Marussia test driver Maria de Villota reportedly suffered 'life-threatening' injuries when her F1 car crashed into a lorry during a straight line test at Duxford.

[Uk in NY]

This sounds like a terrible accident. prayers with her and her family.

http://planetf1.com/news/3213/786141...e-Threatening-

[kfzmeister]

This sounds like a terrible accident. prayers with her and her family.

http://planetf1.com/news/3213/786141...e-Threatening-

Very sad. Hope she'll recover.....

[mx5er]

Jalponik post a picture of the accident scene. It's nothing morbid or gratuitous.

I understand the trucks in Europe are safer in terms of rear collisions than the semis here in North America i.e. there's less open space for vehicles to get under. But a low slug F1 car is a whole different story so thus the severe head injury.

Autosport says that her condition is stable.

[kfzmeister]

They said the car was slowing like they do just before the crew pushes it backwards into the pits, when suddenly it accelerated and shot forward into the truck....

[wiredvw]

Yikes! I hope she fully recovers!

Only a wall can stop an F1 car from going under it. Even the tire barriers allow the cars to get wedged under them.

[wiredvw]

Here are some thoughts from Racecar Engineering:

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/n...testing-crash/

This sounds very much like the cars anti stall system engaged at the end of the run. Inexperienced drivers having their first runs in a F1 car can be caught out by this. As they slow to stop the car or make a low speed turn (for example into a garage) they lift off the throttle and let the revs drop. The ECU senses this and sets throttle to around 50% with the car still in first gear resulting in a sudden acceleration such as the one described.

[jsmyle1%...]

ouch!!

My prayers go out to Maria and her family....and the team too

[rrr rr]

She is now conscious according to formula1.com. Also, she is not a virgin to an F1 car. She tested for Lotus (Caterham) last year.

[jsmyle1%...]

^

too soon....

[kfzmeister]

Currently undergoing skull surgery. Stay tuned.....

*edit. Looks like it was a pretty bad accident. Just read that she lost her right eye. Yikes....

[24vEngineer]

This is pretty tragic, similar to kubica's accident. Sucks to end her career like this. I definitely think she would be faster than Narain Karthewhatshisnamegherkin.

[Sono Qui]

A shame to have something like that happen when someone is growing in their career. They'll probably give her another chance to do some driving, but unless she somehow overcomes that extra sense her future is bleak.

[wiredvw]

What a shame! Let's hope the FIA and F1 use this as an opportunity to help develop tools and technology for disabled drivers. What an inch can make, Massa could have easily lost his eye, if not more, if that spring hit just his visor and not the helmet.

[kfzmeister]

They'll probably give her another chance to do some driving.

Doubt it. One eye? She's done, unfortunately.

[vdubjb]

Very sad.