Nordschleife regular Juha Miettinen has died after a seven-car incident at the Nurburgring.
The latest Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) race – receiving widespread coverage because of Max Verstappen’s participation – was red-flagged around 25 minutes into the planned four hours.
NLS races are very rarely red-flagged for anything other than weather reasons or if there are safety concerns. And it soon emerged that the stoppage was due to a seven-car incident.
That red flag turned into a suspension around an hour later, before a press conference was called at 8pm local time, three hours after the initial stoppage.
It was there that the death of experienced driver Miettinen was announced and that Saturday’s race would not resume.
“Despite 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,” a statement read.
“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 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 late motorsport competitor during the grid formation for Sunday’s race at 13:00.”
It’s the first driver fatality during a race on the Nordschleife since German Wolf Silvester died during a race in June 2013.
The drivers and teams are set to return to action on Sunday for NLS5, the last major Nurburgring race before the Nurburgring 24 Hours on May 16-17.