Italian specialist racing car manufacturer Picchio is gearing up for a full blown return to top-line sportscar racing next year.

The small, high-tech company, located near Teramo in central Italy, already has experience of the US sportscar scene after building one of the batch of inaugural 'Daytona Prototype' cars for the newly-resurgent Grand American Sportcar series.

Building on the valuable experience they gained from this early venture, they are now working flat-out on a new chassis for 2005, which fully incorporates the many lessons learnt from their first venture across the Atlantic.

While the new prototype starts to take shape in their 3,200m2 purpose-built workshops, which include the latest CAD/CAM design facilities and an advanced safety department, they are, at the same time, considering options for the 2005 Le Mans Endurance Series.

In fact Picchio have been in action over the last weekend with one of their CN2 prototypes, competing in the ever popular sports-prototype knock-out competition held under the auspices of the 29th Bologna Motor Show.
 

Being the only CN2 class car in the entry list, meant that the 2.0-litre Honda-powered car would line up against three-litre powered rivals. Despite this handicap, and that driver Walter Margelli had very little experience of the car prior to the event, an excellent performance was turned in.

Margelli, using the agility and balance of the little car to his maximum advantage, set sixth fastest preliminary time, and performed well in the heats before being eliminated by one of the much more powerful CN4 class cars, a machine that in fact went on to reach the final.

Picchio presently have four racing cars in production, from the 'Light', an open cockpit two-seat car constructed from tubular aluminium and steel, a mount popular with Italian hillclimb and sprint racers, through the International-regulation CN and SR2 cars, with their lightweight composite bodies, to the advanced-design 'Daytona Prototype', specifically created to take advantage of the recent sweeping new Grand American regulations.

While a Picchio SR2, fitted with an Alfa Romeo engine, is expected to feature in next year's LMES, the focus of attention has now turned to their new DP chassis, a totally new car, that is the result of data and experience gathered over the last three seasons or racing.
 

"Structurally," a Picchio spokesman told Italiaspeed, "the major points of the chassis have been greatly strengthened with the purpose of  maximising the rigidity of the structure, while certain elements of the suspension such as the wishbones have also been strengthened.

"Improvements have been made to optimise the dynamic behaviour of the new car. The supports of the rear wing have been redesigned and optimised. The power steering is now stock-produced.

"The suspension now supports the gearbox, as well as the bell housing between engine and gearbox, and both have been maximised in potential in terms of weight and rigidity."

Ground-up changes have seen the Italian firm focusing on improving both the driveability and habitability of the new chassis, now dubbed the DP3.

Attention has also been paid to making separation and re-assembly of body components faster, while a host of minor new alterations include such details as all-new new type of battery, electric harness system, and driveshafts.
 

The front extractor has been redesigned as the firm's engineers seek to optimise the effectiveness of the front spoiler, which together with the side splitters, and previously mentioned rear wing improvements, enhance the aerodynamic package, and improve downforce. New rear air intakes feature, while the car will now come with 'interchangeable' spoilers to take into account different circumstances.

"The 2005 car will feature a new, repositioned front water radiator, new side air inlets which have been designed for the oil radiators, while the aspiration louvers have been improved to create better ventilation of the cockpit and brakes," concludes Picchio's spokesperson.

Picchio, who are also confident that this new car will be much prettier than the original design, are now actively seeking a partner to run the DP3.

With the continuing growth of interest in the Grand American Sportscar Series for 'Daytona Prototypes', the Italian firm has received interest from "many parties", both established US teams, and potential European entrants who are attracted by this new, cost-effective, sportscar racing class.

While the first generation Picchio DP used a BMW engine, several other powerplant options are now being tested, including a Maserati engine, which has, according to the firm, provoked much interest.