BMW driver Juha Miettinen died after a seven-car crash during an endurance sports car race at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany on Saturday, organizers of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers said in a statement on Instagram.
He was 66.
“During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (April 18, 2026), a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race,” said the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie organization. “Following the collision involving several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations.
“Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen, after he had been extracted from the vehicle; the driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful.”
Organizers added that the six other drivers involved in the crash were taken to the Medical Center and nearby hospitals for precautionary examinations, but none were facing life-threatening conditions.
The crash occurred about 25 minutes into the four-hour race at the Karussell section of the Nordschleife circuit.
The race did not resume after the stoppage.
Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, who was also preparing to race in Germany, shared his condolences on his Instagram Story.
“Shocked by what’s happened today,” Verstappen said. “Motorsport is something we all love, but in times like this it is a reminder of how dangerous it can be. Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha’s family and loved ones.”
Verstappen was using the circuit to prepare for his first 24-hour sportscar race at the historic circuit on May 16-17, according to ESPN.
Miettinen’s last Instagram post on Friday was a collab post with co-driver Dan Berghult and included a video of a motorsport car.
“Ready for the N24H Qually races,” the post’s caption read. “Two races in two days. The first one into the night. The second one way too early in the morning, just so you get a taste of that Nurburgring 24H race feeling…”
A moment of silence will be held in memory of Miettinen during Sunday’s race.
The Nordschleife layout at the Nürburgring is said to be high-risk, spanning nearly 13 miles through wooded German hills, with more than 150 corners and barriers that are close to the track.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
