Danica Patrick's Formula 1 counterpart was in a British hospital Tuesday with life-threatening injuries. Maria de Villota, a test driver from Spain, was reported to be conscious after a crash as she was preparing a race car for this weekend's British Grand Prix.
De Villota is 32 and drives for Marussia F1. Her car struck the team's support truck as she concluded her first run at an airfield north of north of London. She joined the team in March. Tuesday was he first turn in the Russian-owned team's MR-01 car.
According to a BBC report, the car accelerated suddenly and struck the back of a transport vehicle and its tail-lift.
"Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing," Marussia said in an initial statement.
Later, the team said de Villota was "conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment. The team’s first priority at this time is Maria and her family.”
Her father is former F1 driver Emilio de Villota.
She is the sport's first full-time female driver since Italy's Giovanna Amati was with the Brabham team in 1992. De Villota previously tested for Renault and had racing experience in Spanish F3 and the Daytona 24-Hour race.
Patrick is driving in NASCAR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide series and has experience in IndyCar races. She is the best-known female driver on top U.S. auto racing circuits.
Marussia started in Formula 1 as Virgin Racing in 2010. It rebranded as Marussia for the start of this season after Russian sports car manufacturer Marussia Motors bought a controlling stake.
It has yet to pick up a point this year entering this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
