Maria De Villota seriously injured in testing

Marussia Formula 1 test driver Maria de Villota has been taken to hospital after a crash during a straightline test at Duxford airfield on Tuesday.

The Spaniard was scheduled to begin two days of straightline work for the team as part of her test driver role with the outfit.

Marussia has confirmed that she was involved in an accident and collided with a stationary vehicle.

"At approximately 09.15hrs 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," said a team statement. "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."

A statement from local constabulary Cambridge Police said: "We were called by the ambulance service at 0925am with reports that a racing car had been in collision with a lorry at low speed at Duxford Airfield. We have since discovered that the driver has a serious injury. We have notified the health and safety executive because the incident was on private land."

De Villota's Duxford outing was her first test for Marussia. She was set to give the major upgrade package that the team is introducing for the British Grand Prix its first run.

The 32-year-old is a former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, and daughter of ex-Formula 1 racer Emilio de Villota.

Her first taste of F1 machinery came at Paul Ricard in 2011, when she tested a Renault R29.

Source:autosport

BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who witnessed the crash, said the car had completed a circuit when it "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the lorry.

"From where I was standing it looked like the helmet took the brunt of the impact," he said.
'Terrible moment'

"Strangely, the car suddenly accelerated into the lorry and the car went careering into the side of the loading board."

He added: "There was a terrible moment when everyone was just very shocked by the impact and the suddenness of what had happened."

The information being released is strange. The incident happened at the end of the installation lap and was a slow speed crash, yet somehow the car has been described as 'suddenly accelerating'. Did she blackout or lose consciousness before the crash? Secondly, what the hell is a Marussia lorry doing anywhere near the track? I've never rated this team and this is a shocking and appalling story to hear. If the injury is 'life threatening' and the force of the impact did indeed fall on the helmet then I fear the worst.

it wasn't on track she was heading back to the garage apparently after doing her 1st run. She locked up when she hit it so sounds like the accelerator jammed on to me tbh.

I'm guessing Marussia's major upgrade package won't be used at Silverstone after this......

If she takes a turn for the worse don't be surprised if there isn't a race at all.

Hopefully she recovers well

Apparently the incident was something to do with a failure of the Anti-Stall system.

SSN reporting that she is conscious, hopefully she'll make a full recovery

She has lost her right eye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18854061 - update

Well, although its terrible she lost an eye, at least she seems otherwise okay and is expected to recover fully. Great news, considering all the things that could have happened (brain damage, spinal injuries etc.)

A real shame though that a lady who had a promising career in racing, had had it cut short.