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.
2006 24 Hours of Le Mans | |
Previous: 2005 | Next: 2007 |
Index: Races | Winners |
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.
Pos | No. | Team | Car | Class | Day 1 | Day 2 | Behind |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 4:17.189 | 3:30.466 | Leader | |
2 | 8 | Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 4:17.676 | 3:30.584 | +0.118 | |
3 | 16 | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid-Judd | LMP1 | 4:13.832 | 3:32.584 | +2.118 | |
4 | 17 | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid-Judd | LMP1 | 4:14.447 | 3:32.990 | +2.524 | |
5 | 13 | Courage LC70-Mugen | LMP1 | 4:25.582 | 3:34.120 | +3.654 | |
6 | 14 | Dome S101Hb-Judd | LMP1 | 4:22.873 | 3:34.864 | +4.398 | |
7 | 9 | Creation CA06/H-Judd | LMP1 | 4:22.021 | 3:36.459 | +5.993 | |
8 | 2 | Zytek 06S | LMP1 | 4:27.754 | 3:39.252 | +8.786 | |
9 | 5 | Courage LC70-Judd | LMP1 | 4:23.727 | 3:40.182 | +9.716 | |
10 | 19 | Lola B06/10-AER | LMP1 | 4:37.362 | 3:40.467 | +10.001 | |
11 | 12 | Courage LC70-Mugen | LMP1 | 4:35.943 | 3:40.722 | +10.256 | |
12 | 25 | MG-Lola EX264-AER | LMP2 | 4:34.940 | 3:41.555 | +11.089 | |
13 | 33 | Lola B05/40-AER | LMP2 | 4:34.160 | 3:43.869 | +13.403 | |
14 | 22 | Radical SR9-Judd | LMP2 | 4:43.803 | 3:44.324 | +13.858 | |
15 | 39 | Lola B05/40-AER | LMP2 | 4:37.362 | 3:45.732 | +15.068 | |
16 | 32 | Courage C65-AER | LMP2 | 4:27.357 | 3:47.467 | +17.001 | |
17 | 37 | Courage C65-Mecachrome | LMP2 | 4:45.086 | 3:48.846 | +18.380 | |
18 | 27 | Courage C65-AER | LMP2 | 4:56.168 | 3:50.826 | +20.360 | |
19 | 6 | Lister Storm LMP Hybrid-Chevrolet | LMP1 | 4:31.565 | 3:50.940 | +20.476 | |
20 | 007 | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:31.179 | 3:52.015 | +21.559 | |
21 | 009 | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:32.053 | 3:52.561 | +22.095 | |
22 | 64 | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | GT1 | 4:51.557 | 3:53.100 | +22.534 | |
23 | 20 | Pilbeam MP93-Judd | LMP2 | 4:25.398 | 3:53.285 | +22.819 | |
24 | 69 | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:35.531 | 3:53.611 | +23.145 | |
25 | 67 | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | GT1 | 4:33.561 | 3:53.781 | +23.315 | |
26 | 63 | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | GT1 | 4:54.941 | 3:53.993 | +23.327 | |
27 | 66 | Saleen S7-R | GT1 | 4:35.016 | 3:54.476 | +24.010 | |
28 | 72 | Chevrolet Corvette C5-R | GT1 | 4:42.545 | 3:55.629 | +25.163 | |
29 | 24 | Lola B05/42-Zytek | LMP2 | 4:51.872 | 3:56.123 | +25.657 | |
30 | 35 | Courage C65-Judd | LMP2 | 4:48.714 | 3:56.452 | +25.986 | |
31 | 36 | Courage C65-Mecachrome | LMP2 | 4:50.408 | 3:56.460 | +25.994 | |
32 | 62 | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:35.789 | 3:57.776 | +27.310 | |
33 | 61 | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | GT1 | 4:40.097 | 3:59.822 | +29.356 | |
34 | 53 | Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT | GT1 | 4:58.656 | 4:00.287 | +29.821 | |
35 | 30 | WR LMP04-Peugeot | LMP2 | 5:15.480 | 4:00.775 | +30.309 | |
36 | 50 | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | GT1 | 4:47.924 | 4:01.920 | +31.454 | |
37 | 76 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:41.623 | 4:03.438 | +32.972 | |
38 | 87 | Ferrari F430 GT2 | GT2 | 4:52.423 | 4:04.596 | +34.130 | |
39 | 83 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:53.695 | 4:04.897 | +34.431 | |
40 | 80 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:46.888 | 4:05.266 | +34.800 | |
