Marussia test driver Maria de Villota has been injured in a crash while testing the team’s car today.
The team were running at Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire when de Villota’s car apparently struck a stationary vehicle, believed to have been the team’s truck.
De Villota, who was driving the car for the first time, was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge following the crash. Her injuries have been described as “life-threatening”.
The team issued the following statement: “At approximately 09.15 BST this morning, the Marussia F1 Team’s Test Driver Maria De Villota had an accident in the team’s MR-01 race car at Duxford Airfield where she was testing the car for the first time.
“The accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team’s support truck.
“Maria has been transferred to hospital. Once her medical condition has been assessed a further statement will be issued.”
Cambridgeshire police confirmed a racing car had been in collision with a lorry at “low speed”.
The BBC’s Chris Mann gave the following account of the crash: “It suddenly accelerated into the big truck that had brought it there.
“There was a sort of board down, like a loading board, and the car went careering into the side of that. Probably on 20 or 30mph at that point – it had been doing obviously 200mph when it was going down the straight at Duxford.”
De Villota, the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, joined the team as test driver in March.
Hoppas verkligen det inte är så illa som man befarar!!
Fy fan. FIA:s kraschtester tar nog inte hänsyn till att man kan köra rätt in i en lastbrygga...
Det är kanske dags att se över säkerheten på de så kallade testbanorna. Det minsta man kan begära är väl en mur mellan banan och övriga fordon samt personal.
Hon verkar ha kört in i en lastbrygga som var utfälld men inte nedfälld. Huvudet kan ha varit det första som tog emot. En bild från olycksplatsen: http://twitpic.com/a3duh9
Nope, allt som "läckt" är att det är "life threatening injuries"... kan bara hoppas det är överdrivet och att man befarar det värsta i onödan. Ena föraren efter den andra Twittrar om det, Jenson, Alonso etc...
Maria de Villota suffered facial and head injuries during the accident in Duxford, but is a "stable condition".
The Marussia test driver was seriously hurt when her car reportedly "hit stationary vehicle" during a straight line test at Imperial War Museum in Cambridgeshire.
The Oxfordshire-based squad confirmed via a statement that "the accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team's support truck".
She was taken to a local hospital for treatment with initial reports claiming that she suffered "life-threatening injuries".
However, Magpas Helimedix medical crew, who rushed her to hospital in a land ambulance, has revealed that he co
"The Magpas team were called to Duxford Airfield and arrived at 10:20 this morning, after a Formula 1 car collided (at slow speed) with a lorry tail lift," a statement said.
"The Helimedix assessed the patient, who suffered facial and head injuries, they administered pain relief - as they worked alongside an EEAST Ambulance Crew who were also at the scene.
"On arrival at Addenbrooke's Hospital, the woman was in a stable condition."
Marussia were expected to issue another statement later in the day.
Verkar överleva iallefall men F1 karriären tog nog stopp, utan 3d seende blir det svårt att racea i 300 knyck Riktigt tråkigt, såg fram emot att ha en kvinna i nån av bilarna en vacker dag... (för jag såg inte F1 senast det hände)
"Maria emerged from theatre at Addenbrooke's Hospital this morning after a lengthy operation to address the serious head and facial injuries she received in the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday," said Marussia team principal John Booth.
"We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving and her family would like to thank the neurological and plastics surgical teams. However it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye.
"Maria's care and the wellbeing of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them. We ask for everyone's patience and understanding with regard to updates on Maria's condition. We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family.
"In the meantime, we would all like to take this opportunity to praise the emergency services at Duxford Airfield, who were on stand-by yesterday, as is usual procedure for a Formula One test.
"With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment. Finally, we have been overwhelmed by messages of support for Maria, her family and the Team and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for those."
Det är oklart om de någonsin ställde bilen i den målade rutan, men de höll till däromkring. Det finns en bild (tagen precis innan olyckan?) där hon har stannat bilen ungefär där personen i gul jacka står.
Tror tyvärr det var en fråga om dålig timing helt enkelt. Någon hade fällt ut lastbryggan på lastbilen och eftersom den är i perfekt ögonhöjd för en F1 förare och den är så pass smal så hade hon nog ingen chans att se att den var där. Om du tittar på http://twitpic.com/a3duh9/full och efter att ha läst att hon förlorade högra ögat och det är där man ser på bilen att den träffat men frågan är ju varför hon var där, skulle hon backat in i rutan eller vad vad tanken? ... fruktansvärd miss av någon ändå men tror det kunde hänt vem som helst, för som sagt, i den höjden och så smal så ser man den ju aldrig...
Läget är dock fortfarande "kritiskt, men stabilt" för henne. Kan bara hoppas det går bra..
In the eight days since her accident, we are very happy to report that Maria is making remarkable progress - 11 July
It is now eight days since Maria De Villota’s accident at Duxford Airfield in her debut test for the Team.
Despite severe injuries, Maria’s recovery during that time has been remarkable.
Following two successful surgical procedures in the days following the accident, last Saturday the medical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital began to gradually reduce the level of Maria’s sedation. By Sunday morning, Maria was awake and able to speak to her family, which provided a very important - albeit early - indication that there were positive signs for Maria’s recovery.
Since that time, Maria has been making small but significant steps. She was moved out of the Neurological Critical Care Unit on Monday and is no longer receiving sedation. Her family remain by her side and she is communicating freely with them and the medical team. Medical assessments are ongoing to monitor Maria’s improving condition.
We have provided this update with the consent and support of the De Villota family who, whilst keen to ensure Maria’s care remains the priority, are understanding and appreciative of the concern for her wellbeing.
