# List of Nürburgring fatalities

Fatal accidents on the Nürburgring motorsport race track in Nürburg, Germany during national and international motor-sport events on the 28.265 kilometres (17.563mi) Gesamtstrecke ("Whole Course"), the 22.810km (14.173mi) Nordschleife ("Northern Loop"), the 7.747km (4.814mi) Südschleife ("Southern Loop") and the 2.281km (1.417mi) warm-up loop Zielschleife ("Finish Loop") or Betonschleife. From 1984, the new GP-Strecke or Eifelring which was built on the site of the Nürburgring pits complex and part of the Südschleife. This list does not cover fatalities from public sessions.

## List of fatal accidents involving competitors

| No | Competitor | Date | Course | Section | Race | Event | Machine |
| 1 | Čeněk Junek | 15 July 1928 | Nordschleife | Breidscheid/ex-Mühle | | 1928 Großer Preis der Sportwagen | Bugatti Type 35B |
| 2 | Ernst von Halle | 16 July 1928 | Nordschleife | Kesselchen | | 1928 Großer Preis der Sportwagen | Amilcar |
| 3 | Wilhelm Heine (driver) | 28 Sep 1929 | Nordschleife | Steilstrecke | 1929 ADAC-Langstreckenfahrt | 1929 8 Hour Touring Car Race | BMW |
| 4 | Heinrich-Joachim von Morgen | 27 May 1932 | Nordschleife | Hatzenbach | 1932 Eifelrennen | Practice | Bugatti T51 |
| 5 | Paul Gründel | 3 July 1932 | Zielschleife | Südkehre | 1932 Westdeutsche Kraftradmeisterschaft | Practice | 350cc Impéria |
| 6 | Emil Frankl | 3 June 1934 | Nordschleife | | | 1934 Internationales Eifelrennen | Bugatti |
| 7 | Toni Babl | 15 June 1936 | Nordschleife | | 1936 Internationales Eifelrennen | Practice | 600cc Douglas Sidecar |
| 8 | Ernst von Delius | 26 June 1937 | Nordschleife | Antoniusbuche/Döttinger Höhe | 1937 AIACR European Championship | 1937 German Grand Prix | Auto-Union Type C |
| 9 | Alfred Morali | 7 Aug 1949 | Nordschleife | Aremberg | 1949 Großer Preis vom Nürburgring | Practice | Norton 500cc |
| 10 | Theodor Weißenberger | 11 June 1950 | Nordschleife | Metzgesfeld | | 1950 Eifelrennen | BMW Veritas |
| 11 | Günther Schlüter | 20 Aug 1950 | Nordschleife | Pflanzgarten | 1950 German F3 Championship | 1950 German Grand Prix | Scampolo 501 - DKW F3 |
| 12 | Josef Hackenberg | 25 May 1952 | Nordschleife | | 1952 German Sportscar Championship | 1952 Eifelrennen | BMW Veritas RS |
| 13 | Paul Kresser | 28 June 1953 | Südschleife/Zielschleife | | German Sidecar Championship | 1953 Rund um das Bayerkreuz | BMW 500cc Sidecar |
| 14 | Onofre Marimón | 31 July 1954 | Nordschleife | Adenau Bridge | 1954 German Grand Prix | Practice | Maserati 250F |
| 15 | Ricardo Galvagni | 25 June 1955 | Nordschleife | Fuchsröhre | 1955 German motorcycle Grand Prix | Practice | 500cc Norton |
| 16 | Rudi Godin | 3 July 1955 | Nordschleife | Pflanzgarten | | 1955 Rheinlandfahrt für Motorräder | 250cc Puch |
| 17 | Viktor Spingler | 28 Aug 1955 | Nordschleife | Brünnchen | 1955 German Sportscar GT Championship | 1955 Internationales Rennen | Porsche 356 |
| 18 | Bernhard Thiel | 19 April 1958 | Nordschleife | Pflanzgarten | 1958 German Rally Championship | 1958 Rallye Hanseat | Borgward Isabella |
| 19 | Erwin Bauer | 3 June 1958 | Nordschleife | | 1958 FIA World Sport Car Championship | 1958 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring | Ferrari 250 TR |
| 20 | Peter Collins | 3 Aug 1958 | Nordschleife | Pflanzgarten | 1958 FIA Formula 1 World Championship | 1958 German Grand Prix | Ferrari Dino 246 |
| 21 | Fausto Meyrat | 9 June 1959 | Nordschleife | Kesselchen | 1959 FIA World Sports Car Championship | 1959 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring | DKW Auto Union RS 1080 |
