The accident occurred during the qualifying race for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring, a precursor to the Nürburgring 24 Hours scheduled for May 14-17. According to Swedish driver Siri Hökfelt, who was among the first to crash, oil on the track caused her brakes to fail. Hökfelt stated that she was traveling at approximately 180 km/h when she braked but the pedal went to the floor. She hit the tire barrier, and the impact was severe. Miettinen was driving a BMW 325i, car #121, and was a Finnish veteran racer and a fixture at the Nürburgring, according to multiple reports.
Six other drivers were injured in the crash, according to multiple media reports. Hökfelt was taken to hospital by helicopter and remained under observation, her father Per Hökfelt confirmed. She suffered no fractures but had two misaligned neck vertebrae, according to five media sources. Race control reported that several injured drivers were being attended to after the massive crash, and rescue operations were in full swing. The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring stated that six other drivers were taken to the Medical Centre and nearby hospitals for precautionary examinations, and none of the injured are in a life-threatening condition. However, RacingNews365 understands that one driver was taken to hospital by helicopter with pain in his back and neck, and drivers of cars #27 and #992 are believed to be okay, with the former bruised. The severity and number of injuries are reported differently, which could affect public perception of the crash's impact.
Race organisers released a statement expressing sorrow and confirmed that the race would not resume on Saturday evening. A minute of silence was held during the grid formation on Sunday to honor Miettinen. Resuscitation attempts for Miettinen were unsuccessful, according to five media sources.
The racing community reacted with shock. Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, who was participating in the event, expressed his condolences on Instagram. Verstappen wrote that the news was shocking and that his thoughts were with Miettinen's family and friends, wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured. Verstappen has been active in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, winning a lower-level NLS2 race in March 2026, though the victory was later taken away due to using too many sets of race tires.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife has a reputation as a dangerous track, according to research. The track had not had a fatal racing accident involving a driver's death since 2013, and 70 drivers have died in races at the track since 1928. Miettinen's death is a stark reminder of the risks involved in motorsport at this historic circuit.
The qualifying race was part of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, with one more qualifier scheduled for Sunday, April 19. It remains unclear whether the Nürburgring 24 Hours will proceed as scheduled on May 14-17. Several questions remain unanswered: what caused the oil on the track, what is the current condition of Siri Hökfelt and the other injured drivers, and what specific safety measures will be reviewed after this incident. The exact location of the crash is also unclear, which may affect understanding of the track conditions and the sequence of events. The racing world awaits further updates as investigations continue.