MOTOR RACING: One driver dead, six injured in Nuerburgring race crash-- officials

Racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six drivers were injured after an accident at the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring qualifiers on Saturday, organisers said.

They said Miettinen had died after the crash that occurred early in the race. All the other drivers were taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

"During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race," Nuerburgring officials said in a statement.

"Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had been extracted from the vehicle. The driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful."

Organisers said the race would not resume on Saturday evening and a minute’s silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday.