Marussia Formula One test driver Maria de Villota, who lost her right eye after an accident in testing, is said to be awake and talking to her friends and family.

de Villota

Sky F1 reporter Natalie Pinkham tweeted the good news on 9 July, six days after de Villota, 32, crashed into the back of a transport truck while straight-line testing at Duxford Airfield in Cambridge.

Pinkham said on Twitter: "Amazing news! Maria De Villota is awake and talking to her family and friends"

The Spaniard, who was taking part in her first test for the Marussia team, is believed to have struck the lowered rear door of a truck helmet-first at between 20 and 30 mile per hour while returning to the pit area at Duxford during testing ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

A Marussia team spokesperson said on 4 July: "It is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye."

The team said that medical staff "embarked on a lengthy procedure to address the serious head and facial injuries sustained," adding that De Villota remains in a "critical but stable" condition.

Team boss John Booth added in a statement: "We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving and her family would like to thank the Neurological and Plastics surgical teams,"

De Villota's injuries were first described as "life threatening" but the Masurria team later said that she was conscious at Addenbrookes Hospital and was receiving further medical attention.

In a statement shortly after the accident on 3 July, the team said: "At approximately 09.15hrs BST this morning, the Marussia F1 Team's test driver Maria De Villota had an accident in the team's MR-01 race car at Duxford Airfield where she was testing the car for the first time."

A former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, De Villota was due to use her first test session with the Marussia team to work on a major upgrade package ahead of the British Grand Prix, which was won by Mark Webber for Red Bull Racing on 8 July.

Despite de Villota's condition, the Marussia team opted to take part in the race at Silverstone, where Timo Glock finished 18th and teammate Charles Pic finished 19th.

Team principal John Booth said after the race: ""It has been a tough weekend for everyone in the team, but we can be pleased with the job we have done here at Silverstone and also encouraged by the positive signs we are seeing with Maria."

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