2006 24 Hours of Le Mans


The 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 74th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place over 17–18 June 2006. The winners of the race were Frank Biela, Marco Werner, and Emanuele Pirro, driving the Audi R10 TDI. For the first time in the history of the race, the winner was a diesel-powered car.

Pre-race

Prior to this race the ACO redeveloped the area around the Dunlop Curve and Dunlop Chicane, moving the Dunlop Curve in tighter to create more run-off area, while also turning the Dunlop Chicane into a larger set of turns. As part of the development, a new extended pit lane exit was created for motorcycles running the Bugatti Circuit. This second pit exit re-enters the track just beyond the Dunlop Chicane and before the Dunlop Bridge.
Before the official test days, the FIA requested that the sportscars should also use this new pit lane, and mandated a 60 km/h speed limit for the entire 450m length, instead of using the normal pit exit in the Dunlop Curve as planned. This was originally used for the Le Mans test days, but due to complaints from the teams, the ACO decided to return to the old pit lane exit for the race.

Qualifying

In the LMP1 category, during Wednesday's wet-weather qualifying Pescarolo C60 took the top two spots. Then, a day later, during dry weather conditions the new Audi R10 TDIs overtook the Pescarolos to claim the top two positions.
In LMP2, the Ray Mallock Ltd. Lola ran two seconds quicker than the new Intersport Lola.
In LMGT1, the Aston Martin factory squad swept the front row, with the #64 Corvette right behind them.
In GT2, the French IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche took the quickest time; however, Luca Riccitelli took the car off at Nord du Karting at the end of the session, injuring his ankle and badly damaging the chassis of the car. In a unique move, the ACO went against its own rules and granted permission for the team to replace the chassis with a brand new car. The car was still forced to start at the back of the grid. The Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 thus started at the front for the GT2 class.

