The motorsport world is mourning the loss of Juha Miettinen, a 66-year-old driver who died April 18, 2026, after a massive seven-vehicle collision during qualifying races for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in Germany.
Organizers from the 24 Hours of Nürburgring confirmed Miettinen succumbed to his injuries at the circuit’s medical center despite extensive resuscitation efforts after being extracted from his BMW 325i. “The thoughts of everyone involved in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring are with the bereaved family of Juha Miettinen,” the statement read.
The incident marks the first racing fatality on the Nordschleife since June 2013, underscoring the persistent dangers at one of motorsport’s most treacherous venues.
According to driver Misha Charoudin, who was traveling directly behind the wreck, fluid on the racing surface triggered the chain-reaction pileup at the Klostertal exit section. The crash happened on the third lap, roughly 25 minutes into the four-hour Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on April 18.
“There was a very big crash,” Charoudin told Viaplay. “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 kilometers per hour and if you can’t brake…”
The Klostertal section 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. Reports indicated the precise sequence that proved fatal: the Toyota Supra (#503) struck the tire wall head-on, and Miettinen’s BMW, spinning on the same oil spill, hit the rear of the stopped Supra broadside at a 90-degree angle, driver’s side first. The Supra’s rear had momentarily lifted on initial impact before dropping back down just as Miettinen’s car struck, pushing the point of contact above the car’s primary safety structures into a zone that must remain clear for driver extraction.
Six other drivers caught up in the massive wreck were transported to the medical center and nearby hospitals for precautionary examinations. None faced life-threatening conditions, organizers confirmed.
“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,” 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 race did not resume following the stoppage.
Among those competing that day was four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, who was preparing for his debut at the 24-hour endurance event scheduled for May 16–17. His teammate Lucas Auer was driving their Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the time of the incident; Verstappen himself was not on the track.
The tragedy prompted Verstappen to share his condolences on Instagram. “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.”
The collision involved Miettinen’s BMW 325i (#121), 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). At the time of the crash, a Gamota BMW (#23) held the race lead after starting from pole position.
Emergency services arrived quickly at the scene, but the severity of Miettinen’s injuries proved insurmountable despite the immediate medical response.
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…”
When racing resumed at 1 p.m. local time Sunday, organizers held a minute’s silence in Miettinen’s honor during the grid formation. The moment of silence was duly observed before the race began.
Verstappen raced on Sunday when competition resumed, but a damaged front splitter forced an unscheduled pit stop and ended his bid for victory.
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.
The tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent dangers that persist in motorsport, even as safety standards continue to evolve. While modern racing has seen dramatic improvements in driver protection, the high-speed nature of the sport and the demanding characteristics of circuits like the Nordschleife mean risk can never be eliminated.