Maria de Villota has been injured in a testing crash at the Duxford Aerodrome, the team has confirmed.
The Marussia team were present to conduct straight-line testing of their latest upgrade for the British Grand Prix.
It’s believed the female test driver completed a run before hitting the loading board on the rear of a transport truck as she returned to the pits. An eyewitness reports that the crash happened at relatively low-speed, 30-40mph, with her helmet taking the brunt of the force.
Emergency services, including an air ambulance, were present at the scene before she was transferred to Cambridge hospital. Whilst her exact condition remains unknown, the BBC reports she is seriously injured with the East of England ambulance service confirming her injuries are life threatening.
A statement from local constabulary Cambridge Police added: “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.”
The team issued the following statement: “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,” it read.
“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.”
Update: Hospital staff report Maria to be in a serious but stable condition with facial injuries. She has spoken to her parents via phone.
The below image shows the MR-01 underneath the transporter’s rear lifting platform at head height.
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