BMW Driver Dies After 7-car Pileup in Nurburgring Qualifier

BMW Driver Dies in Nurburgring QualifierKobaltgt3 and 991rsr

A massive seven-car pileup possibly caused by spilled oil on the track has claimed the life of a veteran amateur racer at the Nürburgring.

Finnish driver Juha Miettenen was caught up in the crash at Klostertal , a fast corner before the hairpin that leads to the track’s famous Karussell.

"During 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. Following the collision between several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations," read the statement from the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nurburgring.

Juha Miettinen Instagram

"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.

"The 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."

The statement also said that the race would not resume on Saturday evening, and said a minute's silence would be held in memory of Miettinen during the grid formation for Sunday's race.

The Nurburgring Nordschliefe has a reputation as a dangerous track. The most famous incident was Niki Lauda’s crash during the 1976 German Grand Prix. On that race’s second lap, Lauda’s Ferrari suffered a suspected rear suspension failure, veered off track, and caught fire, resulting in severe burns. That accident was complicated by its remoteness and the length of time before rescuers arrived.