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\t<\/div>Racing driver Juha Miettinen has died following a multi-car crash during the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie race in Germany on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The race which featured four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen was halted after the seven-car collision, while the cause is still under investigation.<\/p>\n
After the crash, Miettinen, 66, was removed from his BMW and later died at a medical centre after attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n
Six other drivers involved in the accident are being treated in hospital but their injuries are not life-threatening.<\/p>\n
In his final Instagram post just hours before the crash, Miettinen wrote: \u2018Ready for the N24H Qually races. 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 Nurburgring 24H race feeling\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n
Miettinen was a frequent competitor on the Nurburgring Nordschleife track. Among his achievements, he won the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS) in the V4 class and was considered a key figure in grassroots motorsport.<\/p>\n Verstappen was not on the track at the time of the accident, and his teammate Lucas Auer, also driving their Mercedes, was not involved.<\/p>\n In a post on Instagram, Verstappen wrote: \u2018Shocked by what happened today.<\/p>\n \u2018Motorsport 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\u2019s family and loved ones.\u2019<\/p>\n Race control officially confirmed Miettinen\u2019s death in a statement after the crash.<\/p>\n \u2018During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nurburgring Qualifiers (18 April 2026), a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race,\u2019 the statement read.<\/p>\n \u2018Following the collision involving several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations.<\/p>\n \u2018Despite 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.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The 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.<\/p>\n \u2018The race will not resume on Saturday evening. The thoughts of everyone involved in the 24 Hours of N\u00fcrburgring are with the bereaved family of Juha Miettinen.<\/p>\n \u2018A minute\u2019s silence will be held in memory of the late motorsport competitor during the grid formation for Sunday\u2019s race at 13:00.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_293705612-8265.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
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