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F1: Maria de Villota, Marussia Test Driver Suffers Serious Injury

Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota has suffered life-threatening injuries while testing at Duxford aerodrome. The 32 year-old driver, who signed with Marussia as test driver in March, was conducting her first test for the team. According


Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota has suffered life-threatening injuries while testing at Duxford aerodrome.

The 32 year-old driver, who signed with Marussia as test driver in March, was conducting her first test for the team.

According to eyewitnesses, de Villota had returned from an installation run when the car inexplicably accelerated into a loading tray on the rear of the team's support truck, demolishing the front end of the car.

She was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and her condition listed as serious.

On the scene was BBC reporter Chris Mann, who reports that the MR-01 impacted with the side of the support vehicle.

"From where I was standing it looked like the helmet took the brunt of the impact," Mann said.

The Guardian reported that the Spanish driver, "was motionless for around 15 minutes as paramedics attended to her but was seen to move her hands before being transported to hospital".

The crash comes just days out from the British Grand Prix.

De Villota has competed in the WTCC, ADAC Procar and raced for Atletico Madrid in the Superleague Formula racing series. She tested for Lotus Renault in 2011 at Paul Ricard before securing the Marussia testing seat.

This was de Villota's first run in the Marussia.

 

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