Finnish racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six others were injured in a seven-car crash during the opening stages of the Nurburgring in Germany on Saturday.
“Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, emergency personnel were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen, after he was removed from the vehicle,” the organizers of the event said in a information about X. 66-year-old Finn “He died at the Medical Center after all attempts at resuscitation failed.”
Six other drivers were injured and taken for treatment and are in non-life threatening condition, they added.
The crash may have been caused by spillage on the track, according to Russian-born Dutch driver Mikhail Charoudin, who took part in the qualifying.
“If it’s gasoline, fuel, coolant, you name it… One of the cars that was on, you couldn’t see it… Many cars in front of him lost control,” He said, as quoted by The Express.
Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, who is expected to appear in the race, said he was shocked by the accident.
“Motorsport is something we all love, but moments like these are a reminder of how dangerous it can be,” he said on Instagram. “My deepest condolences to Juha’s family and loved ones.”
A minute’s silence was held for Miettinen on Sunday before the day’s qualifying.
The qualifiers are part of the build-up to the Nurburgring 24-hour race in May. The event takes place on the Nordschleife circuit, an approximately 25 km (15.5 mi) circuit with more than 150 corners that winds through wooded mountains and is known as a tough endurance challenge, with weather and visibility often changing during the race.
You can share this story on social networks:
Follow RT on
