Millroy details difficult recovery as he and Hartog seek racing safety improvements

Ollie Millroy has described a painful recovery from the Shanghai crash in which fellow driver Loek Hartog pulled him from a burning car, while setting out their shared ambition to improve motorsport safety. In an interview published by the Guardian on 29 October, the British racer said he was further from returning to a car than he had previously believed.

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Millroy, 36, was injured in a China GT race on 5 September after his Ferrari was struck by a car caught up in another collision. The Guardian reported that his injuries included six broken ribs, a damaged lung, a broken hand, a splintered collarbone and a fracture to his C6 neck vertebra. Hartog stopped his own race to help him escape.

Speaking from Dubai, Millroy said he had initially thought he might be ready for his team's planned Sebring test. That assessment changed after he stopped taking strong painkillers: he described severe pain, difficulty sleeping and being unable even to get into a road car. He said he had a medical appointment to work out a plan, but offered no confirmed date for a racing return.

Hartog, the 24-year-old Dutch driver, told the Guardian that he removed the Ferrari's doors, took a fire extinguisher from a marshal and tackled the flames before pulling Millroy out. The rescue took just over a minute. According to the newspaper, a marshal reached the scene after 47 seconds and medical assistance arrived more than four minutes after the crash. Hartog also recalled trying to stop people moving the injured driver while they awaited treatment.

The pair now want to encourage improvements across racing. Millroy said the accident demonstrated that further safety gains remained possible and that organisers, circuits and the wider motorsport community should work together to address weaknesses. Hartog said a fellow competitor should not have to stop racing to carry out such a rescue. Their comments outlined an objective, rather than announcing a completed programme or new regulations.

Despite his recovery difficulties, Millroy said his enthusiasm for driving and competing had survived the accident. He is also enjoying time at home with his wife and children. He and Hartog had not known each other personally before the crash, but have since developed a friendship alongside their shared interest in making racing safer.