Susie Wolff to star in BBC documentary about her life in the fast lane
By Berthold Bouman
Williams development driver Susie Wolff is the star of a BBC documentary about her life as a racing driver, currently she’s the only female driver in in the pinnacle of motorsport: Formula One.
Wolff is very likely to become the next female Formula One driver, the documentary, ‘The fastest woman in the world,’ follows her career in a male dominated sport.
A statement on her website read, “Directed by her award-winning, BAFTA-nominated brother David Stoddart, 31, the no-holds-barred film will be broadcast as part of BBC Scotland’s spring schedule, and features appearances from Formula One race ace Lewis Hamilton and racing legend David Coulthard.”
Wolff, from Oban in Scotland, commented, “Shooting the film was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m a fairly private person, so to have my brother follow me for nine months, through some pretty difficult times — let’s just say it was a big challenge.”
Her brother David agreed, “It was tough combining the role of documentary maker and brother. You have to remember you’re there to film Susie’s story, but during the more difficult moments your instinct as a brother kicks in. It was challenging at times to strike the balance, but it’s a great story that needed to be told.”
And he added, “Susie was very open and honest, and I’m enormously grateful to her for that, and for giving me a rare glimpse into life in Formula One.”
Susie Wolff is development driver for the Williams F1 team – Photo: Williams F1
Wolff started her race career — like most drivers — in karting when she was eight. In 2003 Wolff was one of the finalists of the prestigious BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award. She’s married to Toto Wolff, who left his job at Williams earlier this year to become Mercedes’ Head of Motorsport.
Wolff starred in the German touring car championship (DTM) for seven years, she drove for Mucke Motorsport and later for Persson Motorsport. At the end of the 2012 season she announced she would retire from the DTM series to prepare for her role as Formula One driver.
About her racing career she said, “I don’t race to prove how good women can be against men. I race because it’s my passion and I hope this documentary will give an insight into a very competitive world, in which I’ve been racing since I was a young girl.”
Last woman to participate in a Formula One race was Italian Lella Lombardi. Wolff is now the only female driver in Formula One, as Maria de Villota’s career abruptly ended after a crash at the Duxford Aerodrome while testing for the Marussia Formula One team.
‘The Fastest Woman in the World’ will premiere on BBC2 Scotland in spring.
Susie Wolff – Women do have a future in Formula One
By Berthold Bouman
Williams development driver Susie Wolff drove last year’s Williams FW33 at Silverstone yesterday during a Williams F1 Partner event. Wolff, married to Toto Wolff, an executive director and major shareholder at Williams, normally does her job in the simulator, but yesterday her dream of driving a Formula One car came true.
Susie Wolff, Williams – Photo: Williams F1
“It was incredible to experience a Formula One car for the first time. I’ve done a lot of simulator work since I joined the team but nothing compares to the exhilaration of driving the real thing,” Wolff said after completing two 50 km runs. About the far from ideal conditions at Silverstone she said, “The conditions were a little tricky as it was quite damp at the beginning of the run but the track soon dried out. The team also did a fantastic job preparing me for today, giving me all the information I needed so that I was always in control.”
The 29-year old Scot, who also races in the German DTM touring car series for Mercedes, stressed it wasn’t a show run or a publicity stunt, and is adamant there is a future for women in Formula One. “I have no doubt in my head Williams would never have let me near the car if they didn’t feel I was capable of it or ready for it,” she said.
Unfortunately, when speaking about a female Formula One driver, the name of Maria de Villota springs to mind. De Villota had a horrific accident in July during straight line tests at Duxford airfield for the Marussia Formula One team, she was seriously injured and lost her right eye, and she has become an inspiration for other female drivers.
“After what happened earlier in the year with Maria, it was important for me to go out for both of us and show everybody that women do have a place in Formula One and can drive the cars successfully,” Wolff said.
“Many just saw a story about a woman driver in Formula One who had a bad accident, lost her eye and nearly died. So it was important for me to go out there and do a good solid job,” she added. “I had Maria’s star on my helmet, it’s with pride I have that, and without a doubt I was driving for the two of us.”
Of course she wants to drive more often, “On my last lap, when I was driving down the pit lane, I said to myself ‘I have to do everything I can to get back in this car’. I hope I have done enough at this stage to prove I can be of assistance to this team. Hopefully I can get some more tests.”
