Juha Miettinen, a regular competitor at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, died Saturday following a seven-car crash during the fourth round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, according to The Race. The NLS4 event, which drew heightened attention due to Max Verstappen’s participation, was red-flagged approximately 25 minutes into the scheduled four-hour race.
Miettinen was driving a BMW 325i carrying the number 121 when the incident occurred. Emergency services arrived immediately, but medical personnel were unable to save him.
“Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the paramedics were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121); the driver died in the medical centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful,” organizers stated in a press conference held at 8pm local time, three hours after the initial stoppage.
Six Other Drivers Hospitalized
The multi-car crash involved seven vehicles in total. The six other drivers were transported to the circuit medical centre and nearby hospitals for precautionary examinations. None of the additional injured drivers were reported to be in life-threatening condition.
NLS races at the Nordschleife are seldom red-flagged outside of weather-related issues or significant safety concerns. The red flag was upgraded to a full suspension roughly one hour after the initial stoppage, before officials confirmed the race would not resume.
“The race will not resume on Saturday evening. The thoughts of everyone involved in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring are with the bereaved family of Juha Miettinen,” the statement continued.
First Nordschleife Race Fatality Since 2013
Miettinen’s death marks the first driver fatality during a race on the Nordschleife since German driver Wolf Silvester was killed in June 2013. The 20.8-kilometer circuit, while revered for its challenge and history, presents inherent risks that have led to numerous serious incidents over the decades.
Organizers announced that a minute of silence will be observed during the grid formation for Sunday’s NLS5 race at 1:00pm local time. The NLS5 event represents the final major Nurburgring race weekend before the Nurburgring 24 Hours, scheduled for May 16-17.
Verstappen’s participation in Saturday’s race had generated significant media coverage, as the three-time Formula 1 world champion occasionally competes in endurance events at the storied German circuit during breaks in the F1 calendar. The Red Bull Racing driver was among the competitors who will return Sunday for NLS5, though the mood in the paddock has been profoundly altered by Saturday’s tragedy.
The exact cause of the seven-car incident has not been disclosed. NLS organizers and circuit officials will likely conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash.