AMSTERDAM — "I'm no special guy. We can all do this," Loek Hartog said as he described the moments after a violent crash in Shanghai last month that left fellow racer Ollie Millroy seriously injured.
Rescue in Shanghai
Hartog, 24, a GT motor racing driver from the Netherlands, has been praised for wrenching open the wreckage of Millroy's car and pulling the 36-year-old Briton to safety after the vehicle caught fire. Witnesses and accounts of the incident say Hartog removed the car doors and dragged Millroy clear before attempting to comfort him at the scene.
Millroy suffered multiple injuries in the accident, including six broken ribs, a damaged lung, a splintered collarbone, a broken hand and a fractured C6 neck vertebra, and has described being stunned by how close he came to dying.
Aftermath and shared purpose
The rescue has led to a growing friendship between the two drivers and a shared determination to press for improved safety measures in their sport. Hartog has downplayed any notion of heroism, saying his actions were simply what anyone in that situation could — and should — do.
A quiet conversation in Amsterdam
On a dark winter morning in Amsterdam, Hartog spoke candidly about the incident and about broader anxieties he sees in the world. He reflected on recent international crises and political controversies, but said the episode in Shanghai had given him reason for optimism about human behaviour in dangerous moments.
Both drivers and their teams have signalled an interest in learning from the crash. Beyond immediate medical care and recovery, the incident has prompted conversations within the racing community about how to prevent similar injuries and how best to respond when accidents occur.