F1 team Marussia rule out malfunction in Maria de Villota crash probe

Marussia have excluded their car as a contributory cause behind Maria De Villota's accident almost a fortnight ago.

De Villota continues to make good progress following the incident at Duxford Airfield which resulted in her losing her right eye.

De Villota required two operations at Addendrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in the wake of a crash that saw the 32-year-old run into the tailgate of a stationary service vehicle at the end of an installation run whilst conducting a straightline aero test.

The team has since conducted a thorough investigation, both at their Banbury base and at the scene.

A team statement read: "The Marussia F1 Team conducted an initial analysis immediately after the crash.

"This aimed to identify the causes and contributory factors behind the accident and also served to determine if there were any car-related implications for the impending British Grand Prix.

"Having carefully examined all the data and supplementary information available at that time, the team were satisfied there were no such car-related issues and cleared its chassis for race weekend participation.

"Following its initial investigation, the team proceeded to carry out further detailed analysis of the accident.

"An external forensic investigation was commissioned and carried out at Duxford Airfield (a FIA-approved and much used testing venue, compliant with the recommendations for a test of this nature) and with the team at the Marussia Technical Centre in Banbury.

"This external analysis has been carried out autonomously of the team's own internal investigation.

"As would be normal procedure, the team's findings have been shared with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the independent UK regulator which acts in the public interest in respect of work-related accidents."

In light of the investigation, team principal John Booth said: "We are satisfied the findings of our internal investigation exclude the car as a factor in the accident.

"We have shared and discussed our findings with the HSE for their consideration as part of their ongoing investigation.

"This has been a necessarily thorough process in order to understand the cause of the accident.

"We have now concluded our investigatory work and can again focus on the priority, which continues to be Maria's wellbeing.

"In that regard, we continue to support Maria and the De Villota family in any way we can."

PA