Host: On May 13, 2010, the qualifying round of the 38th Nurburgring 24 Hour Endurance Race began in skies overcast with heavy clouds and occasional rain and with freezing temperatures has the winter had returned.

The current four time consecutive champion Manthey-Racing is going for its 5th consecutive win in car number one, Porsche GT3 R.

Olaf Manthey: The competition has become stronger with Audi and BMW, but this is something that motives us even more. So, we’ll see what happens with the results at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Host: The Porsche GT3 R Hybrid with its Williams Flywheel-type hybrid mechanism placed ninth in the qualifying session.

Audi who had barely missed a debut win last year in a fierce battle with Manthey-Racing brought five R8 LMS works machines and two semi-works machines to ensure their victory.

Harry Unflath: Our objective is to be recognized in the touring car sport, not only in the short distance races, but also in classic races like this 24h here in Nurburgring. And so, our goal is to achieve the top position on the Nordschleife.

Host: BMW gathered top drivers from a variety of racing categories for their two M3 GT2 machines.

Volkswagen entered three Sciroccos powered by natural gas. They are breaking new ground with an eco-friendly engine.

Kris Nissen: We are only running with gas but we are running with a biogas. And with a biogas, we create minus 80% CO2; that we are very clean and I think we have the cleanest car in the world for racing.

Host: From Japan was the 500 car limited production Supercar, the Lexus LFA, a regular now at Nurburgring is the Subaru Impreza and team Falken, one of the first leading Japanese challengers of the Nurburgring.

Female racing driver Sabine Schmitz who grew up around this racing town of Nurburgring is racing this year in a Porsche. A variety of racing cars and drivers from all over had gathered here once again.

In addition to the harsh weather conditions of fog and rain, the World Car Awards Team was plagued by a fuel system problem and was unable to complete a good qualifying lap.

Their fourth driver was professional racing driver Hideshi Matsuda.

Hideshi Matsuda: I plan to hold back. And that’s something that is really important in an endurance race. Of course, now that everyone is getting better and better in their cars, someone has to hold them back, otherwise, they’ll keep going making the risk higher and making conditions harder for the car. Completing the race is the important thing and focusing on that; what I have to do is not overdo it.

Host: They barely managed to get the car out on the course and only qualified at 174th place.

The dawn of the fitful battle had come. Over 200,000 racing fans gathered from all over the world camping in the Eifel Forest, they awaited in silence for the start of the race. The new multiplex—building behind the grandstand is also full of tourists. Just before the start, the sun peeks out for the first time this week. Approximately 200 machines, drivers and team staff fill the grid zone. But the World Car Award Team is again plagued by the fuel system problem immediately after starting. Even Kazunori who is the starting driver can not hide his anxiety.

Male: Can you rev the engine two or three times?

Kazunori Yamauchi: Yes, I think it’s revving up properly.

Host: The machine finally makes it out onto the dummy grid. Everything is ready.

Kazunori Yamauchi: I think it’s starting to move.

Male: Roger. Good luck!

Kazunori Yamauchi: And off I go!

Host: Carrying the dreams and ambitions of the drivers, staff, fans and all the residents of the Nurburgring racing town, approximately 200 cars make for the goal line waiting 24 hours ahead.

The Lexus IS F with Kazunori Yamauchi had the wheel made it start. The 24 hours of the World Car Award Team had begun.

The Porsche GT3 R, car number one of the Manthey-Racing Team rockets pass the group of Audis as though to take revenge for the qualifying round and leads the race.

The crowd goes wild for the defending champion who passed the grandstands in first place.

Male: How’s the car feeling?

Kazunori Yamauchi: Not bad. Surface is slippery, that’s all.

Host: Kazunori carefully makes his last on the dusty, slippery road just after the start. But in the crowd of 200 racing machines, there are many traps awaiting the unwary.

Kazunori Yamauchi: Hit by a BMW on the rear on turn one.

Male: Wow bad? Really bad?

Kazunori Yamauchi: No problems with the car, probably.

Drove over oil and nearly spun.

Male: A lot of oil at the final chicane; that was close.

Kazunori Yamauchi: Yes, I was very nervous. It has only just begun and I was worried about breaking the car at this early stage.

Host: Their relief for the successful start was cut short as the fuel problem arose again, taking much time for repairs. This place has been far behind in the rankings.

In two hours into the race, Manthey-Racing’s Porsche GT3 R and the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid had both the top and second place positions. The King of the Nurburgring had taken his position. Chasing immediately behind the two are three Audi R8 LMS. It had been five years since BMW last raced with a works team and they brought two cars to the race but early on, car number 26 went off the track in a collision, putting them far behind.

The Lexus LFA had been tested extensively at the Nurburgring and will be going into commercial production this year. This is the fifth challenge of the STI Impreza at the Nurburgring. The natural gas powered VW Scirocco dominates the top three positions of the AT class.

A sporting legend at the Nurburgring, Olaf Manthey will end its long racing career this year.

As for the World Car Awards Team, the driver is changed from Owen to Peter.

Male: The condition of the car is very good. The steering is very neutral and very good. The car is extremely stable.

Host: Five hours into the race, the top group is repeating laps at around eight minutes, 30 seconds, an incredible pace for an endurance race.

Dodging past much slower cars one after another, Pete workers performed exactly according to plan. It may be the world’s biggest grass roots race but behind the scenes is a high speed battle between car manufacturers.

—an incredible veteran driver who has participated in all the races since 1970 finally decided to retire due to the dramatic increase in speed in recent years.

Five hours from the start, Kazunori goes for his second step for the World Car Awards Team. Auxiliary lights are installed to fight the darkness of the Nurburgring. By this time, they had improved their position from 170 to 130.

But there’s no room for carelessness.

Kazunori Yamauchi: The brakes stopped working. The pedal feels very heavy when they are not working. Ah, I get it. They don’t work when there is no time off the throttle, if you step on the brakes immediately after coming off the throttle. It doesn’t work. It must be lacking enough vacuum. If I let off the accelerator for a bit they work again.

Male: Be very careful and brake well in advance.

Kazunori Yamauchi: Roger!

Host: Notable at the 24 hours of Nurburgring is the entry of eco-friendly machines. The Scirocco runs at the top of its class with its natural gas engine showcasing one possible future of motor sports at the Nurburgring.

Six hours into the race, darkness envelopes the circuit and the Nurburgring shows a new face.