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The200624 Hours of Le Mans was the 74th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place over 17–18 June 2006. The winners of the race wereFrank Biela,Marco Werner, andEmanuele Pirro, driving theAudi R10 TDI. For the first time in the history of the race, the winner was adiesel-powered car.
Prior to this race theACO 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 theBugatti Circuit. This second pit exit re-enters the track just beyond the Dunlop Chicane and before theDunlop Bridge.
Before the official test days, theFIA 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.
In the LMP1 category, during Wednesday's wet-weather qualifyingPescarolo C60 took the top two spots. Then, a day later, during dry weather conditions the newAudi 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 FrenchIMSA Performance MatmutPorsche took the quickest time; however, Luca Riccitelli took the car off atNord 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 EcosseFerrari 430 thus started at the front for the GT2 class.
Class leaders and the fastest lap time on each day are inbold.
| Pos | No. | Team | Car | Class | Day 1 | Day 2 | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 |  Audi Sport Team Joest | Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 4:17.189 | 3:30.466 | Leader |
| 2 | 8 | Audi Sport Team Joest | Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 4:17.676 | 3:30.584 | +0.118 |
| 3 | 16 |  Pescarolo Sport | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid-Judd | LMP1 | 4:13.832 | 3:32.584 | +2.118 |
| 4 | 17 | Pescarolo Sport | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid-Judd | LMP1 | 4:14.447 | 3:32.990 | +2.524 |
| 5 | 13 | Courage Compétition | Courage LC70-Mugen | LMP1 | 4:25.582 | 3:34.120 | +3.654 |
| 6 | 14 |  Racing for Holland | Dome S101Hb-Judd | LMP1 | 4:22.873 | 3:34.864 | +4.398 |
| 7 | 9 |  Creation Autosportif | Creation CA06/H-Judd | LMP1 | 4:22.021 | 3:36.459 | +5.993 |
| 8 | 2 | Zytek Engineering | Zytek 06S | LMP1 | 4:27.754 | 3:39.252 | +8.786 |
| 9 | 5 |  Swiss Spirit | Courage LC70-Judd | LMP1 | 4:23.727 | 3:40.182 | +9.716 |
| 10 | 19 | Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport | Lola B06/10-AER | LMP1 | 4:37.362 | 3:40.467 | +10.001 |
| 11 | 12 | Courage Compétition | Courage LC70-Mugen | LMP1 | 4:35.943 | 3:40.722 | +10.256 |
| 12 | 25 | Ray Mallock Ltd. | MG-Lola EX264-AER | LMP2 | 4:34.940 | 3:41.555 | +11.089 |
| 13 | 33 |  Intersport Racing | Lola B05/40-AER | LMP2 | 4:34.160 | 3:43.869 | +13.403 |
| 14 | 22 | Rollcentre Racing | Radical SR9-Judd | LMP2 | 4:43.803 | 3:44.324 | +13.858 |
| 15 | 39 | Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport | Lola B05/40-AER | LMP2 | 4:37.362 | 3:45.732 | +15.068 |
| 16 | 32 | Barazi-Epsilon | Courage C65-AER | LMP2 | 4:27.357 | 3:47.467 | +17.001 |
| 17 | 37 | Paul Belmondo Racing | Courage C65-Mecachrome | LMP2 | 4:45.086 | 3:48.846 | +18.380 |
| 18 | 27 | Miracle Motorsports | Courage C65-AER | LMP2 | 4:56.168 | 3:50.826 | +20.360 |
| 19 | 6 | Lister Storm Racing | Lister Storm LMP Hybrid-Chevrolet | LMP1 | 4:31.565 | 3:50.940 | +20.476 |
| 20 | 007 | Aston Martin Racing | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:31.179 | 3:52.015 | +21.559 |
| 21 | 009 | Aston Martin Racing | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:32.053 | 3:52.561 | +22.095 |
| 22 | 64 | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | GT1 | 4:51.557 | 3:53.100 | +22.534 |
| 23 | 20 | Pir Competition | Pilbeam MP93-Judd | LMP2 | 4:25.398 | 3:53.285 | +22.819 |
