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De Villota to return to F1 paddock

ESPN Staff
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Maria de Villota: "I'm finding it harder to sleep" © Getty Images
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Maria de Villota is finding it difficult to sleep, as she prepares to return to the Formula One paddock for the first time since the accident that resulted in her losing an eye.

The Spaniard was testing for Marussia at Duxford aerodrome last July when the car she was driving hit a truck. De Villota suffered serious head injuries and lost her right eye.

De Villota is scheduled to attend this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and it is a visit that has brought a range of emotions.

"It's the first race I'm going to after the accident, so I'm finding it harder to sleep," she told Europa. "It's hard for me, because I miss it, but I want to see all the drivers at home and I think we'll see a great race, as we have seen lately.

"I want to thank many people that I have not seen since the accident, and I've been unable to acknowledge the support they gave me, like by putting my star on their helmet."

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