Who was Juha Miettinen, the driver killed in fatal seven-car crash?

A familiar and much-respected figure around the Nordschleife, Miettinen built his reputation through years of consistent performances in the Nürburgring Endurance Series and the 24 Hours.

His breakthrough campaign came in 2023, when he put together a strong season to secure the V4 class title, with three wins and a clean sweep of podium finishes across all nine races.

He carried that momentum into 2024, remaining among the frontrunners and ending the campaign fifth in the standings, while still featuring on the podium during the early part of the season.

More broadly, from 2018 onwards he made 54 starts at the Nürburgring, collecting five victories and 25 podium finishes within his category, underlining his consistency and experience at the circuit.

Miettinen was racing for Keeevin Motorsport during the Nürburgring Qualifiers weekend, sharing the BMW with team-mate Dan Berghult. At 66, he leaves behind a wife, three children and his dog.

BMW expressed deep sorrow following the fatal accident involving Juha Miettinen, who was competing for the German manufacturer. As is now known, the driver was caught up in a seven-car incident in which he suffered the worst of the impact, despite the rapid response of the emergency services.

The manufacturer said it was shocked and devastated by the news, describing Miettinen as a valued member of its racing family and extending its thoughts to his family and friends. The statement was issued from Imola, where BMW’s WEC programme is in action this weekend.