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Ex-Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota found dead

Former Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota has been found dead in her hotel room Sevilla.
1 min read•11 Oct '13
Staff Writer
2K+ views

Maria de Villota has been found dead in a hotel room in Sevilla.

The Spaniard was 33.

A statement on her Facebook page, signed by her family, read: "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."

De Villota suffered a life-threatening testing accident with the Marussia Formula 1 squad in July last year.

She spent a month in hospital after crashing into an articulated trailer while carrying out a straightline test for Marussia at Duxford Aerodrome.

Although she lost her right eye, she was able to make a full recovery from her other injuries, which included significant skull damage

De Villota was a former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, and daughter of ex-F1 racer Emilio de Villota.

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