The 25 Hours of Thunderhill is about to begin. We know that 82 cars will see the green flag but after 25 hours of racing, how many will actually see the checker?
The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) 25 Hours of Thunderhill is the longest closed course endurance race in the world, one hour longer than the infamous 24 Heures du Mans in France or the American version the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Some of the same players and even cars from those two different events actually make the trek out to California on a cold December weekend to compete in the world's longest race. Johannes van Overbeek (ex-ALMS driver for Flying Lizard Motorsports) is competing in the event. He was once touted as one of the best Porsche drivers on the planet.
Six different classes will be battling for their own victory as well as the overall win. The faster cars (ES and ESR class) are mandated to run yellow headlamp covers so the slower classes (E0, E1, E2, and E3) know when to "look out!"
The first six hours of the 25 hour long race will be the finale for the Western Endurance Racing Championship (WERC) where teams will be battling for championship points. After the first six hours is up, then all concentration is on "Surviving the 25" and finishing this punishing event.
We will keep you up to date this weekend here on Jalopnik as the action unfolds on the track.
Photos by GotBlueMilk.com Photography