China GT race crash sparks safety controversy in Shanghai

During a China GT Championship race at the Shanghai International Circuit, British driver Ollie Millroy was involved in a violent collision that caused his Ferrari to burst into flames. Millroy, who was trapped in the burning vehicle, survived due to the heroic actions of Dutch competitor Loek Hartog. Hartog abandoned his own race, used a fire extinguisher to combat the flames, and pulled Millroy from the wreckage before official marshals arrived.

Millroy sustained serious injuries, including multiple broken ribs, a fractured clavicle, a broken hand and finger, and a punctured lung. He has undergone surgery in Shanghai and is in stable condition. Millroy credited Hartog with saving his life, calling him a ‘superhero’.

The incident has sparked intense controversy regarding safety protocols. Millroy’s team, AAI Motorsports, accused the organizers of being ‘grossly negligent in the safety response’ and announced their withdrawal from future events in China. Actor and racer Daniel Wu also criticized the organizers for a delayed response and an alleged attempt to cover up the mismanagement. While China GT issued an apology, they maintained that the event met national-level configurations.