Qualifying times

Class leaders and the fastest lap time on each day are in bold.
PosNo.TeamCarClassDay 1Day 2Behind
17 Audi Sport Team JoestAudi R10 TDILMP14:17.1893:30.466Leader
28 Audi Sport Team JoestAudi R10 TDILMP14:17.6763:30.584+0.118
316 Pescarolo SportPescarolo C60 Hybrid-JuddLMP14:13.8323:32.584+2.118
417 Pescarolo SportPescarolo C60 Hybrid-JuddLMP14:14.4473:32.990+2.524
513 Courage CompétitionCourage LC70-MugenLMP14:25.5823:34.120+3.654
614 Racing for HollandDome S101Hb-JuddLMP14:22.8733:34.864+4.398
79 Creation AutosportifCreation CA06/H-JuddLMP14:22.0213:36.459+5.993
82 Zytek EngineeringZytek 06SLMP14:27.7543:39.252+8.786
95 Swiss SpiritCourage LC70-JuddLMP14:23.7273:40.182+9.716
1019 Chamberlain-Synergy MotorsportLola B06/10-AERLMP14:37.3623:40.467+10.001
1112 Courage CompétitionCourage LC70-MugenLMP14:35.9433:40.722+10.256
1225 Ray Mallock Ltd.MG-Lola EX264-AERLMP24:34.9403:41.555+11.089
1333 Intersport RacingLola B05/40-AERLMP24:34.1603:43.869+13.403
1422 Rollcentre RacingRadical SR9-JuddLMP24:43.8033:44.324+13.858
1539 Chamberlain-Synergy MotorsportLola B05/40-AERLMP24:37.3623:45.732+15.068
1632 Barazi-EpsilonCourage C65-AERLMP24:27.3573:47.467+17.001
1737 Paul Belmondo RacingCourage C65-MecachromeLMP24:45.0863:48.846+18.380
1827 Miracle MotorsportsCourage C65-AERLMP24:56.1683:50.826+20.360
196 Lister Storm RacingLister Storm LMP Hybrid-ChevroletLMP14:31.5653:50.940+20.476
20007 Aston Martin RacingAston Martin DBR9GT14:31.1793:52.015+21.559
21009 Aston Martin RacingAston Martin DBR9GT14:32.0533:52.561+22.095
2264 Corvette RacingChevrolet Corvette C6.RGT14:51.5573:53.100+22.534
2320 Pir CompetitionPilbeam MP93-JuddLMP24:25.3983:53.285+22.819
2469 BMS Scuderia ItaliaAston Martin DBR9GT14:35.5313:53.611+23.145
2567 Convers MenX TeamFerrari 550-GTS MaranelloGT14:33.5613:53.781+23.315
2663 Corvette RacingChevrolet Corvette C6.RGT14:54.9413:53.993+23.327
2766 ACEMCO MotorsportsSaleen S7-RGT14:35.0163:54.476+24.010
2872 Luc Alphand AventuresChevrolet Corvette C5-RGT14:42.5453:55.629+25.163
2924 Binnie MotorsportsLola B05/42-ZytekLMP24:51.8723:56.123+25.657
3035 G-Force RacingCourage C65-JuddLMP24:48.7143:56.452+25.986
3136 Paul Belmondo RacingCourage C65-MecachromeLMP24:50.4083:56.460+25.994
3262 Team ModenaAston Martin DBR9GT14:35.7893:57.776+27.310
3361 Cirtek MotorsportFerrari 550-GTS MaranelloGT14:40.0973:59.822+29.356
3453 JLOC Isao NoritakeLamborghini Murcielago R-GTGT14:58.6564:00.287+29.821
3530 Gerald WelterWR LMP04-PeugeotLMP25:15.4804:00.775+30.309
3650 Larbre CompétitionFerrari 550-GTS MaranelloGT14:47.9244:01.920+31.454
3776 IMSA Performance MatmutPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT24:41.6234:03.438+32.972
3887 Scuderia EcosseFerrari F430 GT2GT24:52.4234:04.596+34.130
3983 Seikel MotorsportPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT24:53.6954:04.897+34.431
4080 Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT24:46.8884:05.266+34.800
4190 Krohn RacingPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT24:39.9124:05.700+35.234
4285 Spyker Squadron BVSpyker C8 Spyder GT2-R-AudiGT24:48.6914:06.299+35.833
4377 Multimatic Team PanozPanoz Esperante GT-LM-FordGT24:55.6384:06.642+36.176
4486 Spyker Squadron BVSpyker C8 Spyder GT2-R-AudiGT24:45.9164:07.939+37.473
4589 Sebah Automotive Ltd.Porsche 911 GT3-RSRGT24:54.9464:08.688+38.222
4681 Team LNTPanoz Esperante GT-LM-FordGT24:50.4244:12.043+41.577
4793 Team Taisan AdvanPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT25:05.3054:14.477+44.011
4873 Ice Pol Racing TeamPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT24:57.0964:16.246+45.780
4991 T2M MotorsportPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT25:06.7164:17.342+46.876
5098 Noël del Bello RacingPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGT25:07.1054:23.547+53.081

Race

This race marked the first Le Mans win for a diesel engined sports car, the Audi R10 TDI, and the second time that a diesel-powered sports car won a major international motorsports event, following the Audi R10 TDI's win at the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring.
This race also marked the first time since the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans that Porsche did not win at least one class. A Panoz Esperante was successful in upsetting the contingent of Porsches in the GT2 class.
Corvette Racing's 355 lap pace in their GT1 class win became the record for a homologated GT vehicle.

