One of only two female drivers involved in Formula One is in hospital after a crash during a test event in Britain.

According to CNN, Marussia driver Maria de Villota was driving the team's MR-01 car for the first time when she struck a stationary truck during a test at Duxford, in the county of Cambridgeshire.

"At approximately 0915 BST this morning, 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," said a statement on the Russian-owned marque's website.

"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."

The 32-year-old Spaniard joined Britain-based Marussia in July, after a career which had included spells in Spanish Formula Three, the Euroseries 3000 and the Daytona 24 Hours.

The Madrid-born racer is the daughter of former March Formula One driver Emilio de Villota. De Villota made her debut behind the wheel of an F1 car when testing for Lotus Renault in August 2011.

The only other female driver currently contacted in the elite division of motorsport is Briton Suzie Wolff, who is a development driver with Williams.