Driver dies after seven‑car crash halts Nürburgring qualifying race

A fatal multi‑car crash stopped the first qualifying race (NLS4) of the ADAC 24 Hours of Nürburgring on April 18, 2026. Driver Juha Miettinen, 39, was killed after his BMW 325i became part of a seven‑car pile‑up near the Caracciola‑Karussell. The race was red‑flagged and will not resume.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores the danger of the Nordschleife, forces a reshuffle of the 24‑hour event schedule, and will likely trigger a safety review of qualifying procedures at one of motorsport’s toughest circuits.

The details:

• Time & location: Crash occurred ~30 minutes into the 45‑minute qualifier, just before the Caracciola‑Karussell.
• Cars involved: Seven competitors, including Miettinen’s BMW 325i (#121), were caught in the chain‑reaction impact.
• Fatality: Miettinen could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the medical centre.
• Other drivers: Six drivers were taken for precautionary checks; none sustained life‑threatening injuries.
• Response: Race control red‑flagged the session, ambulances entered the circuit, and a minute’s silence will be held before Sunday’s grid.

What's next:

Race control confirmed the NLS4 session will not restart on Saturday. A minute’s silence will be observed before the Sunday grid at 13:00, and the FIA and ADAC have opened a safety investigation that could reshape future qualifying formats at the Nürburgring.