Juha Miettinen, a respected figure in Finnish motorsport known for his work as a team manager and competitor, has died while racing in NLS4. He was widely recognised within the NLS world for his joyous smile and can-do attitude.
Juha Miettinen has sadly passed away during the N24 qualifying race. Miettinen was sixty-six years old at the time of his death. An hour into the race, a suspected fluid leak caused a seven-car pile-up at the Klostertal section of the circuit, which included the #27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, #111 BMW 325i, #410 Porsche Cayman GTS, #448 Porsche Cayman CM12, #503 Toyota GR Supra, #992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992), and Miettinen's #121 BMW 325i. All seven drivers were transported to a medical centre, where Miettinen was pronounced deceased following failed resuscitation attempts.
NLS4 crash that would claim the life of Juha Miettinen. Image: Nurburgring YouTube Channel
The other six drivers involved sustained minor injuries, and all have made a full recovery. Miettinen's death marked the first driver fatality during a race at the Nürburgring since 2013, when German driver German Wolf Silvester lost his life.
Tributes
One friend wrote on X: 'I've known Juha for 20 years, each one of them filled to the brim with him enjoying driving the Nurburgring, one of those guys that never seemed to be able to get enough of the place and was always there with a smile. RIP my friend.'
Another wrote: 'Juha Miettinen has left us at 66 years old following a terrible accident this evening. A regular at the NLS and the Nürburgring as a gentleman driver for years, the entire motorsport family is in mourning. He departed while living his passion: this sport so beautiful, yet so dangerous.'
Sim-racing content creator and Black Falcon #632 Porsche driver Jimmy Broadbent paid tribute to Miettinen.
BMW M Motorsport's Statement
"Heartbreaking news from the Nürburgring. We are shocked and deeply saddened by the fatal accident of Juha Miettinen. We lost a member of the BMW racing family under tragic circumstances. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
The second race had a 1-minute silence in remembrance of Juha Miettinen. The car and attached racing number are expected to be retired for the rest of the season out of respect for Miettinen.