The latest update on Marussia test driver Maria de Villota’s condition just recently came out. She lost her right eye in the accident, and remains in critical but stable condition.

She went into surgery yesterday afternoon and was there until this morning. Surgeons addressed both her facial and head injuries, however her right eye could not be saved.

John Booth, team principal of Marussia, thanked everyone for their support. The team will update when appropriate on Maria’s condition. The team is also analyzing what occurred. It is possible de Villota could have been caught out by the anti-stall system on the car.

Best wishes, Maria.

photo posted by teammate Timo Glock on Twitter (@realTimoGlock) before testing began

Not what I want to come back to…

Maria de Villota was testing Marussia upgrades during a testing session. While returning to the pits, the car suddenly accelerated into the transporter truck that brought the car to the Duxford airfield.

Emergency services were called the the scene. A BBC reporter eyewitness said her helmet took the brunt of the impact.

Emergency services also have said the injuries are life-threatening.

Marussia has released a statement that Villota was taken to a hospital, and they will update on her condition when further details are known.

This story will of course be updated then too.

Best wishes, Maria, everyone is thinking of you. Perhaps the douchebags who think this is a time to make sexist remarks aren’t, but those of us sending you our love and prayers more than make up for them.

I have yet to sleep

De Villota racing in DTM. In an R8. Something most men will only see and not drive. Not sorry. (photo credit: Flickr/Jose A. Herran)

After testing with Lotus at the end of last year, and (probably through an agent) claiming to be that team’s test driver, Maria De Villota has appeared again…and this time she has a test driver position.

Sure, it’s the team that couldn’t pass all its crash tests, but it’s better than no women drivers. And if you want to call it a “Danica situation,” I would kindly like to direct you to a fist. While trying to find out more about this before Marussia really announced it, I found a lovely condescending article on Bleacher Report (obviously) calling her test with Lotus a “publicity stunt.” Well publicity stunt this, suckers.

De Villota is the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio De Villota, and taking in her father’s footsteps, she has been racing in various open cockpit racing series throughout the years with a target of Formula 1.

Marussia apparently were more impressed with her test than Lotus, though there is no guarantee she will drive the car at all. In the statement, Marussia simply refers to it as a “chance” to drive the car, presumably at the Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test far later in the year.

It’s entirely possible though that this opens up opportunities for De Villota to race in a feeder series to Formula 1, and I hope that is definitely the case.

While the chances of De Villota probably ever driving in a race are low, it’s still awesome to see a woman named a test driver in a sport that’s dominated by men. Congratulations, Maria!

Maria de Villota said at an event yesterday that she is close to signing a deal “either this year or next year” to be Lotus (Renault)’s reserve/third driver next year. All that’s left is to sign the contract, she says.

She would be the first female driver in Formula 1 in 20 years, although she would only be doing Friday practice testing for the team.

The 31 year old believes this will lead to a full time position in 2013, which I honestly hope she means with a different team, considering Lotus has signed Kimi Raikkonen earlier this week, and is fully prepared already to sign Robert Kubica to a new contract in 2013.

The team has not commented on the negotiations with de Villota. She tested for them in August, when her manager also said there were negotiations to make her a testing driver. She has most recently competed in Formula Palmer Audi, a series which folded in 2010.