F1 test driver Maria de Villota in life-threatening crash

[MikeFleming]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/maria-de-villota.jpg (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/female-f1-test-driver-maria-de-villota-seriously-injured-in-crash-at-british-airfield/2012/07/03/gJQABNBIKW_story.html)

The Washington Post reports Formula One (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/formula%20one) test driver Maria de Villota has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after an incident during testing. The 32-year-old Spaniard apparently collided with a team vehicle while testing her Marussia (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/marussia/) MR-01 at an airfield north of London. It was her first time in the new car, though Police say de Villota was involved in a "low speed accident" during a straight-line evaluation. Paramedics treated her on the scene before transporting her to a local major trauma center at Addenbrookes Hospital. Marussia has released a statement saying de Villota is conscious and that medical assessments are currently ongoing.

Drivers from Jenson Button to Fernando Alonso all expressed their sympathy for de Villota and her family. De Villota joined Marussia in March of this year, thereby becoming F1's first female driver since 1992. Previously, she tested for Renault (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/renault) and took the wheel in Spanish F3 as well as the Daytona 24 Hours.F1 test driver Maria de Villota in life-threatening crash (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/f1-test-driver-maria-de-villota-in-life-threatening-crash/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/) on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:31:00 EST.

[schlot]

I can't help but notice how little information there is about her injuries. They said the helmet took the biggest part of the impact. Any idea yet on whether there was mechanical failure or driver error?

[MikeFleming]

Latest news here:

http://espn.go.com/racing/story/_/id/8129756/female-f1-test-driver-maria-de-villota-loses-eye-crash

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/marussia/9375107/Maria-De-Villotas-Marussia-team-mate-Charles-Pic-shaken-by-horrifying-crash-that-left-her-seriously-injured.html

"BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who was at the Imperial War Museum-owned airfield for the straight-line test ahead of the weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, said the car had “inexplicably accelerated” into the back of a team transporter and collided with a tail-lift on the truck."

"The front of the Marussia car was destroyed in the crash and De Villota’s helmet was seen to hit the side of the truck. De Villota was reportedly motionless for around 15 minutes as paramedics attended, but was seen to move her hands before being transported to hospital."

http://www.inautonews.com/maria-de-villota-conscious-after-f1-crash

News report (youtube copy) in British:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVa8h2atA-s

The National Enquirer version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnXvaPYQSgk&feature=related

Track details:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDhYrsBlhd8&feature=related

Audio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyLOmQ434Hs&feature=related

Pics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSdAJ4zhYuw&feature=related

[Patrick]

So nobody has really reported WTF happened as of yet, other than she drove the car underneath a truck. Man (woman) that sucks.

[MikeFleming]

There were several reports of "unexpected sudden acceleration". Maye Audi is returning to F1?

One of the broadcasters mentioned that she had already selected neutral and the crew was pushing the car when it suddenly bolted away.

I seriously doubt that she will be able to maintain a super license with one eye. Pity.

[MikeFleming]

1098

Marussia (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/marussia) has concluded there was no mechanical failure in the accident that saw Formula One (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/formula%20one) driver Maria de Villota (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/maria+de+villota/) collide with a service truck during testing earlier this month (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/f1-test-driver-maria-de-villota-in-life-threatening-crash/). According to CNN, the F1 race team conducted thorough tests alongside an external forensic company and the UK's Health and Safety Executive and found there was no fault with the MR-01 (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/marussia%20mr-01) car itself. De Villota was testing the platform for the first time when the freak accident occurred. de Villota lost an eye (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/05/f1-driver-maria-de-villota-loses-eye-after-crash/) due to the collision. Marussia team principal John Booth said in a statement that the team has concluded the investigatory work and can now focus on the priority of supporting De Villota and her family.

The 34-year-old Spanish driver was one of just two female drivers contracted to compete in F1 this season. She also became the first female driver in F1 since 1992, though before signing on with Marussia, de Villota tested with Renault (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/renault) and campaigned in Spanish F3 and the Daytona 24 Hours (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/daytona).Marussia rules out mechanical fault in de Villota F1 tragedy (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/16/marussia-rules-out-mechanical-fault-in-de-villota-f1-tragedy/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/) on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:27:00 EST.