On Tuesday (3/7/12) morning at Duxford Aerodrome, Marussia F1 test rider Maria de Villota was involved in a testing accident at the Duxford Aerodrome while doing straight line testing, preparation for the this weekend British Grand Prix. Her car collided with a stationary truck at the end of a test run when it had just returned to the service area. Eye witnesses estimated the car was travelling at between 30 and 40mph (50 and 65kmh) when it crashed. It took an hour for her to be removed from the car and she was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire, with life-threatening head and facial injuries. She was later reported to be conscious. The following day, Marussia team principal John Booth stated that de Villota remained in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital and had lost her right eye.
First, thoughts out to María de Villota and her family at this time. Secondly, It seams it was a complete freak accident what happen on Tuesday, how did it crashed into a stationary truck I do not know. I do feel sorry that she lost her right eye.
Would she gone onto the race in Formula 1 without the accident, no, not talented enough to made it. But what's her future, let say she gets a glass eye put in, can she still race in different racing series or does she retires from motor racing. For example Alex Zanardi, back in 2001 Zanardi lost both of his legs when he suffered a violent accident at the Lausitzring in Germany for a Indy Car race event, crashing into Alex Tagliani which was one of the most worst race accident I have ever seen my life.
And Zanardi returned to racing back in 2004 with a full season in FIA World Touring Car Championship for BMW Team Italy-Spain between 2004 and 2009, even winning a few races in that series. Even this year, his representing Italy at the 2012 London Summer Paralympics in handbiking, a form of paralympic cycling, with the stated goal of representing his country and going for gold.
Another example would be former Formula 1 driver and Le mans winner Johnny Herbert, back in 1988, in an International Formula 3000 race at Brands Hatch. He was caught up in a major accident in the race, badly breaking his legs in a fearsome impact with the barriers. It was an act of huge bravery that saw him back in a racing car at the beginning of 1989, despite the fact he could barely walk. Even more remarkable, he was in Formula 1, scoring points on his debut in Brazil driving for the Benetton team (now Lotus F1 Team) even winning three grand prix's and winning an Le Mans 24 hours race with Mazda back in 1991.
One example, that we don't know what's going to happen is Robert Kubica with the rally crash back in 2011, were his injured his right arm, right hand and right leg. I don't know he will ever come back into Formula 1 driving an F1 car.
And finally this a good example with Fillipe Massa 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa was struck on the helmet by a suspension spring that had fallen from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn, on a high-speed part of the track. He subsequently crashed head-on into a tyre barrier. He had to underwent surgery in the area surrounding his left eye. His condition was initially described as "life-threatening but stable", but improved rapidly. Didn't drive for Ferrari for the rest of the 2009 season. But, came back for the 2010 season.
But, for now hope for a speedy recovery for María de Villota. When you have the whole Formula 1 pit lane behind Maria giving support is a good thing. At the end of the day, she didn't deserved to have her right eye gone. Bye.
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