Shanghai witnessed an extraordinary act of heroism on Saturday, September 5, 2026, as Dutch racing driver Loek Hartog risked his own safety to rescue competitor Ollie Millroy from a burning Ferrari.
The dramatic incident unfolded during a China GT Championship race at the Shanghai International Circuit, where a multi-car pile-up left Millroy’s vehicle engulfed in flames.
Loek Hartog Rescues Ollie Millroy in 49 Seconds
Netizens Praise Loek Hartog for His Heroic Rescue of Ollie Millroy
Loek Hartog was a true hero
Loek Hartog: Hero Beyond the Race
Dutch driver Loek Hartog saves Ollie Millroy in Shanghai
The crash occurred approximately 20 minutes into the race when Millroy’s #91 FIST Team AAI Ferrari was violently struck at the Turn 14 hairpin. Earlier contact between Neil Verhagen’s #33 610Racing BMW and David Chen’s #37 Harmony Racing Ferrari led to Verhagen losing control on a damp track, ultimately resulting in the impact that set Millroy’s car ablaze.
Loek Hartog’s Swift Action
With no marshals or fire crews immediately at the scene, Loek Hartog, driving for Phantom Global Racing in a Porsche, stopped his car without hesitation and sprinted towards the inferno. On-board footage captured the 23-year-old Dutchman’s rapid response, first attempting to reach Millroy from the driver’s side before moving to the opposite side. He then grabbed a fire extinguisher from an arriving marshal, battling the intense flames before successfully extracting Millroy from the cockpit. The entire rescue mission took a mere 49 seconds from the moment Hartog exited his vehicle.
Millroy, 36, was later transported to hospital, where he was diagnosed with significant injuries including five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, a broken hand and finger, and a bruised lung.
Gratitude and Humility
From his hospital bed, Ollie Millroy expressed profound gratitude to his rescuer, posting on social media: “I am still alive tonight entirely thanks to one man. Loek Hartog stopped instantly with no flag marshals or fire crews in sight, and risked his own life to get me out of the car… I will remember his incredible act of bravery for the rest of my life. I owe my life to him.”
Hartog, for his part, downplayed his heroic actions. “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,” he stated. “From what I could see, I naturally assumed the driver couldn’t get out on his own, so I stopped, got out and went over to the car. I never had any doubts.”
Safety Concerns Raised
The race was immediately red-flagged and did not resume following the crash. Millroy’s team, FIST Team AAI, released a strong statement criticizing the safety protocols at the event and announced their withdrawal from future China GT races until safety concerns are addressed. The team highlighted that Millroy’s car continued to burn for more than a minute without timely firefighting and rescue operations.
Loek Hartog’s selfless act has resonated throughout the motorsport community, highlighting the extraordinary courage and camaraderie that can emerge even in the most perilous circumstances of competitive racing.