Official results

Class winners are marked in bold. Cars not completing 70% of the winner's distance are listed as Not Classified.
PosClass
Pos.
ClassNoTeamDriversChassisTyreLaps
PosClass
Pos.
ClassNoTeamDriversEngineTyreLaps
11LMP18 Audi Sport Team Joest Frank Biela
Marco Werner
Emanuele Pirro
Audi R10 TDI380
11LMP18 Audi Sport Team Joest Frank Biela
Marco Werner
Emanuele Pirro
Audi TDI 5.5L Turbo V12
380
22LMP117 Pescarolo Sport Sébastien Loeb
Éric Hélary
Franck Montagny
Pescarolo C60 Hybrid376
22LMP117 Pescarolo Sport Sébastien Loeb
Éric Hélary
Franck Montagny
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10376
33LMP17 Audi Sport Team Joest Rinaldo Capello
Tom Kristensen
Allan McNish
Audi R10 TDI367
33LMP17 Audi Sport Team Joest Rinaldo Capello
Tom Kristensen
Allan McNish
Audi TDI 5.5L Turbo V12
367
41GT164 Corvette Racing Oliver Gavin
Olivier Beretta
Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R355
41GT164 Corvette Racing Oliver Gavin
Olivier Beretta
Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet LS7R 7.0L V8355
54LMP116 Pescarolo Sport Emmanuel Collard
Érik Comas
Nicolas Minassian
Pescarolo C60 Hybrid352
54LMP116 Pescarolo Sport Emmanuel Collard
Érik Comas
Nicolas Minassian
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10352
62GT1007 Aston Martin Racing Tomáš Enge
Darren Turner
Andrea Piccini
Aston Martin DBR9350
62GT1007 Aston Martin Racing Tomáš Enge
Darren Turner
Andrea Piccini
Aston Martin 6.0L V12350
73GT172 Luc Alphand Aventures Luc Alphand
Patrice Goueslard
Jérôme Policand
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R346
73GT172 Luc Alphand Aventures Luc Alphand
Patrice Goueslard
Jérôme Policand
Chevrolet LS7R 7.0L V8346
81LMP225 Ray Mallock Ltd. Mike Newton
Thomas Erdos
Andy Wallace
MG-Lola EX264343
81LMP225 Ray Mallock Ltd. Mike Newton
Thomas Erdos
Andy Wallace
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4343
94GT162 Russian Age Racing
Team Modena
Antonio García
David Brabham
Nelson Piquet Jr.
Aston Martin DBR9343
94GT162 Russian Age Racing
Team Modena
Antonio García
David Brabham
Nelson Piquet Jr.
Aston Martin 6.0L V12343
105GT1009 Aston Martin Racing Pedro Lamy
Stéphane Sarrazin
Stéphane Ortelli
Aston Martin DBR9342
105GT1009 Aston Martin Racing Pedro Lamy
Stéphane Sarrazin
Stéphane Ortelli
Aston Martin 6.0L V12342
116GT166 ACEMCO Motorsports Johnny Mowlem
Terry Borcheller
Christian Fittipaldi
Saleen S7-R337
116GT166 ACEMCO Motorsports Johnny Mowlem
Terry Borcheller
Christian Fittipaldi
Ford 7.0L V8337
127GT163 Corvette Racing Ron Fellows
Johnny O'Connell
Max Papis
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R327
127GT163 Corvette Racing Ron Fellows
Johnny O'Connell
Max Papis
Chevrolet LS7R 7.0L V8327
132LMP224 Binnie Motorsports William Binnie
Yojiro Terada
Allen Timpany
Lola B05/42326
132LMP224 Binnie Motorsports William Binnie
Yojiro Terada
Allen Timpany
Zytek ZG348 3.4L V8326
143LMP227 Miracle Motorsports Andy Lally
John Macaluso
Ian James
Courage C65324
143LMP227 Miracle Motorsports Andy Lally
John Macaluso
Ian James
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4324
151GT281 Team LNT Lawrence Tomlinson
Tom Kimber-Smith
Richard Dean
Panoz Esperante GT-LM321
151GT281 Team LNT Lawrence Tomlinson
Tom Kimber-Smith
Richard Dean
Ford 5.0L V8321
162GT283 Seikel Motorsport
Farnbacher Racing
Lars-Erik Nielsen
Pierre Ehret
Dominik Farnbacher
Porsche 911 GT3-RS320
162GT283 Seikel Motorsport
Farnbacher Racing
Lars-Erik Nielsen
Pierre Ehret
Dominik Farnbacher
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6320
173GT287 Scuderia Ecosse Andrew Kirkaldy
Chris Niarchos
Tim Mullen
Ferrari F430GT311
173GT287 Scuderia Ecosse Andrew Kirkaldy
Chris Niarchos
Tim Mullen
Ferrari F136 4.0L V8311
184GT280 Flying Lizard Motorsports Johannes van Overbeek
Patrick Long
Seth Neiman
