Tragedy struck at the VLN endurance race on the Nurburgring Nordschleife over the weekend. Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 #23, piloted by 23-year-old British racing driver Jann Mardenborough, went airborne, hit the crash barrier and flipped over the safety fence into a group of spectators. One spectator has been pronounced dead, while several have been injured.

While the cause of the accident is investigated, Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (Germany's auto racing governing body) has suspended SP7, SP8, SP8T, SP9, SP10, SP and SP-Pro-X racing vehicle classes from the track until further notice. These cover many GT3 and GT4 cars.

"The opening round of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nurburgring was marred by an accident on Saturday which injured several spectators. One of the spectators died, despite the immediate actions of the rescue crew in the medical centre at the circuit. The other injured spectators have been taken to hospital for ongoing medical care," the VLN said in a statement.

"The VLN and the organisers are deeply saddened by the accident, and their thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims."

Nissan has also released a statement, saying that Mardenborough and two injured spectators have been released from hospital after completing a series of medical tests. It added that the crashed vehicle has been impounded by the German police and that Nissan is fully co-operating in the investigation.

"We are all deeply shocked and saddened and our immediate thoughts go to the deceased, those injured and their families and friends," said Nissan.

Mardenborough, the son of ex-professional footballer Steve, was the 2011 winner of Nissan and Sony's PlayStation-based GT Academy competition. The gamer-turned-racer proceeded to bag a podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours and this year, Nissan selected him to drive the GT-R LM Nismo prototype in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24.