Spanish Formula 1 driver Maria De Villota, who lost her eye in a crash during testing in July, believes there is a place for women in F1.
The Marussia driver has made her first public appearance since the accident, wearing a patch over the right eye.
"I want to carry on fighting because I strongly believe in women in the world of motor sport," she said.
"Now I have a physical impediment but before I didn't and I want someone else to take over."
De Villota, the daughter of former Spanish Formula 1 driver Emilio De Villota, was given a test drive by Renault last year and had previously raced in Spanish Formula 3 and the Daytona 24 Hours.
The accident happened when she was driving the Marussia car for the first time in a straight-line test at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire.
After completing one run and returning to the mechanics, the car suddenly accelerated into the back of a team truck with her helmet taking much of the impact.
The 32-year-old underwent lengthy surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital after the crash for serious head and facial injuries.
"Before, I only saw Formula 1, I only saw myself in a car competing and did not see what was important in life, the clarity to say 'I am alive'," she added.
"This eye has given me my bearings, given me back what is important, and I accept it with the energy to say I am going to live out this chance 100%."
Women are still rare in F1, although Austrian Monisha Kaltenborn is the new principal of the Sauber team.
In April, Williams signed German touring car driver Susie Wolff as the team's development driver.
The last woman to enter the F1 world championship was Italian Giovanna Amati, who failed to qualify for three races at the start of the 1992 season with Brabham.
Five women have entered F1 races in the past, the most prolific being Italian Lella Lombardi, who started 12 grands prix in the 1970s.
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