| 22 | Alfred Wohlgemuth | 30 April 1961 | Südschleife/Zielschleife | | | 1961 Internationales Eifelrennen | BMW 500cc Sidecar |
| 23 | Dickie Dale | 30 April 1961 | Südschleife/Zielschleife | Bocksberg | | 1961 Internationales Eifelrennen | 500cc Norton |
| 24 | Günter Strasburger | 30 Sep 1962 | Südschleife/Zielschleife | | | 1962 ADAC Eifel-Pokal Rennen | BMW 500cc Sidecar |
| 25 | Michael Rader | 14 July 1963 | Nordschleife | Schwedenkreuz | | 1963 Internationales Rennen | Alfa Romeo |
| 26 | Dieter Schmicking | 28 Sep 1963 | Südschleife/Zielschleife | | 1963 Junioren-Pokal | Practice | |
| 27 | Axel Klaska | 28 Sep 1963 | Südschleife/Zielschleife | | 1963 Junioren-Pokal | Practice | |
| 28 | Brian Hetreed | 29 May 1964 | Nordschleife | Bergwerk | 1964 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring | Practice | Aston Martin DP214 |
| 29 | Rudolf Moser | 30 May 1964 | Nordschleife | Antoniusbuche | 1964 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring | Practice | Porsche 904 GTS |
| 30 | Carel Godin de Beaufort | 1 Aug 1964 | Nordschleife | Bergwerk | 1964 FIA Formula 1 World Championship | 1964 German Grand Prix | Porsche 718 |
| 31 | Herbert Mandel | 25 Sep 1964 | Südschleife | Müllenbach | 1964 German Sidecar Championship | 1964 ADAC Eifelpokal-Rennen | BMW Sidecar 500cc |
| 32 | Honoré Wagner | 23 May 1965 | Nordschleife | Kallenhardt | International Championship for Makes | 1964 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring | Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 |
| 33 | Manfred König | 24 Sep 1965 | Südschleife | Müllenbach | 1965 ADAC Eifelpokal-Rennen | 1965 Junioren-Pokal | BMW 500cc |
| 34 | John Taylor | 7 Aug 1966 | Nordschleife | Flugplatz | 1966 FIA Formula 1 World Championship | 1966 German Grand Prix | Brabham BT11 |
| 35 | Ranier Dangel | 16 May 1967 | Nordschleife | | | Regularity Trial | Opel Kadett |
| 36 | Georges Berger | 23 Aug 1967 | Nordschleife | Pflanzgarten | | 1967 Marathon de la Route | Porsche 911 |
| 37 | Albertus Goedemans | 30 Aug 1968 | Nordschleife | Antoniusbuche | ADAC 500 km-Rennen | Practice | Abarth SP 1000 |
| 38 | Gerhard Mitter | 1 Aug 1969 | Nordschleife | Flugplatz/Schwedenkreuz | 1969 FIA Formula 2 | Practice | BMW 269 F2 |
| 39 | Hans-Dieter Fröhle | 17 April 1970 | Nordschleife | Schwedenkreuz | ADAC 300 km Rennen | Formula Vee ONS Cup | Volkswagen |
| 40 | Klein | 18 April 1970 | Nordschleife | Schwedenkreuz | ADAC 300 km Rennen | Practice | Porsche GT |
| 41 | Robin Fitton | 2 May 1970 | Nordschleife | Wippermann | 1970 World Motor-Cycle Championship | 1970 German motorcycle Grand Prix | 350cc Norton |
| 42 | Hans Laine | 30 May 1970 | Nordschleife | Döttinger Höhe | International Championship for Makes | 1970 ADAC 1000 km of Nürburgring | Porsche 908 |
| 43 | Herbert Schultze | 12 July 1970 | Nordschleife | Hatzenbach | FIA European Touring Car Championship | 1970 Nürburgring 6 Hour | Alfa Romeo GTA |
| 44 | Ulrich Ritkowski | 6 Sep 1970 | Nordschleife | | 1970 Junioren-Pokal | 1970 Eifelpokalrennen | BMW 500cc |
| 45 | Herbert Mann | 16 Oct 1971 | Südschleife | | Mayener Rundstreckenrennen | Practice | |
| 46 | Erich Bertholdt | 17 Oct 1971 | Südschleife | Müllenbachkurve | Deutsche Strassenmeisterschaft | Mayener Rundstreckenrennen | 500cc Kawasaki |
| 47 | Rüdiger Schwietring | 6 Oct 1973 | Südschleife | Bocksberg | Meisterschaftslauf für Serien-Motorräder | Sprintrunde | Honda 750cc |
