Maria
de Villota

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Madrid, October 11, 2012.- A hundred days after the accident that almost took her life, María de Villota has made her first appearance before the media. Only in Spanish.

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E-Mail | www.mariadevillota.es

 Direct link to this page - http://bit.ly/LN635e

2:43
Maria de Villota became the first female involved in F1

1:45
Accident

4:40
Maria de Villota - Marussia F1 test driver explaining the steering wheel of the car. Very interesting even if you don't understand Spanish.

Profile

Born:1/13/80

From: Madrid, Spain

Daughter of ex F1 driver and British F1 Champion, Emilio de Villota.

Holds a Bachelors Degree in Sports Science from the European University of Madrid.

Has a senior position in the Emilio de Villota Racing Drivers school.

2009: Maria was awarded the “Silvestro del año” for best sportswoman in Madrid, presented by the Mayor of Madrid, Mr Gallardón.

2010: Maria was awarded the “Siete Estrellas de la Comunidad de Madrid” (the Seven Star Award of the Community of Madrid) as the best sportswoman, presented by the President of the Community of Madrid, Mrs Aguirre.

Guest of Honour at the Grand Prix of Spain and Europe 2009 by Telefonica and Banco Santander.

Ambassador for Atlético Madrid Foundation.

Ambassador for Women's Bureau of the Madrid Regional Community.

Snippets


Felipe Massa and F1 stars show support for Maria de Villota.

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F1 driver Maria de Villota loses eye after crash

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 Formula One test driver Maria de Villota has been seriously injured after her racing car collided with a team vehicle at an airfield in southern England.

News


Felipe Massa and F1 stars show support for Maria de Villota (http://bit.ly/NbLnmY)


The Brazilian Ferrari driver, who was involved in an F1 accident in 2009, offered his support after the female test driver lost her right eye in a horror crash on Tuesday

Formula 1 stars have expressed their shock and support for test driver Maria de Villota, who lost her right eye in a horror crash on Tuesday.

Ferrari ace Fernando Alonso said he had been left “completely shocked” by the accident, which left the Marussia team member fighting for life with serious head and facial injuries.

The 32-year-old remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital after smashing into a lorry during a test at Duxford Airfield.

Fellow Spaniard Alonso said: “Obviously we are all very worried about the situation and are waiting for more news.

"We don't know the situation but it is difficult to imagine how this can happen."

Fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who was involved in an F1 accident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2009, also offered his support.

The Brazilian was injured when a suspension spring fell from Rubens Barrichello’s car and struck him on the helmet, causing him to crash head-on into a tyre barrier.

Massa was airlifted to hospital and underwent emergency surgery on his left eye and now has a titanium plate in his skull.

Speaking after Villota’s similar accident, he said: “She has my full support because I've been in a similar position. Thank God nothing happened to me.

"I really hope everything will be OK for her and for her to live her life in the way she deserves.

"My accident happened on track so it's different. The most important thing is that the FIA understands what happened.

“We need to make it the maximum safe we can. She has all my positive thoughts that everything will be OK."

Villota, who joined Marussia as a test driver in March, has also received an outpour of support from fellow F1 drivers on Twitter.

McLaren star Lewis Hamilton tweeted: “Just heard about Maria's terrible accident at Duxford. I hope she pulls through.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.”

He later added: “"I don't know her personally but when I read about it I was absolutely devastated for her and her family, absolutely tragic.

“The team and I send our wishes to her and hope she has a speedy recovery."

Teammate Jenson Button also posted: “Terrible accident For Maria de Villota, Marussia F1 team test driver.

“My thoughts are with Maria and her family at this very difficult time.”

Villota’s sister, mother and father, former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, are keeping a vigil at her bedside at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge.

No further update has been released on her condition, but sister Isabel released a statement saying the family had been overwhelmed by the messages of goodwill.

She said: "We have at least been able to take encouragement from the fact Maria has remained stable throughout since the accident, particularly during the first night following such a lengthy surgical procedure as she experienced.

