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F1 Marussia driver Maria de Villota in Duxford crash | F1 Marussia driver Maria de Villota in Duxford crash |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Formula 1 driver has suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash during testing in Cambridgeshire. | A Formula 1 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. | 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 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. | 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 Villota at the scene, said she had suffered "facial and head injuries" and was in a stable condition on her arrival at hospital. | Emergency medical charity Magpas, which helped to treat 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 had completed a circuit when it "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the lorry. | 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. | "From where I was standing it looked like the helmet took the brunt of the impact," he said. |
"Strangely, the car suddenly accelerated into the lorry and the car went careering into the side of the loading board." | "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." | He added: "There was a terrible moment when everyone was just very shocked by the impact and the suddenness of what had happened." |
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. | |
First run | 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." | 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. | 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. | "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." | "Maria has been transferred to hospital. Once her medical condition has been assessed a further statement will be issued." |
Former F1 champion Jenson Button said on Twitter: "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 Maria "had been waiting patiently all year" for the Duxford test day. | |
When Villota was unveiled as a test driver for Marussia in March, the 32-year-old Spaniard 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." | When Villota was unveiled as a test driver for Marussia in March, the 32-year-old Spaniard 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". | 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." |