| 48 | Walter Czadek | 31 Aug 1975 | Nordschleife | Döttinger Höhe | 1975 FIA Worldchampionship GT Cars | 1975 Internationales Rennen | BMW 2002 TI |
| 49 | Alex Wittwer | 2 April 1976 | Nordschleife | Fuchsröhre | 1976 FIA European Formula 3 Championship | Practice | March 743 - Toyota F3 |
| 50 | Heinz Behrentin | 3 July 1976 | Nordschleife | | 1976 German Reliability Championship | | |
| 51 | Ernst Raetz | 9 July 1976 | Nordschleife | Flugplatz | 1976 Großer Preis der Tourenwagen | 1976 Formula Super Vee | Volkswagen |
| 52 | Corrado Antonello | 16 June 1979 | Nordschleife | Sudkurve | 1979 8 Hours of Nürburgring | 1979 Laverda Match Race | Laverda |
| 53 | Herbert Müller | 24 May 1981 | Nordschleife | Kesselchen | 1981 FIA World Endurance Championship | 1981 ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring | Porsche 908 turbo |
| 54 | Jorma Nevala | 23 Aug 1981 | Zielschleife | Pits Straight | 1981 Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft | 1981 Deutsche Tourist Trophy | |
| 55 | Hans Michael Kolb | 10 May 1986 | GP-Strecke | | Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft | | |
| 56 | Wolfgang Offermann | 26 July 1986 | Nordschleife | Schwalbenschwanz | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | | Opel Manta GTE |
| 57 | Karl-Josef Römer | 24 Oct 1986 | Nordschleife | Döttinger Höhe | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 1986 VLN – Langstreckenpokal | Porsche Carrera SC |
| 58 | Wolfgang Scholz | 19 Sep 1998 | Nordscheli | Breidscheid | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 1998 VLN – Langstreckenpokal | Volkswagen Golf GTI |
| 59 | Stefan Eickelmann | 10 Oct 1998 | Nordschleife | Karussell | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 1998 DMV-250-Meilen-Rennen | BMW M3 - E36 |
| 60 | Oliver Perschke | 25 July 1999 | GP-Strecke | Castrol - S | 1999 Deutsche Straßenmeisterschaft | | |
| 61 | Marc van de Brandeler | 5 Sep 1999 | Nordschleife | | FIA Ferrari Porsche Challenge | 1999 Ferrari Porsche Challenge | Porsche 993 |
| 62 | Carola Biehler | 12 Aug 2000 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Flugplatz/Schwedenkreuz | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 2000 6 Hour Ruhr-Pokal Rennen | Ford Escort RS2000 |
| 63 | Christian Peruzzi | 25 May 2001 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Schwedenkreuz/Aremberg | | 2001 ADAC 24 Hours Nürburgring | Alfa Romeo 147 |
| 64 | Ulli Richter | 4 Aug 2001 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Döttinger Höhe | 2001 VLN 6 Hour Ruhr-Pokal Rennen | race lap 9 | Porsche 996 GT3 |
| 65 | Karl-Heinz Deusch | 7 July 2002 | GP-Strecke | Ford Curve | 2002 Motor Racing Legends | 2002 Oldtimer Festival | MG J12 |
| 66 | Lutz Barthel | 27 June 2004 | GP-Strecke | Hatzenbachbogen | 2004 Motor Racing Legends | 2004 Oldtimer Festival | BMW 328 |
| 67 | Hansruedi Portmann | 27 Sep 2008 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Wehrseifen | 2008 ADAC Classic Trophy | 2008 ADAC Eifelrennen | Ford Mustang |
| 68 | Leo Löwenstein | 24 April 2010 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Bergwerk | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 2010 ADAC ACAS H&R Cup | Aston Martin V8 Vantage |
| 69 | Wolf Silvester | 22 June 2013 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Schwalbenschwanz | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 44th Adenauer ADAC Simfy Trophy | Opel Astra OPC |

