Glickenhaus Ferrari P4/5 Competizione on fire at the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hour. Image via Facebook.

Glickenhaus Ferrari P4/5 Competizione on fire at the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hour. Image via Facebook.

Not long after setting the fastest-ever Ferrari lap time around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife's tortuous course at 6:51 in qualifying for the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, the P4/5 Competizione of James Glickenhaus caught fire.

The fire happened during a pit stop, when a small fuel spill quickly spread flames across the cockpit and engine compartment. Fortunately, the quick-witted crew had fire extinguishers at the ready, and the fire was brought under control in time to avoid total destruction.

Despite the "ring of fire" as the team described the incident on its Facebook page, the P4/5 Competizione went on to finish 12th overall, as well as claiming the unofficial honor of being the highest-finishing non-German team.

It also marked the first time a hybrid car (the P4/5 uses an F1-style KERS system) entered and completed a 24-hour race, according to the team (a statement later retracted), though it will be far from the last, as Audi's R18 e-tron readies for Le Mans.