41 | 90 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:39.912 | 4:05.700 | +35.234 | |
42 | 85 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R-Audi | GT2 | 4:48.691 | 4:06.299 | +35.833 | |
43 | 77 | Panoz Esperante GT-LM-Ford | GT2 | 4:55.638 | 4:06.642 | +36.176 | |
44 | 86 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R-Audi | GT2 | 4:45.916 | 4:07.939 | +37.473 | |
45 | 89 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:54.946 | 4:08.688 | +38.222 | |
46 | 81 | Panoz Esperante GT-LM-Ford | GT2 | 4:50.424 | 4:12.043 | +41.577 | |
47 | 93 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 5:05.305 | 4:14.477 | +44.011 | |
48 | 73 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:57.096 | 4:16.246 | +45.780 | |
49 | 91 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 5:06.716 | 4:17.342 | +46.876 | |
50 | 98 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 5:07.105 | 4:23.547 | +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 (or a Porsche-powered prototype) 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 (NC).
Pos | Class Pos. |
Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Tyre | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine | ||||||||
1 | 1 | LMP1 | 8 | Audi R10 TDI | M | 380 | ||
Audi TDI 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) | ||||||||
2 | 2 | LMP1 | 17 | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid | M | 376 | ||
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | LMP1 | 7 | Audi R10 TDI | M | 367 | ||
Audi TDI 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) | ||||||||
4 | 1 | GT1 | 64 | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | M | 355 | ||
Chevrolet LS7R 7.0L V8 | ||||||||
5 | 4 | LMP1 | 16 | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid | M | 352 | ||
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10 | ||||||||
6 | 2 | GT1 | 007 | Aston Martin DBR9 | M | 350 | ||
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | ||||||||
7 | 3 | GT1 | 72 | Chevrolet Corvette C5-R | M | 346 | ||
Chevrolet LS7R 7.0L V8 | ||||||||
8 | 1 | LMP2 | 25 | MG-Lola EX264 | M | 343 | ||
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
9 | 4 | GT1 | 62 | Aston Martin DBR9 | M | 343 | ||
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | ||||||||
10 | 5 | GT1 | 009 | Aston Martin DBR9 | M | 342 | ||
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | ||||||||
11 | 6 | GT1 | 66 | Saleen S7-R | M | 337 | ||
Ford 7.0L V8 | ||||||||
12 | 7 | GT1 | 63 | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | M | 327 | ||
Chevrolet LS7R 7.0L V8 | ||||||||
13 | 2 | LMP2 | 24 | Lola B05/42 | M | 326 | ||
Zytek ZG348 3.4L V8 | ||||||||
14 | 3 | LMP2 | 27 | Courage C65 | K | 324 | ||
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
15 | 1 | GT2 | 81 | Panoz Esperante GT-LM | P | 321 | ||
Ford (Élan) 5.0L V8 | ||||||||
16 | 2 | GT2 | 83 | Porsche 911 GT3-RS | Y | 320 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
17 | 3 | GT2 | 87 | Ferrari F430GT | M | 311 | ||
Ferrari F136 4.0L V8 | ||||||||
18 | 4 | GT2 | 80 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | M | 309 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
19 | 4 | LMP2 | 33 | Lola B05/40 | G | 297 | ||
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
20 | 5 | LMP2 | 22 | Radical SR9 | D | 294 | ||
Judd XV675 3.4L V8 | ||||||||
21 | 6 | LMP2 | 32 | Courage C65 | M | 294 | ||
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
22 | 5 | GT2 | 93 | Porsche 911 GT3-RS | Y | 291 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