## List of fatal accidents involving spectators

| No | Name | Date | Course | Section | Race | Event | Role |
| 1 | Andy Gehrmann | 28 March 2015 | Nordschleife/GP-Strecke | Flugplatz | VLN Endurance Championship | 61. ADAC Westfalenfahrt | Spectator |

## List of fatal accidents involving race officials

| No | Official | Date | Course | Place | Series | Race | Role |
| 1 | Guenther Schneider | 6 Aug 1963 | Nordschleife | Flugplatz | FIA Formula 1 World Championship | 1963 Großer Preis von Deutschland/ 1963 German Grand Prix | Red Cross Volunteer |
| 2 | Berdt Hackenbert | 23 April 1977 | Nordschleife | Pflanzgarten | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 1977 Internationale ADAC Ahr Eifel 5 Hours | Marshal |
| 3 | Klaus Bierth | 8 June 1979 | Nordschleife | Pit-Lane Entrance | VLN-Langstreckenmeisterschaft | 1979 ADAC 4 Hour Großer Preis der Tourenwagen | Marshal |

## List of fatal accidents during unofficial testing

| No | Competitor | Date | Course | Place | Series | Event | Machine |
| 1 | Hermann Schmitz | 8 Oct 1936 | Nordschleife | Karussell | Daimler-Benz Racing School | Private Test | Mercedes-Benz 500K |
| 2 | Gustav Baumm | 23 May 1955 | Nordschleife | Wippermann | | Private Test | Baumm - NSU 125cc |
| 3 | Erich Bode | 20 June 1961 | Nordschleife | Fuchsröhre | German Formula Junior Championship | Private Test | Mitter - DKW |
| 4 | Hans-Dieter Blatzheim | 14 June 1985 | GP-Strecke | Castrol Esses | Historic Sports Cars | Private Test | Porsche 917 |
| 5 | Marc Theis | 6 May 2002 | GP-Strecke | Audi Chicane | Formula König Championship | Private Test | Formula König |
| 6 | Christian Franck | 9 August 2023 | Nordschleife | Tiergarten | GoodYear Tire private test | Private Test | Porsche 911 Carrera S |
| 7 | Unidentified | 9 August 2023 | Nordschleife | Tiergarten | GoodYear Tire private test | Private Test | Porsche 911 Carrera S |

## Sources

* ↑ The Chequered Flag - 100 Years of Motor Racing p122 by Ivan Rendall (1995) Media Eye Ltd Weidenfeld & Nicolson ISBN 0-297-83220-4
* ↑ P-47 Thunderbolt vs Bf 109G/K Europe 1943-45 by Martin Bowman p49 (2008) Osprey Publishing ISBN 1-84603-315-2
* ↑ The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who p245 by Steve Small (1994) Guinness Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-85112-702-9
* ↑ The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who p111 by Steve Small (1994) Guinness Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-85112-702-9
* ↑ German Racing Motorcycles by Mick Walker p77 RedLine Books ISBN 0-9531311-2-2
* ↑ The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who p48 by Steve Small (1994) Guinness Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-85112-702-9
* ↑ The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who p378 by Steve Small (1994) Guinness Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-85112-702-9
* ↑ The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who p256 by Steve Small (1994) Guinness Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-85112-702-9
* ↑ Bell, Sebastien (August 10, 2023). "Two Killed In High-Speed Crash During Industry Testing At Nurburgring". Carscoops. Retrieved February 11, 2024.