarket.com/profile/1996-lamborghini-diablo-sv-r
- Lamborghini Diablo SV-R: race car buying guide — https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-2021/130/lamborghini-diablo-sv-r-race-car-buying-guide/
- Reiter Engineering — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiter_Engineering
- Masters Endurance Legends 1 Eligibility List, 2026 edition — https://cms.mastershistoricracing.com/files/uploads/2026/04/masters-mel1-eligibility-list-2026-1.pdf
- Endurance Racing Legends — https://www.peterauto.fr/en/competition/endurance-racing-legends
- Lamborghini Polo Storico — https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/ownership/classics
- Search results for 'diablo' — https://www.racingcarnetwork.com/?s=diablo
- File:Lamborghini Diablo GT1 Stradale.jpg — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamborghini_Diablo_GT1_Stradale.jpg

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