Tragedy at the Ring: 66-year-old Juha Miettinen died, Verstappen was not on the track

Tomorrow we will race after a minute’s silence. 66-year-old Juha Miettinen has died following injuries sustained in an accident involving 7 cars during the second lap of the first of the two NLS ‘Qualifiers’ races scheduled for this weekend at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, races in which Max Verstappen is also entered. This is the official press release issued by the Nurburgring: “During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring qualifications, a serious accident occurred in the opening stages involving seven competitors. Following the collision involving several vehicles, the race direction immediately interrupted the race to allow recovery and rescue operations. Despite the immediate intervention of the emergency services, the paramedics were unable to save one driver involved, Juha Miettinen (at the wheel of the BMW 325i, number 121); the driver died at the Medical Center after all resuscitation attempts proved futile. The other six drivers involved in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race will be taken to the bereaved family. A minute’s silence will be observed in memory of the deceased driver of Sunday’s race scheduled for 1.00 pm. Max Verstappen should have completed the second stint, at the time of the collision on the track Lucas Auer was at the wheel of the Mercedes #3.