The Fiat 500 has taken on and survived the daunting challenge of the Nürburgring 24 Hours with an Engstler-prepared racing version negotiating the 25.9 km, 177 bend lap of the 'green hell' 84 times in 24 hours to reach the finish line. The Engstler-prepared #168 Fiat 500 only turned a wheel on the new circuit a week before the race, and took to the daunting Nordschleife for the first time during the qualifying runs.

The Nürburgring 24 Hour this weekend saw over 220 cars of all different makes and types taking part. Porsches, Dodge Vipers, BMW Z4M Coupes, Aston Martin DBR9s and Vantages, Corvettes, Lamborghinis, Audi RS4s and TTs, Subarus and even an Opel Astra Station Wagon. One very small yet attention grabbing major star of this authentic international motor race was certainly the Fiat 500, race number 168, that was sponsored by Marangoni Tyre and run by Liqui Moly Team Engstler.

In deference to its title sponsor the Fiat 500 R was fitted with Marangoni 190/580 R15 Zeta Linea Racing tyres with slick and rain treads. Taking turns at the wheel of the vehicle were a mix of drivers and journalists from three European countries: Guido Naumann (Germany), Nathan Freke (Great Britain), Remo Friberg (Switzerland) and Jethro Bovingdon (Great Britain).

Having just quit the Firestone Indy Lights series in America, multiple British Champion racer Nathan Freke was a professional who was drafted late into the driving line up after one driver scratched. Before the start of the race he said. "I am very pleased to have this opportunity to compete in one of the world's great races on maybe the greatest race track of all. I had originally passed on this offer because it would have clashed with my planned participation at Indianapolis, and I am very grateful to Marangoni for thinking of me when one of the drivers dropped out. It will be my first ever endurance race and I have never raced past 40 minutes before, I am hoping to help the team to achieve their aim of completing the race."

Following tradition, the 2008 24 Hour race was run on the entire Nürburgring circuit – involving the combination of the track used for Formula 1 Grands Prix and the gruelling Nordschleife – a total of 25.9 kilometres per lap. Continuous ups and downs and no less than 177 bends, all with a different radius and incline, together with weather conditions that can at best be described as unpredictable, have made the Nordschleife famous all over the world. Nicknamed the “green hell”, it is one of the most demanding circuits in the world and, for this reason, one the most appealing to drivers. As well as being the ideal place for both cars and drivers to show off their skills, it is also an important testing circuit for car manufacturers.

“Every year the Nürburgring 24 Hours attracts 150,000 spectators, and is one of the main German motoring events”, commented Andrea Vassura, Marangoni Tyre Spa Sales Director before the start. “In the past, we have always done very well on the Nordschleife, where the public are very passionate and well informed. This year’s experience with the 500 is something quite new, as well as a message on the potential of ‘made in Italy’.”

The Engstler-prepared #168 Fiat 500 only turned a wheel on the new circuit a week before the race, and took to the daunting Nordschleife for the first time during the qualifying runs. Posting a best lap during the qualifying sessions in 12 minutes and 28.362 seconds, just over 4 minutes slower than the pole sitting Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the tiny Fiat 500 lined up on the back row of the grid in 222nd place. However, the small race car ably covered 84 laps of the Nürburgring in 24 hours 2 minutes and 47.721 seconds, to successfully cross the finish line, classified 148th overall out of 150 finishers, and 64 laps behind the race winning Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Marcel Tiemann.

Fiat 500 R – Technical specifications

1368 cc engine, 4 cylinders in-line, 125 HP at maximum 6200 rpm (self-limiting), maximum torque 153 Nm; multi-point electronic injection; super petrol (minimum 98 octane); Bastuck Sportauspuffanlagen exhaust system; Front wheel drive, 6 speed manual transmission with special speed shift and Sachs racing clutch; Independent McPherson front suspension and compound rear axle; KW racing shock absorbers adjustable in height, compression and extension; ALCON brakes, 290 mm in diameter, 4 cylinders with PAGID racing pads; 7 x 15 inch alloy wheels; Marangoni 190/580 R15 Zeta Linea Racing tyres, slick and rain; Safety: Sahler Motorsports integral roll bar with DMSB approval; Sparco 6-point harness adapted to the HANS collar, 80 litre ATL FT-3 tank with electric pump; Dimensions: length 3546 mm; width 1627 mm: height 1408 mm; wheelbase 2300 mm; front track width 1414 mm; rear track width 1408 mm.