# Lucchini sports prototypes (1980–2008)

- Source: https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/lucchini-sports-prototype/
- Publisher: Racing Car Network (racingcarnetwork.com), the race car marketplace
- Type: car · Brand: Lucchini
- Discipline: sports-prototypes, hillclimb
- Series: hillclimb, sports-racer
- Era: 1990s
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

Lucchini Engineering of Porto Mantovano built open sports prototypes from 1980 to about 2008, most of them with Alfa Romeo V6 power. They range from steel-framed 1980s barchettas to carbon-tub SR2 and LMP2 cars. Buyers today run them in Italian hillclimbs, historic sprints and track days, where Alfa V6 and Hewland know-how keeps them alive.

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | Alfa Romeo Busso V6, 2.5 or 3.0 litre, 12V or 24V (most cars); also BMW inline-six, Nissan VQ V6 (SR2) and Judd (LMP2) [0][1][12][13] |
| Power | About 250–315 hp for SP90/SP91; about 450 hp for P1-98 and SR2 [2][3][1] |
| Weight | 659 kg (SP91) to 720 kg (P1-98, SR2) [2][3][1] |
| Gearbox | Hewland FT200 5-speed (1980s to SP91); Hewland NMT 6-speed sequential (P1-98, SR2); Hewland FTR sequential (CN4) [1][3][12][13] |
| Chassis | Steel tube frame with aluminium panels and fibreglass body up to 1989; carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque from SP91 (1991) onward [2][16][17] |
| Brakes | AP Lockheed ventilated discs with Girling master cylinders on the SN85 [17] |
| Wheels | 13-inch OZ centre-lock on 1980s cars [17] |
| Years | 1980 to about 2008; production probably stopped in 2009 [0][13] |
| Class | Sport Nazionale and CN (hillclimb), SR2/LMP675, LMP2; today E2-SC and historic groups [0][1][21][20] |
| Built | Chassis numbers run from 008 (1982) to 167 (2008); SP91 three cars, SR2 four cars [0][2][10][13] |

## History

Giorgio Lucchini set up Lucchini Engineering at Porto Mantovano, near Mantua, in 1980 [0]. The first cars were S280 barchettas for Italian national sports-car races. The archive shows them at Monza, Vallelunga, Varano and Magione between 1980 and 1983, with a best finish of sixth [6]. Through the 1980s the SN and SP cars used a steel tube frame with aluminium panels and a fibreglass body [16][17]. Power came from the Alfa Romeo Busso V6 in 2.5 or 3.0-litre form, through a Hewland FT200 five-speed [12][17]. Hillclimbs became the natural home for these cars. Philippe Darbellay took a European hillclimb title in an S289 in 1991 [0].

The SP91 of 1991 moved to a carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque with pushrod suspension. It weighed 659 kg and made about 315 hp [2]. Only three were built [2]. One won the Vallelunga 2 Hours in November 1991, and chassis 084 finished 30th at Le Mans in 1993 [5]. The P3 (1994–1996) and P1 (1997–1998) followed for the FIA CN class [0]. The P1-98 carried the Alfa 3.0 V6 at about 450 hp, a Hewland NMT six-speed sequential and 720 kg [3].

From 1999 the SR2 line raced in the SportsRacing World Cup and then the FIA Sportscar Championship, in the SR2 (LMP675) class [1]. Engines were the Alfa Romeo V6, a BMW inline-six or a Nissan VQ V6 [1]. A wet Spa in 2000 gave Salvatore Ronca and Filippo Francioni a class win after the leading Ferrari 333SP retired [8]. The team then took the SR2 team and constructor titles in 2002 and 2003, against thin opposition [0][8]. Lucchini next built Judd-powered LMP2 cars, the LMP2-04 and LMP2-08, for the Le Mans Series [9]. Chassis 152 finished only two of its eight races between 2004 and 2007 [7].

The CN4 of 2008, with an Alfa 3.0 24V and a Hewland FTR gearbox, was the last hillclimb design. Chassis numbers had reached 167 [13]. Production probably stopped in 2009 [0]. The older cars now run in Italian historic hillclimbs, and a P1-98 still appears in CIVM E2-SC entry lists [19][20][21].

## Palmarès

A Lucchini SP91 won the Vallelunga 2 Hours in November 1991 and chassis 084 finished 30th at Le Mans in 1993 [5]. Philippe Darbellay won a European hillclimb title in an S289 in 1991 [0]. Ronca and Francioni took an SR2 class win at the 2000 Spa round of the SportsRacing World Cup [8]. A Lucchini SR2 finished sixth at Daytona in 2001 [10]. Lucchini won the FIA Sportscar Championship SR2 team and constructor titles in 2002 and 2003 [0][8]. Filippo Francioni won the 2006 Italian prototype championship in a Lucchini Alfa Romeo 12V [0]. The racingsportscars.com archive counts 4 overall wins and 26 class wins for the marque between 1980 and 2009 [4].

## What to check before you buy

Ask for the engine builder's invoice and hours since overhaul: Sellers quote Galetti overhauls; a bare claim without paperwork is worth little on a Busso V6. Ask when the Hewland was last stripped and which ratios are included: Listings advertise revised FT200 or reconditioned FTR units and separate ratio sets. Ask whether bodywork moulds or spare panels come with the car: No factory supply exists; one SP90 sale included moulds, a new body and a rear wing. Match the chassis number to the known list and race archive: Chassis numbers run 008 to 167; racingsportscars.com records entries per chassis. Check the HTP or technical passport date and class: Historic hillclimb classes (4th Raggruppamento) and CIVSA need a current passport. Decide the target class before buying: A 3.0 Alfa P1-98 runs in CIVM E2SC-SS-3000 against Nova Proto and Osella; older cars suit historic groups. Ask when the car last ran under its own power: Auction cars have sat for years; a shakedown reveals fuel, brake and damper faults. Inspect dampers and rocker bearings: Pushrod and rocker suspension is used from SP91 onward; Koni 2-way dampers are fitted to the CN4.

