Former Formula 1 test driver, Maria de Villota , has been given the all clear to get behind the wheel of a vehicle again, for the first time since she lost her right eye in a crash.
The Spanish racer suffered a serious face and head injury after an accident in England, whilst testing for the Marussia team in July 2012.
De Villota said, “Last week they gave me permission to return to driving. The distances I can already calculate quite well and it feels like nothing ever happened.”
The extent of her injuries have effected her performances in the car though, “Very busy days take their toll, but I am calm because I know everything is going well.”
She also added , “To start with it was difficult just to do day-to-day things. Catching keys in flight or getting a glass of water was a problem, but now things are much better.”
However her drive and ambition to return to the sport allowed her to place her traumatic experience behind her and galvanized her to return to the car.
“At the end of the day, my natural habitat is in a car and I am happiest in that environment. I missed it,” added De Villota. “When your life is save, no-one owes you anything. I don’t hold any rancour towards the sport. The only thing I want is for safety in races and test to be improved.”
De Villota lost her eye after the car she was testing in suddenly accelerated into the back of a supporting lorry during testing for the 2012 British Grand Prix.