| 24 | 69 |  BMS Scuderia Italia | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:35.531 | 3:53.611 | +23.145 |
| 25 | 67 |  Convers MenX Team | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | GT1 | 4:33.561 | 3:53.781 | +23.315 |
| 26 | 63 | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | GT1 | 4:54.941 | 3:53.993 | +23.327 |
| 27 | 66 | ACEMCO Motorsports | Saleen S7-R | GT1 | 4:35.016 | 3:54.476 | +24.010 |
| 28 | 72 | Luc Alphand Aventures | Chevrolet Corvette C5-R | GT1 | 4:42.545 | 3:55.629 | +25.163 |
| 29 | 24 | Binnie Motorsports | Lola B05/42-Zytek | LMP2 | 4:51.872 | 3:56.123 | +25.657 |
| 30 | 35 |  G-Force Racing | Courage C65-Judd | LMP2 | 4:48.714 | 3:56.452 | +25.986 |
| 31 | 36 | Paul Belmondo Racing | Courage C65-Mecachrome | LMP2 | 4:50.408 | 3:56.460 | +25.994 |
| 32 | 62 | Team Modena | Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 4:35.789 | 3:57.776 | +27.310 |
| 33 | 61 | Cirtek Motorsport | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | GT1 | 4:40.097 | 3:59.822 | +29.356 |
| 34 | 53 |  JLOC Isao Noritake | Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT | GT1 | 4:58.656 | 4:00.287 | +29.821 |
| 35 | 30 | Gerald Welter | WR LMP04-Peugeot | LMP2 | 5:15.480 | 4:00.775 | +30.309 |
| 36 | 50 | Larbre Compétition | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | GT1 | 4:47.924 | 4:01.920 | +31.454 |
| 37 | 76 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:41.623 | 4:03.438 | +32.972 |
| 38 | 87 | Scuderia Ecosse | Ferrari F430 GT2 | GT2 | 4:52.423 | 4:04.596 | +34.130 |
| 39 | 83 | Seikel Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:53.695 | 4:04.897 | +34.431 |
| 40 | 80 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:46.888 | 4:05.266 | +34.800 |
| 41 | 90 | Krohn Racing | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:39.912 | 4:05.700 | +35.234 |
| 42 | 85 | Spyker Squadron BV | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R-Audi | GT2 | 4:48.691 | 4:06.299 | +35.833 |
| 43 | 77 |  Multimatic TeamPanoz | Panoz Esperante GT-LM-Ford | GT2 | 4:55.638 | 4:06.642 | +36.176 |
| 44 | 86 | Spyker Squadron BV | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R-Audi | GT2 | 4:45.916 | 4:07.939 | +37.473 |
| 45 | 89 | Sebah Automotive Ltd. | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:54.946 | 4:08.688 | +38.222 |
| 46 | 81 | Team LNT | Panoz Esperante GT-LM-Ford | GT2 | 4:50.424 | 4:12.043 | +41.577 |
| 47 | 93 | Team Taisan Advan | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 5:05.305 | 4:14.477 | +44.011 |
| 48 | 73 | Ice Pol Racing Team | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 4:57.096 | 4:16.246 | +45.780 |
| 49 | 91 | T2M Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 5:06.716 | 4:17.342 | +46.876 |
| 50 | 98 | Noël del Bello Racing | Porsche 911 GT3-RSR | GT2 | 5:07.105 | 4:23.547 | +53.081 |
This race marked the first Le Mans win for adiesel engined sports car, theAudi 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 the2006 12 Hours of Sebring.BMW was however the first brand to successfully enter a diesel-powered racing car in an international event when they won theNürburgring 24 Hours, already back in 1998, with their 320d.
This race also marked the first time since the1991 24 Hours of Le Mans thatPorsche (or a Porsche-powered prototype) did not win at least one class. APanoz 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.
Class winners are marked inbold. Cars not completing 70% of the winner's distance are listed as Not Classified (NC).
