A FORMULA 1 driver has suffered life threatening injuries after her car was involved in a collision with a lorry during a testing day at Duxford airfield.

Maria De Villota, 32, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries following today’s (Tuesday) crash at the Imperial War Museum.

She was testing Maurissa’s MR-01 car for the first time when she collided with a lorry at a slow speed.

A team spokesman said: “At approximately 09.15hrs 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.”

An ambulance, and MAGPAS - helicopter medics - attended the scene.

Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “A woman has sustained life threatening injuries and following treatment at the scene by paramedics, she has been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for further care.”

The service notified the police after the collision and Cambridgeshire Constabulary has notified the Health and Safety Executive to probe the incident.

An eyewitness from BBC Radio Cambridge said: “Strangely, the car suddenly accelerated into the big truck that brought it there. There was a board down, like a loading board, and the car went careering into the side of that probably doing only 20 or 30mph.”

The crash happened on the first of two days of Formula 1 testing at Duxford.

A museum spokesman said: “The Imperial War Museum can confirm that an incident occurred during this morning’s F1 testing. Testing has been suspended whilst team personnel and the medical services asses the situation. The museum is open as normal.”