Maria de Villota 1980 - 2013

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Formula 1 reserve racing driver Maria De Villota has been found dead in a hotel room in Seville, Spain.

No cause of death has yet been released for the 33-year-old Spaniard, who lost her right eye in a crash while testing for the Marussia team last year.

De Villota, daughter of former Formula 1 driver Emilio De Villota, suffered severe head and facial injuries after colliding with a lorry.

She was reported to have been in Seville to launch her autobiography.

F1 teams and drivers have expressed their shock at the news.

Caterham reserve Alexander Rossi, an occasional analyst for BBC Sport, said: "Absolutely stunned and heartbroken to hear Maria De Villota has passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out. We will never ever forget you."

Mercedes added: "Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Maria de Villota following the tragic news of her passing.

"Her courage, determination and hope were an example and inspiration to many. She will be sadly missed by our sport."

De Villota had previously competed in Spanish Formula 3 and the Daytona 24 Hours race.

Factfile

Born in Madrid on 13 January 1980 

A former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, she was the daughter of ex-Formula 1 racer Emilio de Villota 

She held a degree in sports science from the European University of Madrid 

Since 2001, she had competed in various Spanish races 

In 2010 she finished fourth at the Nurburgring in Superleague Formula 

Her first taste of F1 came in 2011 at the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille in France, when she tested a Renault R29 

#RIP

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De Villota Family Comforted by Support

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The family of Maria de Villota have said they are "taking comfort" from the support being shown to the F1 test driver.

De Villota, 32, lost her right eye after extensive surgery following a test track crash at Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire on Tuesday.

In a statement, the family said they "remain positive due to the support for Maria from every corner of the world".

The driver remains in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrookes.

De Villota was hurt when the MR-01 race car she was driving hit a support truck.

She had been driving at up to 200mph but the car was travelling considerably slower at the time of the crash.

It was the first time the Spaniard had driven the car for the Oxfordshire-based Marussia team.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Isabel De Villota, Maria's sister, said: "While there is no further news at present, we have at least been able to take encouragement from the fact 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 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."

Messages of support for De Villota have come in from the motor racing world, including Ferrari driver and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the test track on Wednesday.