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR309
184GT280 Flying Lizard Motorsports Johannes van Overbeek
Patrick Long
Seth Neiman
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6309
194LMP233 Intersport Racing Clint Field
Liz Halliday
Duncan Dayton
Lola B05/40297
194LMP233 Intersport Racing Clint Field
Liz Halliday
Duncan Dayton
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4297
205LMP222 Rollcentre Racing Martin Short
João Barbosa
Stuart Moseley
Radical SR9294
205LMP222 Rollcentre Racing Martin Short
João Barbosa
Stuart Moseley
Judd XV675 3.4L V8294
216LMP232 Barazi-Epsilon Juan Barazi
Michael Vergers
Neil Cunningham
Courage C65294
216LMP232 Barazi-Epsilon Juan Barazi
Michael Vergers
Neil Cunningham
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4294
225GT293 Team Taisan Advan Kazuyuki Nishizawa
Shinichi Yamaji
Philip Collin
Porsche 911 GT3-RS291
225GT293 Team Taisan Advan Kazuyuki Nishizawa
Shinichi Yamaji
Philip Collin
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6291
236GT273 Gordon Racing Team
Ice Pol Racing Team
Yves-Emmanuel Lambert
Christian Lefort
Romain Iannetta
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR282
236GT273 Gordon Racing Team
Ice Pol Racing Team
Yves-Emmanuel Lambert
Christian Lefort
Romain Iannetta
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6282
245LMP12 Zytek Engineering
Team Essex Invest
John Nielsen
Casper Elgaard
Philip Andersen
Zytek 06S269
245LMP12 Zytek Engineering
Team Essex Invest
John Nielsen
Casper Elgaard
Philip Andersen
Zytek ZB408 4.0L V8269
256LMP119 Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport Bob Berridge
Gareth Evans
Peter Owen
Lola B06/10267
256LMP119 Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport Bob Berridge
Gareth Evans
Peter Owen
AER P32T 3.6L Turbo V8267
26
NC
7LMP220 Pir Competition Marc Rostan
Simon Pullan
Chris MacAllister
Pilbeam MP93244
26
NC
7LMP220 Pir Competition Marc Rostan
Simon Pullan
Chris MacAllister
Judd XV675 3.4L V8244
27
NC
8GT153 JLOC Isao Noritake Marco Apicella
Koji Yamanishi
Yasutaka Hinoi
Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT283
27
NC
8GT153 JLOC Isao Noritake Marco Apicella
Koji Yamanishi
Yasutaka Hinoi
Lamborghini L535 6.0L V12283
28
DNF
7GT289 Sebah Automotive Ltd. Christian Ried
Xavier Pompidou
Thorkild Thyrring
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR256
28
DNF
7GT289 Sebah Automotive Ltd. Christian Ried
Xavier Pompidou
Thorkild Thyrring
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6256
29
DNF
7LMP19 Creation Autosportif Ltd. Felipe Ortiz
Giuseppe Gabbiani
Jamie Campbell-Walter
Creation CA06/H240
29
DNF
7LMP19 Creation Autosportif Ltd. Felipe Ortiz
Giuseppe Gabbiani
Jamie Campbell-Walter
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10240
30
DNF
9GT150 Larbre Compétition Patrick Bornhauser
Jean-Luc Blanchemain
Gabriele Gardel
Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello222
30
DNF
9GT150 Larbre Compétition Patrick Bornhauser
Jean-Luc Blanchemain
Gabriele Gardel
Ferrari F133 5.9L V12222
31
DNF
8GT276 IMSA Performance Matmut Raymond Narac
Luca Riccitelli
Romain Dumas
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR211
31
DNF
8GT276 IMSA Performance Matmut Raymond Narac
Luca Riccitelli
Romain Dumas
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6211
32
DNF
9GT286 Spyker Squadron b.v. Jeroen Bleekemolen
Mike Hezemans
Jonny Kane
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R202
32
DNF
9GT286 Spyker Squadron b.v. Jeroen Bleekemolen
Mike Hezemans
Jonny Kane
Audi 3.8L V8202
33
DNF
10GT167 Convers MenX Team Alexey Vasilyev
Robert Pergl
Peter Kox
Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello196
33
DNF
10GT167 Convers MenX Team Alexey Vasilyev
Robert Pergl
Peter Kox
Ferrari F133 5.9L V12196
34
DNF
10GT291 T2M Motorsport Yutaka Yamagishi
Jean-René de Fournoux
