Picchio Racing Cars was founded in 1989 with headquarters in Ancarano, Teramo, Italy by Giotto Bizzarrini, Ascoli Piceno, and Ing. Francesco Di Pietrantonio. The company produced race cars, road cars, and electric vehicle platforms, along with supplying knowledge, research, and technical assistance to manufacturers and racing teams.

The company's first car was the SR2, completed in 1998 and also known as the MB1 or A001, was powered by a three-liter BMW straight-6 engine built by Amaroli Racing Engine in Italy. It produces around 420 horsepower and is backed by a five-speed Hewland FT200 transmission. The chassis is a tubular steel structure with riveted and glued aluminum monocoques and clothed in fiberglass. Many of the mechanical aspects were blessed with Bizzarrini's vast engineering experience, including his work in the early 1960s on the legendary Ferrari GTO and with Lamborghini's supercars.

This SR2 made its inaugural debut in July of 1998 at the Misano round of the International Sports Racing Seris and would enjoy a rather lengthy racing career.

The Picchio has raced in the FIA Sports Car Championship (previously the Sports Racing World Cup, the U.S. Grand Am Series, and in the Daytona Prototype division. The MB1 wore the Martini livery in a similar fashion to the Martini Sports Racing and F1 cars of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Martini Picchio was driven by Gianni Giudice and Raffaele Raimondi in the FIA Sports Car Championship at the 500km of Monza where it finished 4th in class and 9th overall. It failed to finish at Spa but placed 4th in class and 11th overall at the RAC Tourist Trophy at Donington. It was running strong during the Sports Racing World Cup at Brno when a wheel nut problem brought the team's efforts to a premature end.

The Picchio was entered by the GPM Racing during the 2000 season with works support and driven by Mauro Prospero and Angelo Amadori. The car placed 3rd at the Aprimatic Trophy Race at Monza, raced at Catalunya, Spa, and Donnington, before placing 7th at Brno.

For the 2002 season, the car was brought to the United States to compete in the Grand American Road Racing Series by the G & W Motorsports Team and managed by Price Cobb. The car was primarily used as a test and promotional car in the U.S.

by Dan Vaughan