Former F1 test driver Maria de Villota (aged 33) was found dead in a hotel room in Sevilla, Spain, this morning. She was reportedly on a tour to promote her autobiography, which launches next week.
The cause of death has not yet been revealed, but her family left a statement on the racer’s Facebook page confirming her passing: “Dear friends: Maria has left us. She had to go to heaven like all angels. We are thankful to God for the extra year and a half that he left her with us.”
While testing for the Marussia F1 Team in July last year, de Villota sustained severe head trauma after colliding with a truck at the Duxford Aerodrome, which resulted in the loss of her right eye and multiple procedures to repair the damage to her skull.
The daughter of former F1 driver Emilio, de Villota competed in multiple motorsport formulae, including the World Touring Car Championship, 24 Hours of Daytona and the Auto GP World Series (Formerly Euroseries 3000).
We at CAR extend our sympathies to the de Villota family and those affected by the tragedy.