Maria de Villota, former Formula One test driver, found dead in Seville hotel
The 33-year-old, who lost her right eye in a crash, apparently died of 'natural causes'
Former Spanish Formula One test driver Maria de Villota, one of the few women to come close to the top of the sport, but whose career was cut short by a horrific accident last year, has been found dead in a hotel in Seville.
De Villota, who lost her right eye and fractured her skull at a test in England in July last year, had apparently died of "natural" causes, a Spanish police spokeswoman said.
"We are assuming it was a natural death, but we cannot confirm anything," the spokeswoman said, adding that forensic scientists and a homicide unit would examine the scene.
Although the 33-year-old recovered from the life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash, she no longer competed and had instead become an inspirational figure for aspiring female drivers and was due to present a book detailing her experiences on Monday.
The daughter of former F1 racer Emilio de Villota, she was appointed test driver for Anglo-Russian team Marussia a few months before her crash.
She never took part in a general test with other drivers, but was one of only a handful of women to have driven Formula One cars in the last decade.