Wolff is one of only a handful of women who ever made it into Formula One, in the past Maria Teresa de Filippis, Desire Wilson, Giovanna Amati, Lella Lombardi and Divina Galica tried their luck in Formula one, but recently female drivers have only been able to test a Formula One car.
In 2002 American Sarah Fisher drove a McLaren during the US Grand Prix, but it was a show run, in 2005 Briton Katherine Legge tested a Minardi at Vallelunga, and de Villota had already tested for Renault in 2011.
Susie Wolff, Williams development driver
Maria de Villota speaks about her accident – remembers everything
By Berthold Bouman
For the first time Maria de Villota spoke about the accident she had while testing for Marussia in July this year. De Villota sustained serious head and facial injuries and lost her right eye in the accident. The 32-year old Spanish driver underwent extensive surgery several times and was in hospital for over a month. She was then moved to Spain for further recovery, but she will have to undergo more surgery, she revealed today.
Cover of the Hola! magazine with Maria de Villota
Maria de Villota remembers everything about her accident, to the Spanish Hola! magazine she said, “I remember everything — even the moment of impact. When I woke up with everyone around me, I started to speak in English as I thought I was on a FIA check-up and that the nurse was a trainer.
“My dad said ‘Please, Maria, speak Spanish, because your mother is missing half the things’, and then I became aware of everything: of what had happened, where I was and why.”
About the loss of her eye she said, “In the beginning they were covering my eye so I couldn’t see it. The first day I looked at myself in the mirror I had 140 black stitches on my face, and they looked like they had been stitched with a boat rope, and I had lost my right eye. I was terrified. I have to undergo more surgery soon, but the worst is now behind.”
Her life has of course dramatically changed, which made here realize there is more than racing to live for. “The accident has given me a new perspective about life, about the things that matter,” she said. “Before this, my life was a race against the clock, and now I see you have to stop and measure things in a different way.”
She also admitted to suffer from headaches after her crash, “I have headaches that they don’t know how long will last — maybe years. I have to control my efforts a lot because of the cranial pressure. I have also lost smell, and taste, which is linked to smell. Now I like things with a very strong taste.”
It is also understood de Villota will make a public appearance during a press conference in Madrid tomorrow, head of the Spanish Motorsport Federation Carlos Gracia will also be present.
Maria de Villota released from Spanish hospital after Marussia test accident
By Berthold Bouman
Maria de Villota has been released from hospital after her testing accident at Duxford Airfield on July 3. The 32-year old Marussia test driver sustained serious head and facial injuries and lost her right eye following a test accident at the British airfield. Last week she was flown back to her native Spain where she was admitted to the La Paz hospital in Madrid.
Maria de Villota released from hospital today
A statement issued today read, “The patient’s general conditions are good, which allowed us to release her yesterday. In these six days, she has been treated by specialists of the plastic and neurological surgery services, and the ophthalmology department, who will continue to follow her, as she will need to undergo periodical checks and treatments.
“As communicated previously, the patient has lost her right eye, as a consequence of the serious trauma suffered, and she will be closely followed by the ophthalmology service. The specialists of the plastic surgery service will be responsible for following the serious injuries to her face and correcting the effects of those.”
Marussia has conducted an investigation into the crash and concluded the Marussia F1 car de Villota was driving was not at fault. Marussia have not found any issues with the car that could have led to the accident according to a statement the team issued last week, another external investigation is still underway.
De Villota’s accident has prompted questions about the safety precautions that should be taken during straight-line aerodynamic testing at airfields such as Duxford and other British airfields, the FIA is also investigating the crash to see whether additional safety improvements are needed.
Maria de Villota back in Spain after Marussia testing accident
By Berthold Bouman
According to the Marussia F1 team, Maria de Villota has returned to her native Spain after her crash two weeks ago at Duxford Airfield. De Villota has been treated at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge since her crash on July 3. The Marussia test and reserve driver sustained serious head and facial injuries and lost her right eye when her car suddenly accelerated and slammed into the back of a support truck.
Maria de Villota, Marussia test driver
“Maria left Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge yesterday and returned directly to Spain,” a Marussia statement read. “Over the course of the past two weeks, Maria has made significant progress. More comfortable and familiar surroundings, plus the support of her wider family and friends, will undoubtedly provide a more conducive environment in which Maria can commence the next phase of her recovery,” the statement further read.
