Headlines
Motor racing-One Driver Dead, Six Injured in Nuerburgring Race Crash - Officials
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 18, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
Quick Summary
During the first of two ADAC 24h Nürburgring qualifiers on April 18, a multi‑car crash during the opening stages claimed Finnish driver Juha Miettinen’s life; six other drivers were injured but suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries, and the race was canceled.
Motor racing-One dead, six injured in Nuerburgring race Verstappen had entered
Fatal Accident at ADAC 24h Nuerburgring Qualifiers
BERLIN, April 18 (Reuters) - Racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six others were injured on Saturday after an accident at the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring qualifiers that four-times Formula One champion Max Verstappen was due to compete in.
Details of the Incident
Organisers said Miettinen, who was 66 years old, died after a crash that stopped the race after about half an hour of the scheduled four hours. All the other drivers were taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Verstappen's Involvement
Red Bull F1 driver Verstappen, sharing a Mercedes AMG GT3 sportscar with Austrian Lucas Auer, was not on track at the time.
Official Statement
"During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race," Nuerburgring officials said in a statement.
"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."
Aftermath and Reactions
Race Suspension
Organisers said the race would not resume on Saturday and a minute’s silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday.
Verstappen's Response
Instagram Statement
Verstappen said on Instagram that he was shocked by what had happened.
"Motorsport is something we all love but in times like this it is a reminder of how dangerous it can be," he posted.
"Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha's family and loved ones."
The Nuerburgring Circuit
The Nuerburgring's historic and fearsome Nordschleife, known as the 'Green Hell' when it hosted Formula One in the 1960s and 70s, is a 20.8 km (12.9 miles) loop in the Eifel region of Germany. It was first opened in 1927.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann/Alan Baldwin; editing by Clare Fallon and Ed Osmond)
Key Takeaways
- •A suspected fluid leak triggered a high‑speed seven‑car pile‑up in the Klostertal section that fatally injured Juha Miettinen (en.wikipedia.org).
- •Race control immediately halted the event, and despite resuscitation efforts, Miettinen died at the Medical Centre; the six other drivers were hospitalized with injuries deemed non‑life‑threatening (grandprix247.com).
- •Organisers cancelled the Saturday evening session and announced that a minute’s silence will be held during Sunday’s grid formation in his memory (grandprix247.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Motor racing-One driver dead, six injured in Nuerburgring race crash - officials
1Who was the driver killed in the Nuerburgring race crash?
Juha Miettinen was the racing driver who died in the crash during the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring qualifiers.
2How many drivers were injured in the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring crash?
Six drivers were injured and taken to hospital, though their injuries were not life-threatening.
3Was the Nuerburgring race resumed after the accident?
No, officials said the race would not resume on Saturday evening.
4What safety measures were taken after the accident?
Emergency services responded immediately, and a minute’s silence was scheduled for the following day’s grid formation.
5When did the crash occur during the race?
The accident happened early in the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers.
