Mark Webber to hang up racing boots after WEC season

Stuttgart - The six-hour race at FIA WEC World Endurance Championship in Bahrain on November 19 will be the last time the reigning World Champion, Mark Webber will compete as a works driver.

Afterwards new tasks await the nine-time Formula 1 Grands Prix winner: The 40-year-old Webber will represent Porsche at global events and as a consultant will contribute by lending his experience to the motorsport programmes.

This includes talent research as well as driver training for up and coming professionals and the huge number of worldwide Porsche amateur racers. Alongside rally legend Walter Röhrl (69) Webber is now the make’s second representative. 

Blown away with all the messages. So lucky to have worked with the best for most of my career.
A thanks from me.?????? pic.twitter.com/Sea8enhVFI

— Mark Webber (@AussieGrit) October 14, 2016

Oliver Blume, Porsche chairman said: "Mark Webber stands for everything what Porsche implies: sportsmanship, power of endurance, straightforwardness and focused work for success. He is full of beans and always a thoughtful listener. I want to thank Mark for his great performance in the World Endurance Championship and am pleased he will remain tightly connected to Porsche in the future."  

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1, is sorry to see the driver retire from the cockpit. “Already in the important period of building up the programme, Mark has strengthened us with all his experience and he seamlessly integrated himself into the team. Behind the wheel he is a fair fighter, never shy of even the toughest wheel-to-wheel battle. At the same time, he thinks strategically and is team orientated. This mixture makes him invaluable as an endurance racer.

Webber won the 2015 drivers’ world championship together with Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley. Also thanks to his performance, we hope to win the world championship titles for manufacturers and drivers again in 2016.”

Mark Weber vital information: 

Date of Birth: 27th August 1976
Place of Birth: Queanbeyan
Nationality: Australian
Residence: Buckinghamshire, Great Britain
Height/weight: 1.83m/76kg
Marital status: married to Ann
Hobbies: Sports, mountain biking, flying helicopters
Twitter: @AussieGrit