“The Marussia F1 Team have remained in close contact with the medical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital since Maria’s admittance and would like to express their gratitude for the remarkable care and attention that she has received there.
“The Marussia F1 Team — the staff, race drivers Timo Glock and Charles Pic, and all those associated with the Team — wish Maria well with the next stage of her recovery. The management team will continue to liaise closely with Maria and her family and provide any assistance possible during the coming months.”
Team Principal John Booth maintains there were no technical problems with the car before the accident. “We had two priorities immediately after the accident, first being Maria’s welfare of course, that was foremost in our minds. The second was to start to investigate the cause and clear the car of any part of that of course, with Silverstone coming up. We established that but then revisited our findings straight after Silverstone and now we’re 100% confident that the car was not to blame in the slightest,” said Booth during the usual FIA Friday press conference at Hockenheim.
Booth didn’t want to reveal anything about the outcome of the investigation,, “As for the wider investigation, that is ongoing and will be a very long process, as in England it has to be, it’s taken very seriously there, as you know. It will be some time before we know the final outcome. It would inappropriate for me to comment any further on that.”
Meanwhile, Carlos Gracia, Spanish Motorsport President and FIA Vice-President, has criticised the Marussia team, he is unhappy as he thinks Marussia wants to blame de Villota for the accident. “I see it that they want to shift the responsibility to Maria, but we need to wait if she can recover her memory.”
And the Spaniard added, “In any case, even if it was a driving mistake, there was a failure of logistics, when we speak about a truck ramp that acted like a knife. It’s the same as a garage door raised to the height of a driver’s head. That’s a team failure, so there is a responsibility that certainly is not Maria’s”
Gracia will raise the issue of safety precautions during testing at the next meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Marussia rules out technical problems caused Maria de Vilotta’s accident
By Berthold Bouman
Marussia rules out technical problems caused the accident test driver Maria de Villota had almost two weeks ago at Duxford Airfield. Marussia has completed an investigation they carried out to see whether the crash was the result of car-related issues, as they were worried such issues could resurface during the British Grand Prix.
Maria de Villota, Marussia test driver, earlier this year in Australia
Marussia said in a statement, “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 that there were no such car-related issues and cleared its chassis for race weekend participation.”
According to the statement, Marussia carried out an internal detailed analysis of the accident and also commissioned an external forensic investigation which was conducted at Duxford Airfield, according to Marussia, a much used Formula One testing venue approved by the FIA. Marussia stated that the ‘external analysis has been carried out autonomously of the team’s own internal investigation’.
Although the team has not found the cause of the accident, Team Principal John Booth is adamant there were no technical problems with the car de Villota was driving at Duxford Airfield. “We are satisfied that 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 (the British Health & Safety Executive) for their consideration as part of their ongoing investigation,” Booth commented.
And he added, “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 well-being. In that regard, we continue to support Maria and the De Villota family in any way we can.”
De Villota sustained serious head and facial injuries and lost her right eye after her Marussia MR01 suddenly accelerated and slammed into the back of a support truck during a test session at Duxford Airfield on July 3. She underwent surgery twice at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Since last week de Villota is no longer under sedation and she is currently working on her recovery.
Marussia says De Villota’s recovery is ‘remarkable’
By Berthold Bouman
Maria de Villota has made ‘remarkable’ progress according to a statement issued by Marussia. The Spanish driver sustained serious head and facial injuries after a testing accident at Duxford Airfield on July 3. She also lost her right eye and has undergone surgery twice last week at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Maria de Villota, Marussia
“Despite severe injuries, Maria’s recovery during that time has been remarkable,” the statement read. De Villota is now no longer under sedation according to the statement.
“Following two successful surgical procedures in the days following the accident, last Saturday the medical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital 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 remains by her side and she is communicating freely with them and the medical team. Medical assessments are ongoing to monitor Maria’s improving condition.”
De Villota was testing aerodynamic upgrades for Marussia ahead of the British Grand Prix when her car suddenly accelerated and slammed into the back of a support vehicle. The accident is still under investigation, and it is believed the FIA is also involved.
Despite the fact the investigation is still ongoing, Force India decided to go ahead today with the same sort of straight-line testing at Duxford Airfield with 20-year old American Conor Daly, son of former Formula One driver Derek Daly behind the wheel of the Force India VJM05.