"We, the family, are supporting each other at Maria's side and we take great comfort from the remarkable medical care she has been receiving.

"We remain positive, and this is due in no small part, to the overwhelming expression of love and support for Maria from every corner of the world.

"We would also wish to thank everyone at Marussia for all the care and attention they have shown us over the past few days."

Marussia are continuing to investigate the cause of Tuesday’s horror crash, which saw Villota crash into the tail lift of a support truck.

Following the accident, the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, HRT driver Pedro de la Rosa, said: "We will put the facts on the table to see if there is anything we need to change to improve.

"When an accident happens, it means that something didn't work properly.

"We need to make sure, between the FIA, the teams and the GPDA, that we make changes for the future because it's not good enough.

"The first thing we need to do is understand what happened, what safety measures were taken and how the airfield was prepared for Formula One testing."
Source: www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/maria-de-villota-crash-felipe-1134699

F1 driver Maria de Villota loses eye after crash


Marussia, the Formula One team of Spanish race car driver Maria de Villota, is reporting that its 32-year-old driver has lost her right eye and remains hospitalized following a bizarre accident at a test event earlier this week. Teammates have described her condition as critical but stable.

After joining the team in March, De Villota was behind the wheel of the team's racing car for the first time on Tuesday, conducting straight-line test runs at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire, north of London. The Spaniard apparently crashed into a team vehicle (reported as racecar transport truck) at the end of a run at low speeds, but her head took the brunt of the impact - explaining the serious injuries to her head and face.

Maria de Villota is the F1's first full-time female driver since Italy's Giovanna Amati drove for the Brabham team in 1992. The team principal, John Booth, has already announced that a comprehensive investigation is under way to determine why her car suddenly accelerated as she was slowing to complete the test.
Source: www.autoblog.com/2012/07/05/f1-driver-maria-de-villota-loses-eye-after-crash/#continued

 F1: Female Test Driver Seriously Injured In Crash


Formula One test driver Maria de Villota has been seriously injured after her racing car collided with a team vehicle at an airfield in southern England.

Female Formula One test driver Maria de Villota was in a hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision with a team vehicle during a testing session at an airfield in southern England on Tuesday.

De Villota's team, Marussia F1, said her car hit the team support truck at the end of her first run at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire at 0815 GMT. It was the first time the 32-year-old Spanish driver, who joined the team this season, tested the MR-01 car.

An ambulance spokesman said the injuries were life-threatening and De Villota was treated by paramedics at the scene before being moved to the nearby Addenbrookes Hospital.

Marussia confirmed De Villota's crash in a statement on its website.

"The accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team's support truck," Marussia said. "Maria has been transferred to hospital. Once her medical condition has been assessed a further statement will be issued."

De Villota is the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota and joined Marussia as a test driver at the start of this season, becoming the sport's first full-time female driver since Italian Giovanna Amati with the Brabham team in 1992.

De Villota had previously tested for Renault and had racing experience in Spanish F3 and the Daytona 24-Hours.

The Russian-owned team started in Formula One as Virgin Racing in 2010 and rebranded as Marussia for the start of the current season. It has yet to pick up a point this year ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Its race drivers are Timo Glock of Germany and Charles Pic of France.
Source: formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-female-test-driver-seriously-injured-in-crash/

F1 Marussia driver Maria de Villota in Duxford crash


A Formula 1 test driver has suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash during testing in Cambridgeshire.

Maria de Villota was hurt while driving an MR-01 race car for the first time for the Oxfordshire-based Marussia team at Duxford airfield.

The car hit a Marussia support truck which had been used to transport it to the track.

The East of England Ambulance Service said the Spaniard, 32, had been taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Emergency medical charity Magpas, which helped to treat De Villota at the scene, said she had suffered "facial and head injuries" and was in a stable condition on her arrival at hospital.

BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who witnessed the crash, said the car was slowing down when it "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the lorry.

"The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it," he added.

"She didn't move for about 15 minutes.

