The two most extensive roadways on the planet, the R297 Amur in Russia and the Pan-American Highway, also referred to as Panamericana, were to be first traversed by a natural gas automobile in 2009 and 2010—that was the objective of world record and long-distance driver Rainer Zietlow.

Thus, on October 5, Rainer Zietlow, photographer Franz Janusiewicz, cameraman Benny Wagener, and the two drivers, Roman Huber and Leopold Freund, embarked on the first leg of a two-part, 15,437-kilometer odyssey.

The journey took them from Lisbon via Moscow and Seoul to Tokyo. In addition to a natural gas-driven Caddy Maxi EcoFuel, which could travel 3,000 kilometers thanks to its additional tanks, the team used a Volkswagen T5 Multivan. During the longest stretch, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, the team had to cope with extreme temperature differences and difficult road conditions.

The natural gas station network in Russia was fine until the team reached Lake Baikal. From that point on, they had to call a mobile filling station to reach Vladivostok. On the ferry to Tokyo, they were alone with the crew, as this ferry is only used to transport used Asian vehicles to Russia. There were only three natural gas stations in Japan at that time, so everyone was excited to see a CNG car from Germany.

Finally, Rainer Zietlow donated ten euro cents for every kilometer driven to an SOS Children’s Village in Moscow, which he also visited to deliver the donation in person.