The Nürburgring Nordschleife claimed another life on Saturday during a VLN endurance race when Finnish driver Juha Miettinen died in a multi-car pileup at the notorious Flugplatz section, race organizers confirmed. Despite initial reports suggesting Max Verstappen was scheduled to participate, the Red Bull Racing driver was not entered in the event and was not present at the circuit, according to his team’s official entry list and spokesperson.
The incident occurred just after 12:30 p.m. Local time (CEST / UTC+2) during the fourth hour of the six-hour VLN race, when Miettinen’s Porsche 992 GT3 Cup car lost control on the high-speed, downhill approach to Flugplatz, struck the barrier, and was then hit by at least two following vehicles. Track marshals and medical crews responded immediately, but Miettinen was pronounced dead at the scene by the Nürburgring’s on-site medical team, a statement from the Nürburgring Endurance Championship (NEC) organizers said.
“We can confirm that Juha Miettinen, a long-time participant in VLN races, succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident at Flugplatz during today’s race,” the NEC statement read. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates. The race was halted under red flag conditions, and an investigation has been launched in coordination with the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB).”
Miettinen, 52, was a well-known figure in German endurance racing circles, having competed regularly in VLN events since the early 2000s. He drove for the SRS Team Sorg Rennsport in this race, piloting a Porsche entered under the team’s #777 entry. Fellow competitors described him as experienced and respected, with one anonymous driver telling Motorsport-Total.com that Miettinen had completed over 150 VLN starts without prior major incident.
The crash brought out the red flags after approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes of racing, suspending the event for over an hour although recovery crews cleared debris and repaired barriers. Racing resumed around 2:15 p.m. CEST, but the atmosphere remained subdued. The race was eventually completed, with the #31 Frikadelli Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Felipe Fernandez Laser, Norbert Siedler, and Sebastian Golz declared the winner after completing 108 laps.
Initial social media speculation linking Verstappen to the race stemmed from a misinterpretation of his participation in a separate, private simulator event hosted by a Red Bull partner at the Nürburgring complex earlier in the week. Verstappen’s official 2025 motorsport calendar, as published by Red Bull Racing, shows no VLN or Nürburgring Nordschleife endurance commitments between April and June. His next confirmed on-track appearance is the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25.
“Max Verstappen was not entered, not present, and not involved in any capacity in today’s VLN race,” a Red Bull Racing spokesperson told Reuters on Saturday evening. “The reports suggesting otherwise are incorrect. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Juha Miettinen and extend our condolences to all affected.”
The Flugplatz section, located just after the Schwalbenschwanz and before the Adenauer Forst, has long been considered one of the Nordschleife’s most challenging combinations due to its blind crest, sudden drop, and off-camber left-hand turn. It has been the site of several serious incidents over the decades, including a fatal crash in 2015 that claimed the life of German driver Marc Hennerici during a VLN race.
According to DMSB incident reports reviewed by Autosport, the Nürburgring Nordschleife has seen an average of 1.2 fatalities per year in sanctioned events since 2000, though safety improvements — including extended runoff areas, upgraded barriers, and mandatory cockpit protection standards — have reduced the frequency in recent years. Saturday’s incident marks the first fatality in a VLN race since 2021.
Following the crash, the NEC announced that all VLN events scheduled for May will proceed as planned, but with an additional safety briefing mandated for all drivers before each race. The organization as well said it would convene a special panel with the DMSB and circuit operators to review Flugplatz-specific risks, though no immediate changes to the track layout are expected.
Miettinen’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the German endurance racing community. Drivers from teams including Walkenhorst Motorsport, PROsport-Racing, and Huber Motorsport observed a moment of silence before their Sunday races in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), with many wearing black armbands.
“Juha was more than a competitor — he was a fixture of this series,” said NLS race director Peter Welter in a statement. “His passion for the Nordschleife was evident every time he rolled out of the pits. We will miss him greatly.”
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with officials analyzing onboard footage, marshals’ reports, and telemetry data. Preliminary findings suggest no mechanical failure was involved, though a full report is not expected for several weeks. The DMSB has confirmed that Miettinen’s vehicle passed all pre-event scrutineering checks.
For now, the focus remains on supporting Miettinen’s family and ensuring that lessons are learned from this tragedy. As one longtime Nordschleife marshal put it off the record: “Every time we go out there, we know the risks. But it never gets easier when someone doesn’t come back.”
The next VLN race is scheduled for May 17 at the Nürburgring, with entry lists expected to be released two weeks prior. Fans wishing to follow updates can consult the official NEC website or the DMSB’s motorsport portal for verified schedules, results, and safety bulletins.
If you have memories of Juha Miettinen or thoughts on improving safety at historic circuits like the Nürburgring, we invite you to share them in the comments below. Please retain discussions respectful and constructive.
