[omaculer]

So many assumptions. Need to wait for a proper account of exactly what happened. Hopefully data is always being recorded when a car is running; it will say if she pushed the accelerator, electronic failure or whatever.

It is either her or the car's fault, but you know the risks when you step into it, no matter how many safety standards you put into something, human error happens.

[Thunderzee]

the truck-back-lift-whatever-thingy

Just call it a platform or a lift you dolt.

[metrocartockasur]

Seems she is still improving - from http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...2/7/13575.html

Marussia have reported that test driver Maria de Villota continues to improve and is ‘communicating freely’ with her family and the medical team at the UK’s Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge.

It is over a week since De Villota suffered head and facial injuries when her car collided with a team truck during a straight-line test at Duxford Airfield.

“Despite severe injuries, Maria’s recovery during that time has been remarkable,” said a team statement. “Following two successful surgical procedures in the days following the accident, last Saturday the medical team at Addenbrooke’s began to gradually reduce the level of Maria’s sedation.

"By Sunday morning, Maria was awake and able to speak to her family, which provided a very important - albeit early - indication that there were positive signs for Maria’s recovery. Since that time, Maria has been making small but significant steps.

"She was moved out of the Neurological Critical Care Unit on Monday and is no longer receiving sedation. Her family remain by her side and she is communicating freely with them and the medical team. Medical assessments are ongoing to monitor Maria’s improving condition.”

The Spaniard, who joined Marussia in March, was conducting her maiden test for the team when her car struck a stationary vehicle last Tuesday. The cause of the accident has not been confirmed.

[Mehntswx]

lol @ headline on the formula1 site:

"Marussia rule out car as factor in De Villota accident" = "Yup, probably her fault"

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...2/7/13589.html

[allvideO]

see I told you.... flipflops

[CIAFreeAgent]

What did you expect, not only is it a woman driver, but she's blonde too.

[avaiguite]

Which basically supports what i said earlier, that they put a driver in a car who was not anywhere near experienced enough to be testing it. They gave her the drive purely for the publicity of having a female driver.

FIA should get involved here and Marrussia need to be delt with for this.

[dushappeaps]

Which basically supports what i said earlier, that they put a driver in a car who was not anywhere near experienced enough to be testing it. They gave her the drive purely for the publicity of having a female driver.

FIA should get involved here and Marrussia need to be delt with for this.

She was much more experienced than many young drivers allowed to test F1 cars, and for what I've heard, the anti-stall which probably was the reason for the crash, has surprised many young drivers just aswell, they just didn't have parked truck near with lift on their heads height.

There's nothing for FIA to get involved with, Marussia did nothing wrong or unusual.

[esdfsdflast]

She was much more experienced than many young drivers allowed to test F1 cars, and for what I've heard, the anti-stall which probably was the reason for the crash, has surprised many young drivers just aswell, they just didn't have parked truck near with lift on their heads height.

There's nothing for FIA to get involved with, Marussia did nothing wrong or unusual.

Car was not at fault.... therefore your talking **** yet again.

[metrocartockasur]

He could still be perfectly correct - if the anti-stall acted as it was supposed to but the driver was caught out.
Driver slows down, anti-stall kicks in, driver surprised and fails to pull the clutch...

[Shinegayboyx]

He could still be perfectly correct - if the anti-stall acted as it was supposed to but the driver was caught out.
Driver slows down, anti-stall kicks in, driver surprised and fails to pull the clutch...

What about using the steeringwheel?

[refsherne]

He could still be perfectly correct - if the anti-stall acted as it was supposed to but the driver was caught out.
Driver slows down, anti-stall kicks in, driver surprised and fails to pull the clutch...

+1

It would take a surprising amount of brake pedal to overcome the anti stall I'd guess.

[metrocartockasur]

Are you familiar with the lock on those things? Makes a double decker bus look like a Mini

[edit] Good point, cK, it sounded like it was working against brakes.

[refsherne]

And if you are hard on the brakes trying to fight the anti stall, the fronts would be locked up and turning the wheel wouldn't do anything.

[esdfsdflast]

Either way it doesn't make the car at fault....

[WhileKelf]

If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say she had either some kind of distraction or even a mild stroke/seizure which caused her to momentarily lose control and apply the accelerator.

Heck even cramp would do that in some cases also.

[dushappeaps]

Car was not at fault.... therefore your talking **** yet again.

Either way it doesn't make the car at fault....

If you try reading again, I didn't say car was at fault, just a feature of the car surprised the driver.

When anti-stall kicks in, you should always be on "free gear", as it applies about ~50% of max revs - when that kicks in on 1st gear it shoots the car forward like a rocket.

[WhileKelf]

Picture released today of what her skull looked like after the crash...

[CIAFreeAgent]

Picture released today of what her skull looked like after the crash...

Ouch.

She's very lucky.

[Heessduernbub]

Some people showing their true colours on here. Myself, will, zoo etc might have a laugh at ours and others expense, but I don't think you'd ever catch us laughing about someone with life threatening injuries. Shame on all who have. Hope she recovers quickly.