Juha Miettinen, a 66-year-old racer, lost his life on April 18 when seven cars collided during qualifying for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, marking the first racing death at the German circuit’s Nordschleife layout since June 2013.
The veteran driver was behind the wheel of his BMW 325i (#121) when the massive pileup erupted at the Klostertal exit section on April 18, 2026. Though rescue workers pulled him from the wreckage and rushed him to the track’s medical center, all resuscitation efforts failed and Miettinen was pronounced dead.
Six other vehicles were caught in the chain-reaction wreck: an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 (#27), another BMW 325i E90 (#111), two Porsche Caymans (#410 and #448), a Toyota Supra (#503), and a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (#992). The other drivers involved received treatment at the medical center and area hospitals as a precaution, but officials confirmed none suffered life-threatening injuries.
“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,” the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring stated. “Following the collision between several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations.”
The deadly incident unfolded just three laps into the four-hour qualifying race, approximately 25 minutes after the green flag dropped. A Gamota BMW (#23) was leading from pole position when the collision occurred.
Racer Misha Charoudin, running immediately behind where the accident happened, told Viaplay that leaked fluid on the racing surface caused the initial loss of control.
“There was a very big crash,” Charoudin said. “Someone left fluid behind, and I think six or seven cars crashed into each other, so there is a huge traffic jam. You approach that stretch at 220 kilometres per hour, and if you can’t brake…”
The Klostertal section, where the incident occurred, is a fast, blind right-hand kink on a steep uphill section of the track, where drivers approach at speeds exceeding 200 km/h before braking for the following Steilstrecke corner.
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen was competing in the same event as preparation for his upcoming debut in the full 24-hour endurance race scheduled for May 16–17. Though Verstappen wasn’t on track when the crash happened — his teammate Lucas Auer was driving their Mercedes-AMG GT3 — the four-time world champion expressed his grief on Instagram following the tragedy.
“Shocked by what happened today,” Verstappen wrote. “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.”
When racing resumed April 19 at 1 p.m. local time, organizers held a minute’s silence during grid formation to honor Miettinen before the race began.
Verstappen raced on April 19 when competition resumed, but a damaged front splitter forced an unscheduled pit stop and ended his bid for victory.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile also responded to the tragedy. “The safety of our competitors is paramount. The loss of Juha Miettinen deeply saddens us and extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and team,” the governing body said, adding that it would thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash to improve safety in the future.
Race officials from the 24 Hours of Nürburgring extended their sympathies to Miettinen’s family. “The thoughts of everyone involved in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring are with the bereaved family of Juha Miettinen,” the statement read.
Longtime friend and motorsport photographer Jochen Van Cauwenberge paid a personal tribute, describing Miettinen as a kind, cultivated man who loved the Nürburgring, spoke many languages, and always had a smile in the paddock. “He was extremely passionate about Porsche and the Nürburgring,” Van Cauwenberge wrote. “He always had maximum fun in whatever car he was driving.”
Just one day before the fatal crash, Miettinen’s Instagram account — a collaboration post with co-driver Dan Berghult — captured his excitement for the upcoming races with a video of their motorsport car.
“Ready for the N24H Qually races,” the 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 Nürburgring 24H race feeling…”
The Nordschleife layout at the Nürburgring, located near the town of Nürburg in Germany’s Eifel mountains, is widely regarded as one of motorsport’s most demanding and dangerous circuits. The Nordschleife alone spans nearly 13 miles, featuring more than 150 corners with barriers positioned perilously close to the racing surface. For the 24-hour race, it combines with the modern Grand Prix circuit to form a roughly 16-mile layout. The circuit’s unforgiving nature has claimed numerous lives throughout its storied history.
Emergency services responded immediately to the scene, but Miettinen’s injuries were fatal despite swift medical intervention. His death marks a tragic chapter in the history of one of racing’s most challenging venues.