Miro Konopka
Porsche 911 GT3-RS196
34
DNF
10GT291 T2M Motorsport Yutaka Yamagishi
Jean-René de Fournoux
Miro Konopka
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6196
35
DNF
8LMP239 Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport
ASM Team Racing for Portugal
Miguel Amaral
Warren Hughes
Miguel Ángel de Castro
Lola B05/40196
35
DNF
8LMP239 Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport
ASM Team Racing for Portugal
Miguel Amaral
Warren Hughes
Miguel Ángel de Castro
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4196
36
DNF
8LMP16 Lister Storm Racing Gavin Pickering
Nicolas Kiesa
Jens Møller
Lister Storm LMP Hybrid192
36
DNF
8LMP16 Lister Storm Racing Gavin Pickering
Nicolas Kiesa
Jens Møller
Chevrolet LS1 6.0L V8192
37
DNF
9LMP114 Racing for Holland Jan Lammers
Alex Yoong
Stefan Johansson
Dome S101Hb182
37
DNF
9LMP114 Racing for Holland Jan Lammers
Alex Yoong
Stefan Johansson
Judd GV5 5.0L V10182
38
DNF
10LMP112 Courage Compétition Sam Hancock
Alexander Frei
Gregor Fisken
Courage LC70171
38
DNF
10LMP112 Courage Compétition Sam Hancock
Alexander Frei
Gregor Fisken
Mugen MF458S 4.5L V8171
39
DNF
11GT290 White Lightning Racing
Krohn Racing
Jörg Bergmeister
Niclas Jönsson
Tracy Krohn
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR148
39
DNF
11GT290 White Lightning Racing
Krohn Racing
Jörg Bergmeister
Niclas Jönsson
Tracy Krohn
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6148
40
DNF
9LMP230 Gerard Welter Patrice Roussel
Frédéric Hauchard
Julien Briché
WR LMP04134
40
DNF
9LMP230 Gerard Welter Patrice Roussel
Frédéric Hauchard
Julien Briché
Peugeot 2.0L Turbo I4134
41
DNF
11LMP15 Swiss Spirit Harold Primat
Marcel Fässler
Philipp Peter
Courage LC70132
41
DNF
11LMP15 Swiss Spirit Harold Primat
Marcel Fässler
Philipp Peter
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10132
42
DNF
11GT161 Russian Age Racing
Cirtek Motorsport
Tim Sugden
Nigel Smith
Christian Vann
Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello124
42
DNF
11GT161 Russian Age Racing
Cirtek Motorsport
Tim Sugden
Nigel Smith
Christian Vann
Ferrari F133 5.9L V12124
43
DNF
12GT298 Noël del Bello Racing Adam Sharpe
Patrick Bourdais
Tom Cloet
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR115
43
DNF
12GT298 Noël del Bello Racing Adam Sharpe
Patrick Bourdais
Tom Cloet
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6115
44
DNF
10LMP236 Paul Belmondo Racing Claude-Yves Gosselin
Karim A. Ojjeh
Pierre Ragues
Courage C6584
44
DNF
10LMP236 Paul Belmondo Racing Claude-Yves Gosselin
Karim A. Ojjeh
Pierre Ragues
Ford 3.4L V884
45
DNF
11LMP237 Paul Belmondo Racing Jean-Bernard Bouvet
Didier André
Yann Clairay
Courage C6548
45
DNF
11LMP237 Paul Belmondo Racing Jean-Bernard Bouvet
Didier André
Yann Clairay
Ford 3.4L V848
46
DNF
12LMP235 G-Force Racing Franck Hahn
Jean-François Leroch
Ed Morris
Courage C6547
46
DNF
12LMP235 G-Force Racing Franck Hahn
Jean-François Leroch
Ed Morris
Judd XV675 3.4L V847
47
DNF
13GT285 Spyker Squadron b.v. Donny Crevels
Peter Dumbreck
Tom Coronel
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R40
47
DNF
13GT285 Spyker Squadron b.v. Donny Crevels
Peter Dumbreck
Tom Coronel
Audi 3.8L V840
48
DNF
12LMP113 Courage Compétition Shinji Nakano
Jean-Marc Gounon
Haruki Kurosawa
Courage LC7035
48
DNF
12LMP113 Courage Compétition Shinji Nakano
Jean-Marc Gounon
Haruki Kurosawa
Mugen MF458S 4.5L V835
49
DNF
14GT277 Multimatic Motorsport Team Panoz Gunnar Jeannette
Scott Maxwell
Tom Milner
Panoz Esperante GT-LM34
49
DNF
14GT277 Multimatic Motorsport Team Panoz Gunnar Jeannette
Scott Maxwell
Tom Milner
Ford 5.0L V834
50
DNF
12GT169 BMS Scuderia Italia Fabrizio Gollin
Fabio Babini
Christian Pescatori
Aston Martin DBR93
50
DNF
12GT169 BMS Scuderia Italia Fabrizio Gollin
Fabio Babini
Christian Pescatori
Aston Martin 6.0L V123

Statistics