Dutch Driver Rescues British Racer from Burning Wreck as China GT Organizers Face Scrutiny
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A serious crash-and-fire incident at the China GT Super Car Championship Shanghai stop on September 5 has sparked widespread criticism of the event's emergency response. Dutch driver Loek Hartog abandoned his race to pull British racer Ollie Millroy from a burning wreckage in just 49 seconds, after on-site rescue personnel fled in fear. Millroy sustained multiple fractures and lung injuries, while both FIST AUTO and 610 Racing teams announced their withdrawal from the championship in protest against the organizers' handling of the situation.
Key Points
- The incident occurred during the 7th lap of the main race at Shanghai on September 5, when cars #37 and #33 collided and struck the fuel tank of car #91
- British driver Ollie Millroy of FIST AUTO team was trapped as his car burst into flames, suffering five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, broken fingers, and lung contusion
- Dutch driver Loek Hartog (#79, Rutronik Racing) abandoned his race, used a fire extinguisher, and manually dismantled damaged car parts to rescue Millroy in 49 seconds
- Rescue personnel at the scene abandoned their posts in fear, dropping fire extinguishers, while an ambulance did not arrive until 15 minutes after the crash
- FIST AUTO team and the #33 car driver Yang Baijie of 610 Racing both announced their permanent withdrawal from CHINA GT to protest the organizers' negligence
Why It Matters
The incident exposes critical safety protocol failures at a major international motorsport event in China, with race officials reportedly attempting to shift responsibility to the drivers rather than acknowledging their own delayed response. The withdrawal of two professional teams signals a severe breakdown in trust between competitors and event organizers, raising questions about whether CHINA GT can maintain its credibility as a professional racing championship .
The incident exposes critical safety protocol failures at a major international motorsport event in China, with race officials reportedly attempting to shift responsibility to the drivers rather than acknowledging their own delayed response. The withdrawal of two professional teams signals a severe breakdown in trust between competitors and event organizers, raising questions about whether CHINA GT can maintain its credibility as a professional racing championship .