"It was an absolutely awful moment. I was surrounded by people that knew her very well, including family, friends, engineers, and her manager."

He said De Villota had been driving at up to 200mph during the testing, but the car was travelling considerably slower at the time of the crash.

Analysis

Formula 1 cars are extremely challenging machines and can require significant skills and experience even to control in a straight line, but Maria de Villota is exactly the kind of competent racing driver typically asked to conduct this sort of test.

Extremely unlikely ever to qualify as a fully-fledged Grand Prix driver, she has raced solidly since 2001 in various lower categories and last summer completed a test for the Renault F1 team at a race track in France.

Crashes are not unknown at straight-line tests, but the circumstances surrounding this one sound especially unusual and it would be unwise to speculate what caused it before a full investigation is undertaken.

First run

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said they were notified by the ambulance service "of a slow-speed crash involving a racing car and a lorry".

He added: "It looks like the driver has suffered a serious injury and we will be notifying the Health and Safety Executive as it happened on private land."

East of England Ambulance Service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: "A woman has sustained life-threatening injuries and following treatment at the scene by paramedics, she has been taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital for further care."

The crash happened at the start of two days of Formula 1 testing at the site.

Minutes before, Marussia driver Timo Glock said on Twitter: "Great to see @mariovillota in the car with the new update. Make it quick."

In a statement, Marussia said: "At approximately 09.15hrs BST, 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."

Former F1 champions are among the hundreds of people to have wished De Villota well on Twitter.

Ferrari driver and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso said: "I just got home and found out Maria's accident, we called the family and hopefully we will know more soon! All my energy with you!"

Jenson Button said: "Terrible accident for Maria de Villota, Marussia F1 team test driver.

"My thoughts are with Maria and her family at this very difficult time."

Marussia entered the sport under the name Virgin in 2010, backed by businessman Richard Branson.

Russian car company Marussia acquired a controlling stake in the team toward the end of 2011.

In 2012, the team rebranded as Marussia, and drafted in Charles Pic to race alongside Timo Glock.

The team has not scored any points so far this season.

Earlier, Marussia said on Twitter: "@mariavillota had her final seat-fitting & pedal test at our Banbury HQ & then headed north to the Imperial War Museum, ready to do battle."

On Friday, it tweeted that De Villota "had been waiting patiently all year" for the Duxford test day.

When she was unveiled as a test driver for Marussia in March, she said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a Formula 1 team and gain important experience to help me progress my career, including the chance to drive the new car later in the year at the Abu Dhabi test."

She added that the move "can only help my future ambition to step up to F1 racing".

On Monday she wrote on Twitter: "In Banbury, getting ready for tomorrow test. Can't wait."

Related Stories

Marussia move for female driver 07 MARCH 2012, FORMULA 1

Marussia reveal new car for 2012 05 MARCH 2012, FORMULA 1

Marussia miss final test session 28 FEBRUARY 2012, FORMULA 1
Marussia 06 Jan 2012 DRIVERS AND TEAMS

Results

2011: 1st Test in Formula 1, Paul Ricard.
Atletico Madrid Driver in Superleague .
2010: Atletico Madrid, Superleague Formula. Best result 4th possition ( Nürburgring)
2009: Atletico Madrid, Superleague Formula. Best result 7th (Jarama)
2008: Euroseries 3000 Best result 7th possition (Spa)
2007: Spanish GT Championships (2007) Best result, 4th possition ( Estoril)
World Touring Car Championship (2006-2007) Chevrolet official driver
2005-2006: Spanish F3, Best result 3rd position (Jarama)
Ferrari European Challenge. Pole position Ferrari World Finals (Mugello)
2004: 24H DAYTONA, Gt class (Ferrari Modena, 10th possition)
2002-2005: Spanish F3 (2002-2005) Best result, 4th possition (Jerez)
2001: Spanish Formula Toyota 1300. Best result, 1st possition (Albacete, Valencia). 2nd
Overall.
1996-2023: Go karts (First race, first win)

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