# Picchio sports prototypes (SR2, D-USA, DP2, CN2, P4/E2, 4C)

- Source: https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/picchio-prototype/
- Publisher: Racing Car Network (racingcarnetwork.com), the race car marketplace
- Type: car · Brand: Picchio
- Discipline: hillclimb, sports-prototypes
- Series: hillclimb, sports-racer
- Era: 2000s
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

Picchio of Ancarano, Italy, has built sports prototypes since 1998: the BMW-engined SR2 for the FIA Sports Racing World Cup and Grand-Am, the DP2 Daytona Prototype, and the CN2 and P4/E2 hillclimb barchettas. Low production and Italian hillclimb pedigree make them rare, specialist cars for CIVM entrants and historic prototype racers.

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | SR2/SRP2: BMW 3.0 L straight-six, about 420 hp [7][10]; D-USA: BMW L6 3000 cc [3]; DP2: BMW V8 4.9 L [8]; CN2: Honda Type R four-cylinder [0]; P4/E2: 1,750 cc turbo four [0][2]; 4C: 2.0 L AER turbo four, 600-700 hp [12] |
| Power | 420 hp (SR2 BMW, 1999) [7]; 430 cv (SR2 Alfa V6 3.5 L by Ellegi, 2001 car) [6]; about 500 hp (P4 Alfa DTM 2.5 V6, 2015) [5]; over 600 hp (4C E2SH) [0] |
| Weight | DP2: 900 kg curb [8]; 4C E2SH: about 820 kg [12]; CN2: not published (Group CN minimum 535 kg for 1,600-2,000 cc) [13] |
| Gearbox | SR2: Hewland FT200 5-speed [7][9]; SR2 Alfa: Hewland NMT 6-speed sequential [6]; P4/E2 ex Merli: Hewland NMT 6-speed semi-automatic [4]; DP2: Hewland [8] |
| Chassis | SR2/MB1: tubular steel frame with riveted and bonded aluminium panels, glassfibre body [7][10]; DP2: carbon body over tubular steel frame [8]; P4/E2: steel spaceframe with carbon panels and carbon body [4] |
| Brakes | DP2: vented discs, 4-piston calipers front and rear [8]; other models: not published |
| Years | SR2 1998-2000 (Europe), D-USA 2002-2003, DP2 2003-2006, CN2 Light from 2004, P4/E2 from 2010, 4C E2SH 2016 onward, P6 seen in 2025 CIVM [2][3][12] |
| Class | FIA SR2 / Grand-Am SRPII (SR2, D-USA); Grand-Am Daytona Prototype (DP2); FIA CN (CN2); FIA E2B/E2SC (P4/E2); FIA E2SH (4C) [0][2] |
| Built | SR2: a dealer states 6 examples [6]; racingsportscars.com archive shows types A001, MB1, GG1, D-USA and DP2 [15]; hillclimb cars: not published |

## History

Picchio S.r.l. is based in the industrial zone of Ancarano, near Teramo in Abruzzo. The company dates its birth to 1989, when Giotto Bizzarrini designed and built its first prototype with Francesco Di Pietrantonio [1][2]. Picchio still builds race cars, one-off prototypes and electric platforms [1].

The first race car, the SR2, appeared in 1998. It is also known by its chassis codes A001 and MB1 [2][10]. The structure is a tubular steel frame with riveted and bonded aluminium panels and a glassfibre body [7][10]. The 3.0 L BMW straight-six was built by Amaroli and gave around 420 hp through a Hewland FT200 five-speed [7]. Scuderia Giudici debuted the car at Misano in July 1998 in the International Sports Racing Series, then ran it through 1999 and 2000 with Gianni Giudici, Arturo Merzario and Raffaele Raimondi [2][3]. A 1998 entry for the Le Mans round of the ISRS did not arrive [3]. A GG1 variant ran an Alfa Romeo V6 in 2000 [15].

In 2002 Armando Trentini took the car to the United States as the D-USA for Grand-Am's SRPII class. G&W Motorsports ran it to second in the 2002 SRPII standings and a win at the Mont-Tremblant six-hour [2][3]. For 2003 Picchio built the DP2 for the new Daytona Prototype class: a carbon body over a steel tube frame, BMW V8, 900 kg, sold at 375,000 USD with three years of support [8]. The DP2 finished 24th on debut at the 2003 Daytona 24 Hours and took third at Virginia later that year [3]. Steve Marshall won the 2003 SRPII title in a D-USA and Picchio took the constructors' title [2]. DP2s raced on until 2006; a DP3 was tested but never raced [2][3].

From 2004 Picchio turned to hillclimbing with the CN2 Light, an FIA-approved Group CN barchetta later fitted with a Honda Type R engine [0][2]. The P4/E2 followed in 2010 with a 1,750 cc turbo four for the E2B/E2SC classes; Christian Merli won six of seven races in it [2] and opened the 2011 CIVM with a win at Passo dello Spino [11]. A 2015 P4 used an Alfa Romeo DTM 2.5 V6 of about 500 hp with Michele Fattorini [5]. Since 2016 Picchio has also built the Alfa Romeo 4C E2SH silhouette, which won the CIVM class in 2019 and 2021 with Alessandro Gabrielli [0][12].

## Palmarès

SR2: 9th overall and 4th in class at the 1999 Monza 500 km, 14th at the 1999 Tourist Trophy, 3rd at the 2000 Monza Aprimatic Trophy [3][7]; Picchio credits the car with the Italian Prototype Championship (CIP) and the SRWC class title with Giudici, Merzario and Raimondi [0]. D-USA: 2nd in the 2002 Grand-Am SRPII drivers' standings, win at the Mont-Tremblant 6 Hours, 2003 SRPII drivers' title with Steve Marshall and constructors' title [2]. DP2: 24th at the 2003 Daytona 24 Hours, 3rd at Virginia 2003, 25th at Daytona 2004 [3]. P4/E2: six wins from seven races with Christian Merli, including the 2011 Passo dello Spino CIVM opener [2][11]. 4C E2SH: CIVM class titles 2019 and 2021 with Alessandro Gabrielli [12].

