British racing driver Ollie Millroy expressed immense gratitude towards his rival Loek Hartog after a harrowing incident during the first race of the China GT on Saturday. The dramatic event unfolded 20 minutes into the race in Shanghai, when Millroy's Ferrari was severely impacted from the side due to a collision between two other cars, igniting a fire.

As chaos ensued, the race was red-flagged. With no safety marshals on the scene, Hartog took immediate action, stopping his vehicle to attempt a rescue. He managed to remove part of a door and, grabbing a fire extinguisher from a nearby official, he fought the flames before courageously extracting Millroy from the wreckage.

Millroy was subsequently transported to the hospital, where he is being treated for multiple fractures and a bruised lung. He took to Instagram to share his appreciation, stating, “I owe my life to you. Loek Hartog stopped instantly... and risked his own life to get me out of the car.” He detailed his injuries and reflected on the terrifying moments leading up to the crash, emphasizing the bravery of Hartog.

In response, Hartog remarked that he never hesitated to assist Millroy. He recounted, “When I saw a car turning into a huge fireball... there was never a moment of doubt.” Despite the fear, he felt it was essential to help.

The race was ultimately abandoned, with Millroy’s team, FIST Auto, announcing they would withdraw from future races until safety concerns are addressed. They criticized the organizers for inaccurately reporting the situation during the live broadcast, emphasizing Hartog's heroic efforts.

The China GT organizers acknowledged their shortcomings in a statement, promising to review and enhance their emergency response and safety protocols.