María De Villota (lost footage of fatal Formula One crash; 2012)
This article has been tagged as NSFL due to its discussion of a fatal motor racing accident/disturbing visuals.
On 3rd July 2012, Formula One driver María De Villota completed a straightline test in a Marussia MR01 at Duxford Aerodrome. As she was due to return to the makeshift pit area, she suddenly lost control of the car and crashed into a stationary truck. The impact resulted in her losing her right eye, as well as causing neurological damage that contributed towards her death a year later. While audio has been publicly released, footage of the accident has been withheld from public viewing.
Background
After achieving moderate success in feeder series like Superleague Formula,[1][2] it was reported on 18th August 2011 that María De Villota had conducted a test in a Renault R29.[3][2][1] After negotiating with both Lotus Renault and Marussia, it was announced on 7th March 2012 that De Villota would become a test driver for the latter.[2][1] Her first test in the Marussia MR01 would commence on 3rd July, being situated at Duxford Aerodrome.[4][1] According to reports, she first drove a saloon car where her race engineer explained the testing programme.[5][4] Crucially however, key aspects, including the stopping procedure, were not fully discussed with her beforehand.[4][5] Additionally, she expressed concerns that she was unable to operate the clutch when the steering ended up on full-lock.[4][5] She was reassured that "it does not matter as there would be no need for full-lock during the straightline test".[4][5]
The Accident
The test in question saw De Villota complete a straightline test, driving up to 200 mph from both ends of the runway while maintaining control of the vehicle.[6][1] With the test complete, De Villota was instructed to drive the car into a makeshift pit area.[4][6] As she entered the area, she slowed the Marussia down to around 30-40 mph.[7][6] According to BBC journalist Chris Mann, the car suddenly accelerated, before proceeding to collide with the tail-lift of a stationary truck.[6][4][1] De Villota was unconscious following the accident, with the car's top and her helmet taking the brunt of the impact.[6][4][1] For about 15 minutes, De Villota failed to move, before she was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.[6][1]
De Villota suffered severe facial, head and skull injuries, although was reportedly stable in hospital.[8][6][1] The crash's biggest consequence however was that doctors were unable to save De Villota's right eye.[9][1][4][5][8] Nevertheless, she was able to leave hospital after 17 days, making public appearances in October 2012.[8][1] She revealed the accident had caused her to lose cranial mass and her senses of smell and taste, while she also suffered from constant headaches.[8][1] She was eager to return to racing if a licence could be granted, while also expressing interest in improving motorsport safety.[1][8] Ultimately, on 11th October 2013, De Villota was found dead in her Seville hotel room, aged 33.[10][1] An autopsy revealed she had suffered a cardiac arrest, which was linked to the neurological damage she suffered in the accident.[10][1] De Villota had become the first woman to drive a Formula One car since Katherine Legge's test at Minardi in 2005, with the Spaniard praised for her courage following the accident.[3][1] She had also become an ambassador for the FIA's Women in Motorsport Commission.[1] Her death meant she became the first woman to die from a Formula One accident.[7]
An HSE report into the accident concluded that the crash was not the result of a mechanical issue.[4] However, it did bring criticism towards Marussia for not giving specific instructions for how to safely enter the pitlane.[4][5] HSE therefore believed De Villota was left to rely on her own skill and experience to avoid a collision.[4][5] Additionally, the truck involved in the accident had a tail-lift which was larger than those typically incorporated onto race trucks, while also being at a similar position and height to the driver's eye-line, increasing the risk of injury.[4][5] De Villota's relatives would file a lawsuit against Marussia, which was settled in October 2017.[11]
Availability
Initial news reports would publicly release audio of the accident. However, it is also known that a spectator recorded footage of the collision, which was viewed by HSE as part of its investigation.[4] Considering the graphic nature of the accident, as well as out of respect to De Villota and her relatives, the footage is unlikely to see a public release.
Gallery
Images
Videos
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Motorsport Memorial page for María De Villota. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Crash reporting on Marussia signing De Villota as a test driver. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Autosport reporting on De Villota completing a test in a Renault R29. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 HSE report concerning the accident. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Autosport summarising HSE's findings. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 BBC News' initial report into the accident. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jalopnik documenting the life and career of De Villota and noting she was the first woman to die in a Formula One accident. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Autosport reporting on De Villota's first public appearances since the crash. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ BBC News reporting on De Villota losing her right eye. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 BBC Sport reporting on the death of De Villota and its link to the neurological damage inflicted in the accident. Retrieved 6th Aug '22
- ↑ BBC News reporting on the lawsuit against Marussia being resolved. Retrieved 6th Aug '22