Race 1 of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers was brought to an early and dramatic halt after a major multi-car accident triggered a red flag less than half an hour into the contest, interrupting what had initially been a calm and competitive session.
The Saturday evening race had started without incident, with David Jahn of the Gamota BMW team successfully holding onto the advantage he secured in qualifying. The opening laps unfolded smoothly around the challenging Nürburgring circuit, with drivers settling into their rhythm under clear racing conditions.
However, the situation changed abruptly at a tight hairpin section just before the famous Karussell. Reports from the scene indicated that fluid had been left on the racing line, significantly reducing grip in an area where cars approach at speeds of around 220 km/h. The slippery surface caught several drivers out, resulting in a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles.
Race control quickly responded by deploying red flags to suspend the event. Initial reports suggested that as many as six or seven cars were caught up in the crash, creating a substantial blockage on the circuit. The race was officially stopped while marshals and medical teams attended to the scene. Organisers later stated that further information would be provided at 7pm UK time as they assessed the situation.
It was subsequently confirmed that the cars involved included the No. 27 PROsport Aston Martin (SP9), the No. 111 JS Competition BMW 325i, the No. 121 Keeevin BMW 325i, the No. 410 rent2Drive Porsche Cayman (V6), the No. 448 Porsche Cayman (V5), the No. 503 GITI TIRE BMW 330i, and the No. 992 Manthey (SP-Pro).
Race control confirmed approximately an hour after the crash that injured drivers were receiving medical attention. Concern initially surrounded the condition of those involved, given the speed and severity of the impact zone. Later updates brought some relief, with Manthey confirming that their driver, Bjorn Griesemann, had escaped the incident without injury.
Drivers who had been caught behind the wreckage were delayed significantly, with some only able to return to the pits more than an hour after the crash occurred.
Misha Charoudin, who was running directly behind the incident, described the scene in an interview with Viaplay. He explained that fluid on the circuit had led to a “very big crash,” adding that when approaching such a section at high speed, drivers have little chance to react if braking performance is suddenly compromised.