23 | 6 | GT2 | 73 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | D | 282 | ||
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6 | ||||||||
24 | 5 | LMP1 | 2 | Zytek 06S | M | 269 | ||
Zytek ZB408 4.0L V8 | ||||||||
25 | 6 | LMP1 | 19 | Lola B06/10 | D | 267 | ||
AER P32T 3.6L Turbo V8 | ||||||||
26 NC |
7 | LMP2 | 20 | Pilbeam MP93 | M | 244 | ||
Judd XV675 3.4L V8 | ||||||||
27 NC [1] |
8 | GT1 | 53 | Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT | P | 283 | ||
Lamborghini L535 6.0L V12 | ||||||||
28 DNF |
7 | GT2 | 89 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | D | 256 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
29 DNF |
7 | LMP1 | 9 | Creation CA06/H | M | 240 | ||
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10 | ||||||||
30 DNF |
9 | GT1 | 50 | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | M | 222 | ||
Ferrari F133 5.9L V12 | ||||||||
31 DNF |
8 | GT2 | 76 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | M | 211 | ||
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6 | ||||||||
32 DNF |
9 | GT2 | 86 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | M | 202 | ||
Audi 3.8L V8 | ||||||||
33 DNF |
10 | GT1 | 67 | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | M | 196 | ||
Ferrari F133 5.9L V12 | ||||||||
34 DNF |
10 | GT2 | 91 | Porsche 911 GT3-RS | D | 196 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
35 DNF |
8 | LMP2 | 39 | Lola B05/40 | D | 196 | ||
AER P07 2.0L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
36 DNF |
8 | LMP1 | 6 | Lister Storm LMP Hybrid | D | 192 | ||
Chevrolet LS1 6.0L V8 | ||||||||
37 DNF |
9 | LMP1 | 14 | Dome S101Hb | D | 182 | ||
Judd GV5 5.0L V10 | ||||||||
38 DNF |
10 | LMP1 | 12 | Courage LC70 | Y | 171 | ||
Mugen MF458S 4.5L V8 | ||||||||
39 DNF |
11 | GT2 | 90 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | M | 148 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
40 DNF |
9 | LMP2 | 30 | WR LMP04 | P | 134 | ||
Peugeot 2.0L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
41 DNF |
11 | LMP1 | 5 | Courage LC70 | M | 132 | ||
Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10 | ||||||||
42 DNF |
11 | GT1 | 61 | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | M | 124 | ||
Ferrari F133 5.9L V12 | ||||||||
43 DNF |
12 | GT2 | 98 | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | M | 115 | ||
Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | ||||||||
44 DNF |
10 | LMP2 | 36 | Courage C65 | M | 84 | ||
Ford (Mecachrome) 3.4L V8 | ||||||||
45 DNF |
11 | LMP2 | 37 | Courage C65 | M | 48 | ||
Ford (Mecachrome) 3.4L V8 | ||||||||
46 DNF |
12 | LMP2 | 35 | Courage C65 | D | 47 | ||
Judd XV675 3.4L V8 | ||||||||
47 DNF |
13 | GT2 | 85 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | M | 40 | ||
Audi 3.8L V8 | ||||||||
48 DNF |
12 | LMP1 | 13 | Courage LC70 | Y | 35 | ||
Mugen MF458S 4.5L V8 | ||||||||
49 DNF |
14 | GT2 | 77 | Panoz Esperante GT-LM | P | 34 | ||
Ford (Élan) 5.0L V8 | ||||||||
50 DNF |
12 | GT1 | 69 | Aston Martin DBR9 | P | 3 | ||
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 |
Statistics
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans. |
- Pole Position - #7 Audi Sport Team Joest - 3:30.466
- Fastest Lap - #7 Audi Sport Team Joest - 3:31.211
- Distance - 5187.0 km
- Average Speed - 215.409 km/h
- Highest trap speed - #14 Racing for Holland - 331 km/h (warm-up), #9 Creation Autosportif - 332 km/h (qualifying)
References
- The #53 JLOC Isao Noritake entry failed to complete the last lap of the race and thus was penalized to the end of the list of finishers.