Juha Accident: New details have emerged surrounding the tragic death of Juha Miettinen during the Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers last weekend, shedding light on how a sudden chain of events led to a fatal outcome.
According to reports, the incident began with an oil spill on the approach to the Klostertal curve near the Steilstrecke section. The slippery surface caused the #503 BMW 330i to lose control and crash head-on into a tire barrier. Moments later, Miettinen, driving a BMW 325i and following closely behind, encountered the same hazard.
His car spun on the oil and slid sideways, striking the rear of the stationary BMW at a 90-degree angle on the driver’s side. This type of side-impact, or T-bone collision, is among the most dangerous in motorsport due to the concentrated force on vulnerable areas of the vehicle.
The impact was made more severe when the rear of the crashed 330i lifted slightly before dropping back down at the exact moment of contact. This resulted in a higher-than-normal strike point, above the main protective structures of the roll cage, an area less reinforced to allow driver exit.
Several other cars also slid off due to the oil spill but avoided further contact with Miettinen’s vehicle. All other drivers involved were treated and released from hospital by the following day.
An investigation is now underway as officials review safety conditions. Miettinen’s passing marks the first driver fatality in such events in over a decade, raising renewed concerns about track safety and race protocols.