Juha Miettinen: A Life Cut Short in Racing

NÜRBURGRING, Germany — The motorsport world is mourning the loss of Finnish amateur racer Juha Miettinen, who passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2026, after sustaining fatal injuries in a multi-car accident during the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers.

The incident occurred early in the four-hour NLS4 race on the legendary 20.8 km Nordschleife. On the third lap, at the exit of the Klostertal right-hander leading into the steep section, a seven-car pile-up unfolded. Reports indicate a possible fluid leak or oil spill on the racing line may have triggered a sudden loss of grip in the high-speed corner, sparking the chain-reaction collision.

Miettinen was driving the #121 BMW 325i E90 for Keeevin Motorsport (co-entered with Berghult). Emergency services responded immediately, extricating him from the heavily damaged car and rushing him to the circuit’s medical center. Despite exhaustive resuscitation efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. He was 66 years old.

Six other drivers involved in the crash were transported to the medical center and nearby hospitals for evaluation. All are reported to be in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

The cars involved were:
– #121 BMW 325i E90 (Miettinen/Berghult)
– #111 BMW 325i E90 (Becker/Spölgen)
– #27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 (Wahl/Rönnefarth/Dumarey/Böckmann)
– #410 Porsche Cayman GTS (Croci/Larbi/Ackermann/Le Bihan)
– #448 Porsche Cayman CM12 (Klinkmüller/Beckwermert)
– #503 Toyota Supra (Tamm/Egger/Hökfelt)
– #992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Griesemann/Griesemann/Adorf/Holzer)

Race control immediately red-flagged the session to allow for barrier repairs and full rescue operations. The race, that includes 4-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, was not restarted or classified.

Official Statement from Race Control (ADAC/24h Nürburgring):

“During today’s first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages. Following the collision between several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations. Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the paramedics were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had been extracted from the vehicle; the driver passed away at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful.

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. A minute’s silence will be held in memory of the deceased motorsport competitor during the grid formation for Sunday’s race at 13:00.”

The FIA also issued a statement expressing sadness and extending condolences to Miettinen’s family and friends.

A Passionate Nordschleife Regular

Miettinen, born January 18, 1960, was a dedicated amateur endurance driver and self-described “Nordschleife-Liebhaber.” He had competed regularly in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS/VLN), RCN, and multiple 24 Hours of Nürburgring events since around 2018, almost always behind the wheel of a BMW 325i. For many in the paddock, he embodied the spirit of privateers who race purely for the love of the Green Hell’s unique challenge.

Juha Miettinen via his Instagram Page. He was a NY Yankees baseball fan.

Weekend Program Continues

This weekend’s ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers double as critical preparation for the main 24-hour race scheduled for May 14-17, 2026. The event has attracted global attention, with four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen among the high-profile entries racing a Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Sunday’s schedule remains unchanged: morning qualifying, top qualifying for the leading classes, and the second four-hour qualifier race. Organizers will observe the planned minute’s silence before the grid forms at 13:00 local time.

The entire AutoRacing1.com team sends its deepest condolences to Juha Miettinen’s family, friends, teammates at Keeevin Motorsport, and the wider Nürburgring community. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this heartbreaking loss.

This is a developing story. Full results and further updates will be available on the official 24h-rennen.de site.