Audi became the first manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel engine in 2006. The winning car was the Audi R10 TDI, driven by Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner.
The result was a major technological milestone because diesel engines had traditionally been associated with fuel economy rather than outright endurance-racing performance. Audi’s R10 used a 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V12 TDI producing more than 650 horsepower and over 1,100 newton-metres of torque.
Car number 8 completed the race successfully, while the sister Audi suffered setbacks. The R10’s efficiency allowed it to run long stints between pit stops, an important advantage in a 24-hour event. Audi had already tested the car in the 12 Hours of Sebring earlier in 2006.
The achievement is sometimes confused with the first diesel race victory anywhere: BMW had won the Nürburgring 24 Hours with a diesel-powered 320d in 1998. Audi’s distinction was specifically the first diesel victory at Le Mans.