BERLIN, April 19 — Racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six others ‌were injured on Saturday after an accident ​at the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring qualifiers that four-times Formula One champion Max Verstappen was due to compete ‌in.

Organisers said Miettinen, who was 66 years old, died ​after a crash that stopped the race after about half an hour of the scheduled four hours. All the other drivers were taken to ​hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Red Bull F1 driver Verstappen, sharing a Mercedes AMG GT3 sportscar with Austrian Lucas Auer, was not on track at the time.

“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 and a minute’s silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday.

Verstappen said on Instagram that he was shocked by what ⁠had happened.

“Motorsport is something we all love but in times like this it is a reminder of how dangerous ⁠it can be,” he posted.

“Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha’s family ⁠and ⁠loved ones.”

The Nuerburgring’s historic and fearsome Nordschleife, known as the ‘Green Hell’ when ​it hosted Formula One in the ​1960s and 70s, is a 20.8 ‌km loop in the Eifel region ​of Germany. It was ​first opened in 1927. — Reuters