The 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers were marred by the tragic death of Juha Miettinen, a competitor who suffered fatal injuries in a serious incident involving a privately entered BMW 325i during Saturday’s race. BMW M Motorsport is in mourning, reflecting on the loss of a member of its racing community.
The atmosphere at the final preparatory event for the 24-hour race, scheduled for 16th and 17th May, was heavily impacted as the events took a back seat to this tragic occurrence.
On Sunday, despite the sombre mood, teams from BMW M Motorsport, including ROWE Racing, Schubert Motorsport, and Gamota Racing, took to the track with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO and BMW M3 Touring 24H. The #99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from ROWE Racing achieved a commendable fifth overall position, closely followed by the #77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Schubert Motorsport. The #81 BMW M3 Touring 24H claimed victory in the SPX class, while the #23 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Gamota Racing finished in 13th place. All participating vehicles displayed mourning ribbons as a tribute to Miettinen.
BMW M Motorsport Statement:“We received the News of Juha Miettinen’s fatal accident during the first race of the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers with great shock. We have lost a member of the BMW racing family under tragic circumstances. Our deepest sympathy goes to his loved ones.”
© BMW Group
