Porsche's Gain Means F1's Loss As Mark Webber Announces F1 Retirement. But There's Still Work To Do.

Mark Webber, Red Bull. (C)

    After 12 seasons competing in the Formula One world championship, Australian born Red Bull Racing ace Mark Webber has announced his retirement from the pinnacle of motorsport at the end of this season. He's joining Porsche as lead driver in their LMP1 assault on the FIA World Endurance Championship which includes the fabled Le Mans 24 Hr. 
    Queanbeyan born Webber made his way to the top of motorsport through shall we say, traditional categories. Started karting in 1991 as a 14yo, progressed through to Formula Ford, took himself off to Europe, continued in Formula Ford, then F3 (plus GT with Mercedes in 1998-99), then Formula 3000 before being signed as F1 test driver to Arrows in 2000, then Benetton in 2001. But it was anything but easy. Without the support from Yellow Pages, rugby legend David Campese, Fosters, former Euro Asiatech F3000 and Minardi F1 boss Paul Stoddart, long time manager Flavio Briatore and partner Ann Neal, he may very well not have made it.
    2002 saw Webber make a stunning F1 debut at Albert Park by claiming P5 in an incident filled race for backmarkers Minardi. Two seasons followed for each Jaguar and Williams before winding up at Red Bull Racing in 2007 where he has remained. 
    Mark Webber has finished 3rd in the championship in 2010 and 2011. Along the way he has accumulated 9 wins, 36 podiums, 11 pole positions and 15 fastest laps to date, with 12 races to go, starting with tonight's British GP. There's still work to do. Webber's won the prestigious race twice and would love to be a 3-time winner of the British GP and so far this weekend appears racy. Will Mark Webber add to his win tally before he retires from F1? Let us know what you think about Mark Webber leaving F1? Should he have gone around one more time, or was it the time right to leave with a new formula coming in next season? Send us an email at : [email protected] or simply leave a comment. 
    We'd like to congratulate Mark Webber for a wonderful F1 career (with more success to come) and have enjoyed cheering for 12 seasons from either the Brabham Stand at Albert Park or at home. At all times you've done Australia proud and should be commended for leaving a cut-throat sport at the top of your game on your own terms. Not every F1 driver can do that. Have especially loved the wheel to wheel stuff with Fernando Alonso. Good luck.
    What chance Porsche send a factory backed GT team to Oz for the Bathurst 12 Hr? Drawing a long bow we know. Still be cool to see Webber doing Mt Panorama if it didn't clash with LMP1 duties in FIA's WEC. 
    P1 for Mark at British GP? Let's go! We'll be cheering....

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