Heroic Rival Rescue
Rival Driver Loek Hartog Rescues Ollie Millroy From Burning Ferrari in Shanghai
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The crash began when Neil Verhagen’s BMW lost control after putting a wheel onto damp grass while attempting to pass David Chen’s Ferrari near Turn 14. The two cars slid toward the hairpin and struck Millroy’s Ferrari side-on.
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The race was red-flagged and never restarted following the collision. Onboard footage showed Hartog first trying to reach Millroy from the driver’s side, then moving to the opposite side, taking an extinguisher from a marshal and lifting him from the cockpit.
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Millroy said he remembered nothing from about 30 seconds before the impact until roughly an hour afterward. He was expected to undergo surgery and spend several weeks recovering in China; he also credited Ferrari for building a car capable of absorbing the impact.
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Hartog said he hoped such a rescue would be viewed not as exceptional bravery but as an instinctive response: “I wish to live in a world where this would not be considered as bravery but as instinct of others too.”
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FIST Team AAI owner and co-driver Betty Chen said Millroy remained in the car for about a minute and a half without immediate help from the fire brigade or emergency services, calling the handling of the incident unacceptable. The team consequently confirmed it would not enter another China GT round in 2026.
British driver Ollie Millroy survived a fiery crash at the China GT Championship in Shanghai after his rival, Dutch driver Loek Hartog, pulled him from the burning Ferrari. RFI reported that Millroy suffered multiple fractures and a bruised lung when Neil Verhagen's BMW struck his car near Turn 14, engulfing it in flames during the race at Shanghai International Circuit.
Hartog immediately abandoned his own vehicle, grabbed a fire extinguisher from a marshal, and extracted Millroy from the cockpit before emergency crews arrived. BBC News noted that Millroy remained unconscious and trapped in the car for roughly 90 seconds without immediate help from fire or medical personnel, prompting his team to criticize the incident response.
How the Crash Unfolded at Turn 14
The collision began when Verhagen's BMW lost control after its wheel hit damp grass during an overtaking attempt on David Chen's Ferrari. France24 reported that the two cars slid toward the hairpin bend and struck Millroy's Ferrari side-on with heavy force. The impact was severe enough to engulf the vehicle in flames within seconds.
A Driver's Instinctive Response Saves a Life
Onboard footage showed Hartog first trying to reach Millroy from the driver's side door, then switching to the opposite side of the burning car. Morning Chronicle reported that Hartog took a fire extinguisher from a track marshal and used it to fight the blaze before lifting Millroy from the cockpit. Hartog later said he hoped such rescues would be seen not as exceptional bravery but as a natural human instinct.
"I wish to live in a world where this would not be considered as bravery but as instinct of others too," Hartog said, reflecting on the rescue. Millroy remained unconscious throughout the ordeal, remembering nothing from about 30 seconds before impact until roughly an hour after the crash.
Millroy's Injuries and Team's Criticism of Response
Millroy suffered multiple fractures, a bruised lung, and severe burns in the crash. Head Topics reported he was expected to undergo surgery and spend several weeks recovering in China. He credited Ferrari's car design for absorbing enough of the impact to keep him alive during the collision and fire.
FIST Team AAI owner Betty Chen called the emergency response unacceptable, stating that Millroy remained in the car for about 90 seconds without immediate help from fire or medical crews. The team announced it would not enter another China GT round in 2026. The race was red-flagged and never restarted following the incident.
Millroy Credits Hartog With Saving His Life
After regaining consciousness, Millroy called Hartog a "superhero" and credited him with saving his life. BBC News noted that Millroy said he owes Hartog everything and expressed deep gratitude for his rival's quick and courageous action. The two drivers, previously competitors on the track, have since formed a bond forged by this life-or-death moment in Shanghai.
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