Woman F1 crash driver fights for life

Maria de Villota, a test driver for the Marussia F1 team, was taken to hospital after a collision with her team’s support truck at Duxford airfield yesterday.

Marussia entered Formula 1 as South Yorkshire-based Virgin Racing in 2010. The team moved to Banbury, Oxfordshire, after two years based in Dinnington.

An ambulance spokesman said she had sustained life-threatening injuries and been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

The accident is said to have happened at low speed after Villota pulled off the track following a lap during which she reached speeds of about 200mph.

BBC radio presenter Chris Mann witnessed the accident and said: “She came back into the area we were in with the engineers. She slowed down but then suddenly, inexplicably accelerated through the crowd and smashed into the side of the truck. The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it.

The 32-year-old, originally from Madrid, was taking part in the first of two days of testing at the site. She is the daughter of retired Formula One driver Emilio de Villota.

A spokesman for Duxford airfield, home of the Imperial War Museum, said testing had been suspended while the situation was assessed.