The Marussia Formula One team has hired Spanish driver Maria de Villota as a test driver, and she will drive the car at the Abu Dhabi test in November, the team said Wednesday.
De Villota is not contracted to race, but test drivers often step in if a race driver is injured. If de Villota joins the grid, she would become the first female driver to start an F1 race since Lella Lombardi in 1976.
De Villota, whose father Emilio entered three races in the 1970s, tested a Lotus Renault car in 2011 at France’s Paul Ricard circuit, driving the car for 300 kilometers.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a Formula One team and gain important experience to help me progress my career, including the chance to drive the new car later in the year at the Abu Dhabi test,” she said on the Marussia website.
“I will be joining the team trackside so I’m looking forward to working alongside them at the first race next weekend and this can only help my future ambition to step up to Formula One racing.”
De Villota, 32, has competed in series including Formula Palmer Audi and Spanish Formula Three, which have traditionally served as routes to Formula One for young drivers
