Loek Hartog rescues rival from burning car during China GT race

Dutch racing driver Loek Hartog performed a heroic rescue during the China GT Championship at the Shanghai International Circuit. Following a multi-car collision involving Neil Verhagen and David Chen, the Ferrari driven by British driver Ollie Millroy was struck and immediately burst into flames.

With track marshals and medical personnel not immediately present at the scene, the 23-year-old Hartog stopped his Porsche, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and sprinted toward the burning wreckage. He managed to suppress the flames long enough to pull Millroy from the cockpit, an action that took approximately 49 seconds.

Millroy sustained serious injuries, including five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, a broken hand and finger, and a bruised lung. He expressed profound gratitude to Hartog, stating, “I am still alive tonight, entirely thanks to one man.”

The incident has sparked significant debate regarding safety protocols and the response time of track officials. The China GT organizers issued a statement apologizing for the incident and promising a thorough review, while Millroy’s team, AAI Motorsports, criticized the safety structure and announced their withdrawal from the series.