CCTV footage from the Shanghai circuit has unveiled the detailed timeline of a horrific crash involving driver Ollie Millroy during a Chinese GT race. The incident, which occurred last Saturday, drew global attention not only for the severity of the impact but also for the heroic actions of rival driver Loek Hartog, who risked his life to pull Millroy from the flames.
According to the CCTV recording, the crash happened at 16:47:24, and just one second later, Millroy's Ferrari burst into flames. Within 12 seconds, the race was red-flagged. Four seconds later, Hartog appeared on the scene in his Porsche. After 47 seconds, a marshal handed a fire extinguisher to Hartog, while a second marshal was seen struggling with their own extinguisher at 55 seconds. The first recovery vehicle arrived after 66 seconds, and by 75 seconds, Hartog had recovered Millroy from the wreckage, and up to that point, he was still the only person to have used an extinguisher to fight the flames.
Remarkably, it took over four minutes for the chief medical officer to attend the scene, and five minutes and 20 seconds for a first truck to arrive. An ambulance arrived six and a quarter minutes after the impact, with Millroy taken to hospital five minutes later. The delayed response has sparked fierce criticism of race officials, with initial reports suggesting the on-site ambulance took 15 minutes to arrive. As a result, at least two teams, including Millroy's, have withdrawn from the championship.
This incident highlights the critical importance of swift and effective safety protocols in motorsport. Hartog's decision to stop his car and run towards the fire is a testament to true sportsmanship and bravery. Meanwhile, race management faces heavy scrutiny for the slow emergency response. Loek Hartog himself has received praise from all quarters, but he has chosen to remain largely silent and focus on Millroy's recovery.
In an update on Millroy's condition, his wife Fern posted on social media: "A big (very small actually) step forward for Ollie today. It’s the first time he’s been able to stand since Saturday. A lot of pain but we are making progress. The Chinese government sent some of their top specialists to our hospital today to do a full body scan and to check for any internal bleeding."
"The good news is that it doesn’t look likely he will need any more surgery, but there is still a lot of gas and fluid leaking from his right lung which is being removed using a drainage tube. There is also now fluid in the left lung, likely caused by the trauma of the impact. We need to keep monitoring this over the next week or so and see how the lung manages to heal itself without too much external intervention," Fern added.
This crash serves as a stark reminder of the risks drivers face on track and the importance of medical and marshal readiness. While Millroy continues his recovery, the motorsport world hopes such incidents will not be repeated. Investigators are expected to thoroughly examine the cause of the delayed response and evaluate safety procedures at the Shanghai circuit.
Read Also
LoJack recovered 1,230 vehicles in Italy in H1 2026, worth 46 million euros. Italy faces Europe's highest car theft rate, with SUVs a prime target.
Ford teams Grove Racing and Triple Eight protest Supercars' Camaro parity change, threatening legal action if explanation fails to satisfy.
Erebus Motorsport unveils Metalmaster livery for Chevrolet Camaro at The Bend 500. Jobe Stewart and Jarrod Hughes set for Airtouch 500 challenge.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!