## Did you know

- At Spa in 2000 Salvatore Ronca saw a P1 board and thought it meant first in class; it was the overall lead after the JMB Ferrari 333SP retired [8].
- SN89 chassis Q63 served as Fabio Magnani's test car while he developed the SP91 that ran at Le Mans in 1993 [16].
- SP91 chassis 084 raced at Le Mans in 1993 as car number 35, started 37th and finished 30th [5].

## Frequently asked questions

**Which engine should I look for in a Lucchini?** Most cars carry the Alfa Romeo Busso V6, in 2.5 or 3.0 litre, 12-valve or 24-valve form. It is the easiest to support in Italy, with builders such as Galetti named in listings. BMW inline-six and Nissan V6 cars exist in the SR2 line but are rarer and need their own specialist.

**Is Lucchini Engineering still open for parts?** No current factory activity is confirmed. Production probably stopped in 2009, and the company website is only in web archives. Plan on Alfa V6 and Hewland specialists for mechanicals, and on private moulds for bodywork. Ask whether the seller holds moulds.

**Where can I race one today?** Italian hillclimbs are the main outlet. A P1-98 was entered in CIVM E2SC-SS-3000 in 2024, while SP90 and SN cars run in the historic 4th Raggruppamento. The Italian Sport Prototypes championship is a Wolf one-make series, so a Lucchini is not eligible there.

**Steel frame or carbon tub: which is the better buy?** The 1980s cars have a steel tube frame with aluminium panels, which a general race shop can repair. From the SP91 of 1991 the cars use a carbon and aluminium honeycomb monocoque, which is lighter and stiffer but needs a composite specialist after any crash.

**What do they cost?** Open prices are rare. An SP90 with an overhauled 3.0 12V Alfa was listed at about USD 44,000 in March 2025 on racingcarnetwork.com. A 2002 SR2-class car carried a EUR 40,000–60,000 auction estimate in 2018. CN4 and restored SP90 cars are listed as price on application.

**What gearbox is fitted?** Early cars up to the SP91 use the Hewland FT200 five-speed. The P1-98 and SR2 use the Hewland NMT six-speed sequential, and the 2008 CN4 a Hewland FTR sequential. All are common units, so ratios and rebuild parts are available from Hewland specialists.

## Sources

- Lucchini Engineering — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucchini_Engineering
- Lucchini SR2 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucchini_SR2
- Lucchini SP91 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucchini_SP91
- Lucchini P1-98 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucchini_P1-98
- Lucchini (make page) — https://www.racingsportscars.com/make/Lucchini.html
- Complete Archive of Lucchini SP91 — https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/archive/Lucchini/SP91.html
- Lucchini S280 — https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/Lucchini/S280.html
- Chassis LMP2-04/152 — https://www.racingsportscars.com/chassis/LMP2-04__152.html
- 15 minutes of fame — https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-2004/21/15-minutes-of-fame/
- Paul Ricard test report (Le Mans Series) — https://archive2.dailysportscar.com/viewArticle.cfm@articleUID=71B36170-1143-FDC9-354086AEECC81FB9.html
- Lucchini SR2 group SR2 (1999) — http://tech-racingcars.wikidot.com/lucchini-sr2
- Picchio Racing — https://picchio.com/racing/
- Lucchini SP90 Alfa Romeo 3.0 12V 1990 — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/lucchini-sp90-alfa-romeo-3-0-12v-1990/
- Lucchini CN4 2008 Alfa Romeo V6 24V — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/lucchini-cn4-2008-alfa-romeo-v6-24v/
- Lucchini SP 90 — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/lucchini-sp-90/
- Lucchini SR mod.2002, Lot 33, Racing & Sport Cars — https://www.lotsearch.net/lot/lucchini-sr-mod-2002-44026889
- 1989 Lucchini SN 89, lot 63, Fine Classics & Racing Cars — https://www.aguttes.com/en/lot/3cc4025f-b0b2-4f73-8822-7d19602cff96/3c4df3c3-7184-40f6-bc78-e42f031bf39a
- 1985 Lucchini Sports Racer — https://motorsportsmarket.com/racecars/1985-lucchini-sr2-sports-racer/
- Lucchini SR2 technical data — https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/search/lucchini/sr2
- Sarnano-Sassotetto col maltempo: vincono Lombardi e Riolo — https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/macerata/cronaca/sarnano-sassotetto-col-maltempo-vincono-lombardi-e120f07a
- Francesco Conticelli vincitore Salita Monti Iblei — https://qds.it/francesco-conticelli-vincitore-salita-monti-iblei/
- 33° Trofeo Lodovico Scarfiotti (CIVM), Classifica Assoluta Gara, DOC 5.31 — https://app-cdn.sportity.com/521ddd29-efa6-40ec-bbae-326fd1b5641d/61683da4-b4a1-44cd-933e-72e99b156217_5.31%20Classifica.pdf
- File:Lucchini SR2.jpg — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucchini_SR2.jpg
- Wolf Racing Cars is the exclusive provider of the Italian Sport Prototypes Championship for 2018-2022 — https://archivesovh2021.endurance-info.com/en/?p=136211

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