More surgery for Marussia test driver Maria de Villota today
By Berthold Bouman
While 24 drivers were battling it out on a very soggy Silverstone circuit, Maria de Villota was fighting her own battle and underwent further surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge today, according to a statement of the Marussia Formula One Team which was issued this evening.
Maria de Villota underwent further surgery today
The statement said it was a planned operation, the medical team was happy with the progress de Villota had made since Wednesday, and decided to go ahead with today’s operation.
The statement read, “The surgeons successfully completed the next phase of surgery required to address Maria’s facial injuries. After the lengthy initial procedure, which commenced on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday, today’s secondary operation took significantly less time.”
This much-needed second operation is a further indication as to how serious the Marussia driver’s injuries are, but in the statement her condition is now no longer described as ‘critical’ as the Marussia team also reported, “Since the operation today, Maria’s condition in relation to the head trauma she received has further improved, to the extent that she is now ‘serious but stable’.
Whilst Maria remains acutely ill, this confirms that she has been responding well to the treatment she has received since her accident. Coupled with the significant progress that has been made with regard to her facial injuries, we feel sufficiently comfortable to proceed with a further update.
On a more personal note, we have taken a great deal of encouragement from today’s developments and the rather more positive signs for Maria’s family.”
GPDA chairman de la Rosa wants investigation into de Villota’s accident
By Berthold Bouman
Maria de Villota’s accident last Tuesday should be thoroughly investigated, according to Pedro de la Rosa, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA). “We will put the facts on the table to see if there is anything we need to change to improve,” said the veteran HRT driver.
Chairman of the GPDA, Pedro de la Rosa
And he added, “When an accident happens, it means that something didn’t work properly. We need to make sure between the FIA, the teams and the GPDA that we make changes for the future because it’s not good enough.”
The search for the answers to the many questions surrounding this bizarre accident has already started, the Marussia Formula One Team has started their own investigation and inspectors from the British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the airfield on Wednesday.
Many of de Villota’s compatriots have reacted on this horrible accident. Tennis ace Rafa Nadal reacted on Twitter, “Maria I hope you recover soon, you must be strong and we hope to see you back as soon as possible.”
Also Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was shocked when he heard the news, he said during the usual Thursday FIA press conference at Silverstone. “Obviously we are very worried for this situation [referring to de Villota’s condition] because we are still waiting for some more news. We only know what you all know and there are still some difficult days until the situation is completely clear.”
And the Spaniard further commented, “Sad days, for sure, completely shock when you hear the news and how what happened is possible. Obviously we don’t know all the information it’s difficult to talk about the reasons etc. until we know the official version but at the moment, it’s so difficult to imagine how this can happen.”
And McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton said, “I don’t know her personally, but when I read about it I was absolutely devastated for her and for her family. I think it’s very, very tragic and myself and my team, we send on our warmest wishes her way and hope that she has a speedy recovery, hope that things get better.”
Also Felipe Massa was devastated when he heard the news. In 2009 the Brazilian Ferrari driver was hit in the eye by a spring that had fallen of Rubens Barrichello’s car, and like no other, he knows how difficult it is to recover from such a terrible accident.
“She has my full support because I’ve been in a similar position. Thank God nothing happened to me,” said Massa. “The most important thing is that the FIA understands what happened. We need to make it the maximum safe we can. I really hope everything will be okay for her and for her to live her life in the way she deserves.”
Maria de Villota still in critical condition three days after her crash
By Berthold Bouman
Three days after her accident at Duxford Airport, Maria de Villota is still in critical condition according to a statement from the de Villota family published on the Marussia website. The full statement signed by her sister Isabelle de Villota, who represents the de Villota family, read:
Maria de Villota, Marussia, earlier this year in Australia
“Maria remains in a critical but stable condition here at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. While there is no further news than that at present, we have at least been able to take encouragement from the fact that Maria has remained stable throughout since the accident, particularly during the first night following such a lengthy surgical procedure as she experienced yesterday.
We, the family, are supporting each other here at Maria’s side and we take great comfort from the remarkable medical care she has been receiving. We remain positive and this is due, in no small part, to the overwhelming expression of love and support for Maria from every corner of the world. We would also wish to thank everyone at the Marussia F1 Team for all the care and attention they have shown us over the past few days.”
