Marussia rules out any failure on Maria de Villota’s car
Following an internal investigation, the Marussia team ensures that the accident of Maria de Villota, in which she lost an eye, is not related to a car failure. The team also confirms that an external and independent investigation is still underway with its full collaboration.
While Marussia described Maria de Villota’s recovery as remarkable following her accident on July 3, when her car, suffering from a sudden acceleration, crashed into a team truck, the causes of the accident were still to be determined.
If some believe that the Spanish driver might have been surprised by the MR01’s anti-stall system, the Anglo-Russian team merely confirms that no technical failure is to blame on the car traditionally entrusted to the care of Timo Glock and Charles Pic: « The accident occurred on July 3 during a straight-line test during which Maria was making her debut for the team and driving a Formula One car for the fourth time in her career. The Marussia F1 Team conducted initial investigations immediately after the accident. This aimed to identify the causes and factors behind the accident and also served to determine if there were any car-related implications approaching the British Grand Prix. After carefully analyzing all data and additional information available at that time, the team was satisfied that there were no problems related to the car and could validate its chassis for the Grand Prix, » as stated in a press release posted on the official website of the Marussia team.
Without providing further details on the exact causes of the accident and the potential liability of Maria de Villota, the Banbury team nevertheless clarifies that further investigations are ongoing: « An external judicial inquiry has been commissioned and conducted at the Duxfort aerodrome (a place approved by the FIA and regularly used during testing, in compliance with recommendations for this type of tests) and with the Marussia Technical Centre in Banbury. This external inquiry has been conducted independently of the internal investigation by the team. As is standard procedure, the results of the team’s research have been shared with the Health and Safety Executive, which works in the public interest regarding work-related accidents. »
John Booth, director of the Anglo-Russian team, concluded the statement by expressing his satisfaction that the results of our internal investigation rule out the car as a factor in the accident. According to him, these conclusions should allow us to focus on the priority, which remains Maria’s well-being: In this regard, we continue to support Maria and her family in every way we can.
