Full Breakdown
Dutch Driver’s Split-Second Rescue Saves British Racer in Shanghai GT Crash
9/8/2026, 8:49:42 AM
The Rescue on September 5, 2026
During the opening race of the China GT Championship at Shanghai International Circuit, a multi-car collision on lap 7 sent British driver Ollie Millroy’s Ferrari into flames. With no flag marshals or fire crews visible, 23-year-old Dutch competitor Loek Hartog abandoned his Porsche, sprinted to the wreck, grabbed a fire extinguisher, doused the flames and pulled Millroy from the cockpit. The rescue lasted about 49 seconds before emergency personnel arrived. Millroy survived with severe injuries.
Injuries and Immediate Aftermath
Medical assessment recorded five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, a broken hand and finger, and a bruised lung. Millroy later said he could not recall the half-minute before the crash nor the hour that followed, but would forever remember Hartog’s “incredible act of bravery.”
Official Statements & Responses
- The China GT organising committee apologized on Weibo, expressing sympathy for Millroy and pledging a review of competition management, emergency response and medical support.
- David Chen, co-driver for AAI Motorsports, criticized the delay in fire-brigade assistance:
“For about a minute and a half, Ollie was left alone in the car without any immediate assistance from the fire brigade or emergency services.”
- Chen announced the team’s withdrawal from the championship:
“Given the way today’s incident was handled by the organisers, the team and I have decided to withdraw from the championship and will not be taking part in any further China GT events.”
- The series’ statement promised a comprehensive investigation and safety reforms:
“We will further review and investigate the accident and formulate more comprehensive plans to address shortcomings in competition organisation, support, emergency response, rescue and medical services.”
Team and Driver Reactions
Millroy’s Instagram posts repeatedly thanked Hartog, emphasizing that without his intervention he might not have survived. Hartog described the moment as instinctive:
“When I saw a car engulfed in a huge ball of fire in front of me, there wasn’t really a decision to be made… I stopped, got out and went over to the car. I never had any doubts.”
Data & Statistics
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | September 5, 2026 |
| Lap of crash | 7th (?20 minutes into the race) |
| Time to rescue | ~49 seconds |
| Time before crews arrived | >1 minute (?1.5 minutes) |
| Injuries sustained | 5 broken ribs, fractured collarbone, broken hand & finger, bruised lung |
| Team withdrawal | AAI Motorsports will not compete in further China GT events |