## What to check before you buy

Match the chassis code (A001, MB1, GG1, 1-02, MC-01) to the racingsportscars.com archive: Few cars exist and histories are mixed between Europe and Grand-Am; the archive lists each type's entries. Confirm which engine is fitted and who built it: Picchio lists BMW, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar engines for the SR2 and several units for the P4; the engine builder sets rebuild costs. Ask whether the FIA technical passport is current and which class it names: Hillclimb cars are sold with a technical passport; the RCN ex-Merli listing names E2SC 3000 while the 2010 car was 1,750 cc E2B. Inspect the Hewland gearbox oil, dogs and any recent rebuild invoices: A documented FT200 failure from oil starvation cost a complete rebuild on a 1999 car. Check the gearbox type against the class you plan to run: Cars appear with FT200 five-speed, NMT six-speed sequential or paddle-shift semi-automatic; CIVM and CN rules differ on allowed systems. Weigh the car and compare with the class minimum: Group CN minimums run from 475 kg to 625 kg by capacity; the DP2 is 900 kg; the 4C E2SH is about 820 kg. Verify the car's results claims against event classifications: Wins are attributed to drivers such as Merli, Gabrielli, Ingrassia and Iaquinta; only 2011 Spino and the 2019/2021 E2SH titles are independently confirmed here.

## Did you know

- Giotto Bizzarrini, the engineer behind the Ferrari 250 GTO, designed Picchio's first prototype in 1989 [1][10].
- The 1999 Martini-liveried MB1 was repainted Picchio yellow as a US demonstrator, then returned to Martini colours by a Californian owner [9].
- Picchio sold the DP2 Daytona Prototype new for 375,000 USD with a three-year support programme [8].

## Frequently asked questions

**Did Picchio race at the Le Mans 24 Hours?** No record found. The only Le Mans entry in the racingsportscars archive is a 1998 ISRS 2h30 race at Le Mans, where the A001 did not arrive. Picchio's international results came from the SRWC in Europe and Grand-Am in the USA, including the Daytona 24 Hours from 2002 to 2005.

**Which engine does the Picchio CN2 use?** Picchio's current site lists a Honda Type R engine for the CN2 and an Alfa Romeo engine for the CN4. The CN2 Light was presented in 2004 as an FIA-approved Group CN car. Picchio publishes no weight or power figure, so ask the seller for the technical passport.

**What is a Picchio P4/E2?** An FIA E2B/E2SC hillclimb prototype introduced in 2010 with a 1,750 cc turbo four on a steel spaceframe with carbon panels. Christian Merli won six of seven races in it. The ex-Merli car was offered on RCN in 2023 with an AER 1750 turbo and a Hewland NMT 6-speed.

**How many Picchio prototypes exist?** No official figure. A dealer selling a 2001 SR2 states six examples were built. The racingsportscars archive lists five chassis types from 1998 to 2006 (A001, MB1, GG1, D-USA, DP2). Hillclimb production numbers for CN2 and P4 are not published.

**Does Picchio build a TA2 Trans Am chassis?** No source found. Trans Am's TA2 builders in 2025 are Howe Racing Enterprises and Mike Cope Race Cars, and Picchio's own site lists no Trans Am product. Treat any TA2 claim with care until Picchio or the series confirms it.

**Can an SR2 run in historic racing?** Yes. A 1999 MB1 has raced in Masters Endurance Legends, the Velocity Invitational and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion since 2019. Picchio says its SRP2 and Daytona Prototype cars are eligible for US historic events.

## Sources

- Racing cars — https://picchio.com/racing/
- History — https://picchio.com/history/
- Picchio Racing Cars — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picchio_Racing_Cars
- Picchio - All Results — https://www.racingsportscars.com/make/results/Picchio.html
- PICCHIO P4/FIA E2SC 3000 (Ex Merli) — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/picchio-p4-fia-e2sc-3000-ex-merli/
- CIVM: Team Trentino e Picchio P4 — https://www.hdmotori.it/2015-03-02-civm-team-trentino-picchio-p4/
- Picchio SR2 - 6 esemplari — https://www.autoscout24.it/annunci/others-others-picchio-sr2-6-esemplari-benzina-giallo-0806030f-6270-47af-b0c3-618f6d402597
- 1999 Picchio SRP 2 — https://race-cars.com/Advert/Details/129799/1999-picchio-srp-2
- 2003 Picchio DP2 — https://www.supercars.net/blog/2003-picchio-dp2/
- 1999 Martini Picchio BMW FIA 3 Liter Sports Racer — https://motorsportsmarket.com/racecars/1998-bmw-picchio
- Picchio MB1 — https://www.conceptcarz.com/w32015/picchio-mb1.aspx
- Campionato velocità montagna: Merli vince allo Spino — https://archivio.blitzquotidiano.it/agenzie/auto-campionato-velocita-montagna-merli-vince-allo-spino-840659/
- Two Alfa Romeo 4Cs of 670 hp and 700 hp fight for victory in Italy — https://www.italpassion.fr/en/alfa-romeo/deux-alfa-romeo-4c-de-670-ch-et-700-ch-saffrontent-pour-la-victoire-en-italie/
- Group CN — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_CN
- File:Picchio.JPG — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Picchio.JPG
- Picchio - Complete Archive — https://www.racingsportscars.com/make/archive/Picchio.html

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