The motorsport community is mourning the loss of driver Juha Miettinen, 66, who tragically passed away after being involved in a major multi-vehicle collision at the Nürburgring during the Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) event on Saturday.
The high-speed incident, which brought together seven cars in the early part of the competition, prompted race officials to wave the red flag right away, bringing the session to an immediate stop. Organisers later decided to suspend the proceedings for the remainder of the day as rescue and investigation efforts took priority on the challenging German circuit.
This particular round of racing has drawn extra attention from fans and media outlets worldwide, largely due to the participation of Formula 1 star Max Verstappen, whose presence elevated the profile of the endurance-style qualifiers. He was not racing at the time of the crash.
According to an official update released by the organising body, the sequence of events unfolded rapidly in the opening phase of the contest. The statement from them reads as follows:
"During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (18 April 2026), a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race. Following the collision between several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations," read the statement from the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
"Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had been extracted from the vehicle; the driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful.
"The other six drivers involved were taken to the Medical Centre and nearby hospitals for precautionary examinations. None of the injured are in a life-threatening condition."
While Miettinen received prompt medical intervention at the circuit's dedicated facilities, he sadly succumbed to his injuries despite the best efforts of the on-site team. This outcome has sent shockwaves through the paddock, where participants, teams, and spectators alike are coming to terms with the inherent risks associated with competing at such an intense level.
In response to this heartbreaking development, organisers announced that the Saturday evening portion of the program would not go ahead as planned. That was the stint Verstappen was scheduled to race in.
In a brief statement shared on his Instagram Stories, Verstappen wrote, "I'm devastated by what happened today... Motorsport is something we're all passionate about, but moments like this remind us just how dangerous it can be. My deepest condolences to Juha's family and loved ones."
A minute's silence will be held in memory of Miettinen during the grid formation for Sunday's race. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this difficult time.