The short version
- Loek Hartog rescued Ollie Millroy from a burning car after a multi-vehicle collision during the China GT series in Shanghai.
- Millroy sustained multiple fractures and a bruised lung but credited Hartog with saving his life due to the absence of immediate marshal support.
- The incident triggered an investigation into race organization and emergency protocols, leading Millroy's team to withdraw from future events.
A dramatic rescue unfolded during the opening race of the China GT series in Shanghai on Saturday, when Dutch driver Loek Hartog pulled British competitor Ollie Millroy from a burning Ferrari. The incident occurred approximately twenty minutes into the event after a collision involving two other vehicles caused Millroy’s car to be struck heavily from the side and ignite. With no safety marshals immediately available to respond to the emergency, Hartog stopped his own vehicle and intervened directly to save his rival.
Hartog approached the wrecked Ferrari and removed part of the door before grabbing a fire extinguisher from a nearby official. He doused the flames as best he could under the circumstances and then physically extracted Millroy from the opposite side of the burning chassis. The race was red-flagged following the crash but did not resume after the incident, marking a significant disruption to the competition schedule.
Millroy was transported to a hospital where he is currently receiving treatment for serious injuries. Medical reports indicate he has sustained five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, a broken hand and finger, and a bruised lung. Despite the severity of his physical trauma, Millroy emphasized that the outcome could have been far worse without Hartog’s intervention.
In a public statement, Millroy expressed profound gratitude to Hartog, noting that he has no memory of the thirty seconds preceding the crash or the hour following it. He described Hartog’s actions as heroic and stated that he would owe his life to the Dutch driver forever. Millroy also mentioned that he intends to share this story with his three children, portraying Hartog as a superhero figure in their eyes.
Hartog reflected on the event by stating that he did not hesitate when he saw the car engulfed in flames. He explained that he genuinely believed the driver might not be able to escape on his own, which prompted him to stop and move toward the danger. Although he admitted the situation was terrifying and uncertain at times, he maintained that many people would have reacted similarly in such a critical moment.
The aftermath of the crash has sparked significant concern regarding safety protocols at the event. Millroy’s team, FIST Auto, announced that they will not participate in future China GT races until they can discuss safety concerns with the organizers. The team criticized the live broadcast coverage, which initially claimed that drivers had exited their vehicles independently, contradicting the reality of Hartog’s rescue.
FIST Auto highlighted the distressing nature of the misinformation and paid high respect to Hartog for risking his own safety to save another driver. They emphasized that the actual situation involved a direct rescue from a burning car rather than an independent exit, underscoring the critical role Hartog played in preventing a potential fatality.
Organizers of the China GT series have acknowledged shortcomings in their operations following the abandoned race. In a statement released after the incident, they admitted to deficiencies in competition organization, support systems, emergency response, rescue procedures, and medical services. They pledged to review and investigate the accident thoroughly to formulate more comprehensive plans for addressing these issues.
The incident raises broader questions about emergency preparedness in motorsport events, particularly regarding the speed and effectiveness of marshal responses. While Hartog’s actions prevented a tragedy, the reliance on a competitor rather than professional safety crews highlights potential gaps in current protocols. The investigation into these shortcomings will likely influence future safety standards for the series.
As Millroy recovers from his injuries, the racing community continues to process the events of Saturday. The combination of a severe crash, a life-saving rescue by a rival, and subsequent organizational criticism has cast a spotlight on the risks inherent in high-speed motorsport. The outcome of the safety review will determine whether changes are implemented to prevent similar situations in future competitions.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Ollie Millroy says he owes his life to heroic rival who pulled him from burning car at China GT
