Ollie Millroy, a 36-year-old British racing driver, was involved in a crash at the Shanghai International Circuit during a China GT event. His Ferrari burst into flames after being smashed by two other cars while navigating a bend. Rival Dutch driver Loek Hartog pulled up beside the wreckage and risked his own life to free Millroy from the fireball, eventually using a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. Hartog's heroic actions allowed Millroy to escape with serious injuries, including 5 broken ribs, a broken collar bone, and a bruised lung.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Dutch racing driver Loek Hartog has been hailed as a hero after stopping his car to help fellow racer Ollie Millroy escape a flaming Ferrari in China. On February 10, during a China GT Championship event at the Shanghai International Circuit, Ollie Millroy's Ferrari crashed and caught fire. Loek Hartog, who was racing nearby, stopped his car and rushed to help Millroy, first trying to pull him out of the driver's side door and then using an extinguisher to put out the flames before freeing him from the other side of the car. Hartog's quick thinking and bravery likely saved Millroy's life, as he was able to escape with serious injuries, but grateful for Hartog's actions. The organizers of the China GT Championship have promised to review the incident and identify any "shortcomings" that led to a lack of safety marshals being present at the scene.
Written for “Rival Saves Racer in Crash” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 6544 · logged 2026-09-07
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This is the moment a British racing driver's Ferrari bursts into flames - before a heroic rival rushes to his rescue.
asserted
rival → see → rescue
Ollie Millroy, 36, had been racing in a China GT event at Shanghai International Circuit when two cars smashed into his Ferrari while navigating a bend.
asserted
cars → race → bend
In video footage of the incident, Millroy's vehicle is seen spiraling off the track while aggressive flames and huge plumes of smoke billow above it.
asserted
flames → see → it
Rival Dutch driver Loek Hartog is then seen pulling up beside the wreckage before hurriedly unbuckling his seat belt and jumping out - sacrificing his chances of winning the event in the process.
asserted
Hartog → see → process
Through a camera near the driver's seat of Hartog's car, the 23-year-old can then be seen desperately rummaging through the Ferrari's remains in a bid to free Millroy, who had become trapped in the fireball.
asserted
who → see → fireball
But Hartog could not initially pull the Brit to safety, meaning he had to scramble to find a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
uncertain
he → pull → blaze
Fire crews then arrive to combat the fire while Hartog and track staff pull Millroy away from the fireball.
asserted
Hartog → arrive → fireball
Eventually, the clip cuts to show Hartog and Millroy perched on a wall by the side of the track after the Brit was miraculously pulled to safety.
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Brit → cut → safety
A British driver almost lost his life after a horrific crash China GT event sent his vehicle up in flames
Ollie Millroy was left trapped inside a Ferrari which was sent spiraling off the track
Rival Dutch driver Loek Hartog (right) however sacrificed his place in the race to pull the Brit to safety
Millroy (left), who suffered serious injuries in the crash, later took to X to thank Hartog for 'saving his life'
The Brit suffered significant injuries in the crash, but thanked the Dutchman for 'saving his life'.
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Brit → lose → life
Sharing a picture from his hospital bed, Millroy wrote: 'I am still alive tonight, entirely thanks to one man.
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I → share → man
@loekhartog_ stopped instantly with no flag marshalls or fire crews in sight, and risked his own life to get me out of the car.
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@loekhartog → stop → car
I don't remember anything between 30 seconds before the crash and 1 hour after it, but I will remember his incredible act of bravery for the rest of my life.
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I → remember → life
One day I will tell our three kids this story and Loek will be the biggest superhero in history in their eyes too.
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Loek → tell → eyes
I'm laying here tonight with 5 broken ribs, broken collar bone, broken hand and finger and a bruised lung, but it could have been much worse.
uncertain
it → lay → ribs
I owe you my life for your selfless act today'.
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I → owe → act
Hartog, meanwhile, posted on his own social media: 'When I saw a car turning into a huge fireball far ahead, there wasn't really a decision to make.
'
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car → post → fireball
From what I had seen, I genuinely believed the driver might not be able to get out by himself.
uncertain
driver → see → himself
I stopped, got out and went towards the car.
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I → stop → car
There were moments where I didn't know I would actually be able to get Ollie out.
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I → be → Ollie
But this isn't about what I did, and I'm sure many people in the same position would have reacted exactly the same way.'
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people → react → position
