Injured GT driver saw Miettinen fatally crash: "This should never have happened"

Siri Hökfelt was among those injured in last Saturday’s major pile-up. The Swedish driver was taken to hospital for treatment but survived the impact. Sadly, Juha Miettinen, 66, an experienced and passionate regular on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, did not survive the incident.

Back in Sweden, Hökfelt shared a tribute to her colleague who passed away. She writes on Instagram: “Last weekend we were reminded once again why this circuit is called the Green Hell.”

The Swedish driver had been running directly behind Miettinen during the race. Reflecting on the moment, she said: “I remember following him during the formation lap and feeling inspired and happy to see someone who seemed so genuinely excited to be there. During the race, I was impressed by his driving and his courage, even when he tried to block me, although I was in a faster car. I hope that in his final moments I provided a worthy and fun fight,” Hökfelt said.

While the Nordschleife is known for its extreme difficulty and danger, fatal accidents there are now relatively rare. Still, Hökfelt stressed that any loss of life in motorsport is one too many. “This should never have happened. If there are safety regulations that could have prevented this, I hope they are adjusted to make motorsport safer. Motorsport will never be 100% safe and as a driver I accept that, but let’s make it as safe as possible. No one should have to die doing what they love most.”

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