De Villota lost her right eye as she sustained serious head and facial injuries on Tuesday morning when her Marussia MR-01 suddenly accelerated and crashed into the back of a support truck after her first run on Duxford Airport. Marussia was conducting straight-line aerodynamic tests to prepare the team for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend.
Maria de Villota loses right eye after Marussia horror crash
By Berthold Bouman
Marussia test driver Maria de Villota underwent extensive surgery at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, the procedure started yesterday afternoon and lasted until this morning. De Villota sustained life-threatening facial and head injuries when she crashed into the back of a support vehicle during a test at Duxford Airfield yesterday morning.
Maria de Villota, Marussia
Sadly surgeons were not able to save her right eye. According to a statement issued by the Marussia Formula One Team, de Villota remains in a critical but stable condition.
Team Principal John Booth stated, “Maria emerged from theatre at Addenbrooke’s Hospital this morning after a lengthy operation to address the serious head and facial injuries she received in the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday.”
“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. However it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye.”
“We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding with regard to updates on Maria’s condition. We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family.”
De Villota’s family is at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital to support the 32-year old daughter of ex-Formula One driver Emilio de Villota. Booth also thanked the emergency services who were quickly at the accident scene to look after the injured driver before she was transported to hospital.
“In the meantime, we would all like to take this opportunity to praise the emergency services at Duxford Airfield, who were on stand-by yesterday, as is usual procedure for a Formula One test,” Booth said.
“With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment. Finally, we have been overwhelmed by messages of support for Maria, her family and the Team and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for those.”
It is still a mystery what exactly went wrong when de Villota returned from her first run on the airstrip, braked and slowed down to be pushed into the make-shift pit area. According to eyewitnesses the car suddenly accelerated straight into the Circuit2Circuit Limited owned truck that had transported the Marussia MR-01 Formula One car to the airfield.
According to the BBC, Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the test track today.
Duxford Airfield, click to open the full-size image in a new window
Marussia statement on Maria de Villota’s accident at Duxford
By Berthold Bouman
Marussia issued a second statement about the condition of Maria de Villota after her crash this morning at Duxford Airfield, where de Villota was conducting straight-line aerodynamic tests for the Marussia Formula One team.
Timo Glock driving the Marussia MR-01
“Further to the accident involving the Marussia F1 Team’s Test Driver Maria De Villota this morning, the team can confirm that Maria was transferred by ambulance from Duxford Airfield, where the accident happened, to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Since Maria’s arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45am this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region’s major trauma centre.”
“Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment. The team’s first priority at this time is Maria and her family.”
BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann witnessed the crash and he later reported, “The car slowed down as you see happens during a Grand Prix, for it to then be reversed into the pits which was actually a tent. But at the last second it just suddenly accelerated again so by the time it hit the truck, it was doing 30 or 40 miles an hour.
It appeared to me that she wasn’t moving for about 10 or 15 minutes. We saw her move her hands after about a quarter of an hour and it took almost an hour for the ambulance (staff) to feel confident to take her out of the car.”
Maria de Villota seriously injured after Marussia testing crash at Duxford
By Berthold Bouman
Marussia’s test and reserve driver Maria de Villota has sustained serious injuries during a private test at the British Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire. The accident occurred at 9.15am BST during a straight-line test, according to a team statement de Villota crashed into the back of the team’s stationary support truck.
Maria de Villota seriously injured at Duxford Airfied
A statement issued by Marussia read: “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. The accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team’s support truck.
“Maria has been transferred to hospital. Once her medical condition has been assessed a further statement will be issued.”
The 32-year old daughter of Spanish ex-Formula One driver Emilio de Villota was at Duxford Airfield for a two-day test, and had not tested the Marussia car before. According to a spokesman from the East of England Ambulance Service, a specialist medical team was sent to the airfield and de Villota was transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
It has also become apparent the facial and head injuries de Villota sustained are life-threatening. According to eyewitness BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, the car ‘suddenly accelerated’ after it had slowed down and then slammed into the tail-lift of the truck.
To the BBC Mann said, “The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it. It was an absolutely awful moment. I was surrounded by people that knew her very well, including family, friends, engineers, and her manager.”
Chris Mann’s report:
Berthold Bouman's Grand Prix Journal 