HOCKENHEIM, Germany — A tragic accident during a support race at the Hockenheimring on Saturday left one person dead and six others injured, casting a somber shadow over a motorsport weekend that was set to include a demonstration run by Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen.
The incident occurred during the second race of the ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship support program, just after noon local time (10:00 UTC). According to official statements from the ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) and local police in Baden-Württemberg, a multi-car collision erupted on the high-speed Parabolika section of the circuit, involving at least four vehicles.
Emergency services responded within minutes, but despite immediate medical attention, one driver — identified by ADAC as a 32-year-old amateur competitor from North Rhine-Westphalia — was pronounced dead at the scene. Six others were transported to nearby hospitals, with two in critical condition as of Saturday evening. The Hockenheimring’s medical center confirmed all injured were receiving treatment, though no further details on their conditions were released due to privacy regulations.
The crash brought out the red flag, halting the race immediately. Track marshals and safety crews worked for over an hour to clear debris and repair barriers before the session could be resumed under safety car conditions, though the race was ultimately not restarted.
ADAC Sport President Hermann Tomczyk expressed deep sorrow in a statement released Saturday afternoon: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the driver who lost his life. Motorsport carries inherent risks, and today we were reminded of them in the most painful way. We will conduct a full investigation into the cause of this accident in cooperation with the FIA and local authorities.”
The incident occurred just hours before Verstappen was scheduled to appear for a promotional demonstration lap in his Red Bull Racing RB18, part of a fan engagement event tied to the German Grand Prix weekend festivities. Following the crash, Red Bull Racing confirmed via team spokesperson that Verstappen’s appearance had been canceled out of respect for those involved.
“Max was looking forward to meeting fans at Hockenheim, but given the circumstances, it was the right call to step back,” the spokesperson said. “Our focus is on supporting the investigation and sending our condolences to everyone affected.”
Verstappen himself did not issue a public statement, but shared a black image on his Instagram story later in the day with the caption: “Thoughts are with all involved.”
The Hockenheimring, which hosted the German Grand Prix intermittently from 1970 to 2019, remains a prominent venue for national and international motorsport events. Saturday’s TCR Germany race is part of the ADAC Motorsport Masters weekend, which likewise includes series such as the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and the ADAC GT4 Germany.
TCR Germany, now in its eighth season, features touring cars built to international TCR regulations, with power outputs around 350 horsepower and sequential gearboxes. The series has grown in popularity across Europe as a cost-effective entry point for drivers aiming to reach higher levels of motorsport.
Initial video footage circulating online showed a chain-reaction collision entering Turn 1, with one vehicle appearing to lose control and strike the inside barrier before ricocheting across the track. However, ADAC officials cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified sources, stating that their investigation would rely on track-mounted cameras, marshals’ reports, and data recorders from the involved vehicles.
“We ask the public and media to refrain from speculation,” said ADAC Sport spokesperson Michael Schulz. “The safety of our competitors is paramount, and we will only share findings once the investigation is complete.”
The last fatality in an ADAC-sanctioned event at Hockenheimring occurred in 2015 during a VLN endurance race, when a driver suffered fatal injuries after a crash in the Forst section. Since then, the circuit has undergone several safety upgrades, including improved barrier TecPro installations and enhanced runoff areas, particularly in high-risk zones like the Parabolika.
As of Sunday morning, the ADAC had not released a timeline for when the investigation conclusions would be made public. The involved vehicles have been impounded for forensic analysis, and interviews with witnesses, including other drivers and track officials, are underway.
For now, the motorsport community in Germany and beyond is left to process a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in high-speed competition, even at the grassroots and national levels.
What’s next: The ADAC TCR Germany series is scheduled to resume competition at the Lausitzring on June 21–22, pending the outcome of the Hockenheim investigation. Fans wishing to follow updates can monitor the official ADAC Motorsport website or the series’ social media channels for verified information.
If you have information about this incident or wish to share condolences, please do so through official channels to respect the privacy of those involved.
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