F1 Test Driver "Seriously Inured"

Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota has been "seriously injured" in a straight line testing crash.


News reports are sketchy, but it wasnt during the test. She somehow hit one of the team's support vehicles off the track at "low speed". It was her first test in the car.

However, she DID test with Lotus last fall. I read that she was doing straight line tests and the car suddenly accelerated.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred after De Villota had pulled up in front of her mechanics after completing her first lap of the day.

As the mechanics approached to wheel the car back for service, it accelerated forwards and crashed into the stationary vehicle parked nearby.

The front of the Marussia car was destroyed in the crash and De Villota's helmet was seen to impact with the side of the truck.

De Villota was reportedly motionless for around 15 minutes as paramedics attended to her but was seen to move her hands before being transported to hospital.

It sounds like the anti stall device kicked in and launched the car briefly.

And this comes just at a time when F1 mandates lowering all of the noses for "safety"....

Quote :

Further to the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday involving the Marussia F1 Team Test Driver, Maria De Villota, the Team can now provide a further update on Maria’s medical condition.

Subsequent to yesterday’s official statements from the Marussia F1 Team, the surgical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge embarked on a lengthy procedure to address the serious head and facial injuries sustained by Maria in the accident. The operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning. Maria remains in a critical but stable condition.

John Booth, Team Principal of the Marussia F1 Team, with the consent and support of Maria’s family, would like to give the following update, which provides as much detail as is possible at this time:

“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.

“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.”

It seems as if the ramp went all the way into the airbox of the car. It would likely be much worse if she was taller.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/04/maria-de-villota-loses-eye-marussia-f1-test-driver_n_1649210.html
Just like I told WEtz I was so afraid of, she has lost the use of her right eye. Her racing career is over.

oof. that is not good. I was actually expecting her to come away as a quadraplegic. I thought crashing like that would surely shatter someone's neck. What a stupid way to crash. Not saying the driver did anything wrong. But that's a stupid way to go out. If an anti-stall device caused that, look for it it be banned by the fia.

Do you really need 2 eyes to drive a car ???

You do under FIA regulations at least. I think it's because it slows down your reaction time and it also of course gives you a bad range of vision.

It's sad that her career ends like that. Might bring a whole new safety aspect to testing.

It's one of those freak deals that there is no way to predict. I don't see a point to getting rid of the anti-stall device as it'll lead to more problems than it solves.

Wobble wrote:

oof. that is not good. I was actually expecting her to come away as a quadraplegic. I thought crashing like that would surely shatter someone's neck. What a stupid way to crash. Not saying the driver did anything wrong. But that's a stupid way to go out. If an anti-stall device caused that, look for it it be banned by the fia.

Do you really need 2 eyes to drive a car ???

The late model driver I help out, Brian Pembleton, only has one eye. Here is a story about him from last year that Nascar Home Tracks did when he ran limited late models. He is running late model's this year

http://hometracks.nascar.com/FINALIST/No_Limits_For_Pembleton