Driver Nearly Hit by Racer After Bailing from Burning Porsche in Nürburgring Qualifying

The Nürburgring 24 Hours takes place this weekend, drawing extra attention with Formula 1 star Max Verstappen in the field.

During Thursday qualifying, German driver Alexander Hardt bailed out of his Porsche 911 after it caught fire. He stood in a gravel trap on the treacherous circuit, waving to alert other drivers to the stopped car.

Driver Janina Schall failed to see him in time. She struck the burning Porsche with her own Porsche and came shockingly close to hitting Hardt.

Hardt had no choice but to exit the vehicle quickly because of the fire. He escaped unharmed.

The Nürburgring measures just under 16 miles, unlike shorter circuits familiar to North American fans that often use spotters. Schall may not have known about the stopped car or Hardt's position.

Organizers will review the incident to prevent repeats. The track, known as the "Green Hell," saw Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda suffer a near-fatal crash in 1976.

Just last month, 66-year-old Juha Miettinen died in a qualifying race crash for the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The circuit remains one of motorsports' most respected, attracting drivers like four-time F1 champion Verstappen.

The event sold out for the first time, largely due to Verstappen's participation, according to ESPN. He will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with teammates Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer.