The world has three great delicacies, as you know, which are caviar, foie gras, and truffles. Now, what are the world's three greatest races? Right! They are the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. These races are known all over the world and are closely watched by a large number of fans. Which of these races involves the longest driving time? The 24 Hours of Le Mans. Currently, there are a total of three major 24-hour races in the world: the 24 Hours of Le Mans (France), the 24 Hours of Spa (Belgium), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours (Germany).
In Japan, a 24-hour race is currently held in Tokachi, Hokkaido. During the dawn of motor sports in Japan (the second half of the 1960s), Fuji Speedway also held a 24-hour race and the famous Toyota 2000GT won the overall championship of that race in 1967. Now, in a 24-hour race, including the preparation time and the clean-up time after reaching the finish line, those involved must remain awake for 30 hours. So you can imagine just how demanding these races are physically. Since the drivers take turns driving the car, they are able to take naps. More recently, however, various therapeutic measures are being incorporated to maximize driver potential, such as intravenous injections of nutrients and sports massage. A 24-hour race requires high performance and durability from the machine itself, but the same is also true for the people on the team. It is not an overstatement to say that such races are won based on physical strength.
The conditions are even more brutal on the machines. Unlike the drivers, the machines must run continuously on the racetrack, except for the time spent in the pit for refueling and tire changes. The load on the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires is enormous. This is why carmakers and parts manufacturers regard 24-hour races as part of their development process and consider their participation in these “moving testing rooms” to be so significant.

The Nürburgring 24 Hours takes place on the Northern Loop (Nordschleife), which is 20.8-km long. Nürburgring has been known as the Mecca for carmakers to test their newly developed sports models, and many world-famous sports cars have had their potential tested there. Toyota's next-generation sports car, scheduled to debut in the near future, will also surely undergo final testing there.
Located in the mountains, Nürburgring is an undulating, narrow, and bumpy course, making it driver-unfriendly to say the least. Moreover, its many blind corners demand that drivers possess superb technique and minds of steel. The single-lap driving time for most commercially sold vehicles is 9 to 10 minutes. Even this is fast, but when a vehicle's lap time drops below 9 minutes, it is rated as a top-level sports car. Actually, lap times of less than 7 minutes have been recorded for some racecars. Just imagining how fast that would be makes one shiver.
In recent years, entries have exceeded 200 cars, led by monster machines that would put the German Touring Car Championship to shame and full-fledged GT racing machines, followed by ordinary cars that are merely outfitted with safety equipment for entering the race. Watching these cars is a lot of fun, and the number of spectators usually exceeds 200,000.

The Nürburgring 24 Hours is often referred to as the world's greatest grassroots race. The qualifications requirements for entering the race are relatively relaxed. Essentially, anyone can enter as long as he or she has an international driver's license, a machine that satisfies the race rules, and the passion to race. While the skill level among top drivers is high, one of the attractions of the Nürburgring 24 Hours is the fact that amateurs can compete in the same race with top-rated drivers from around the world.
Spectators come to the circuit in campers and vans, enjoying the 24 hours by either camping out or maybe barbequing. Everyone participates in the 24-hour race in his or her own way. For example, two generations of one family make up the official staff who support the race-side operations. One driver revealed, “I was brought out of my drowsiness at one corner by the smell of roasting meat,” while another confided, “Every year, I look forward to being cheered by the same family waving its national flag at the same corner.” Fans support the drivers and the drivers respond to them, while local officials whip up excitement about the race. In other words, this is a community-based event dependant on the great relationship between all of the involved parties.
It is not an overstatement to say that this is a car-racing version of the New Year's Hakone Ekiden road relay race so dear to the hearts of Japanese or the recent Tokyo Marathon. Here too, grueling challenge and heartwarming connection coexist.