Mark Webber On His Tasmania Challenge And Life After F1

Mark Webber may have just left the paddock, but he's straight back into the next challenge – the 10th anniversary of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

by Cathy Adams

Mark Webber and his team-mate drag their kayak onto shore during a spectacular opening day of the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber runs through the Cradle Mountain National Park during the 2008 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber abseils down a rock face in beautiful Coles Bay during training for the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber picks his way through the tree roots during a training run for the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber at the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber and team-mate Guy Andrews in action on the first day of the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder race around the coast during their victorious outing at the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Competitors climb up a steep and slippery rock face during the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Kayaking on Dove Lake doesn’t get more beautiful than this, during the 2008 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

A team sticks close together on a biking section of the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Jarad Kohlar races through the water in as he pushes hard on the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Teams can come across many obstacles out on the course, as Mark Hinder finds out during the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Teams tackle a slippery stage through the woods during the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

An unusual abseil straight down off a 50m overhang at Tahune AirWalk during the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge involves a mix of wilderness and urban adventure, as shown in the Hobart finish of 2011

Teams paddle in the harbour of Hobart during the final day of the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder drag their kayak through a field during a challenging final day on the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Beautiful blue skies at Cradle Mountain during the 2007 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber powering through the waves during the 2006 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Kayaks line up in a picturesque Tasmanian bay during the 2006 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Muddy off-road biking during the 2006 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber leads rival racers through the Cradle Mountain National Park during the 2006 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Kayakers pass around a pretty headland in calm waters during the 2007 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Teamwork is vital in the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge, particularly during this tricky rock section during the 2007 event

Spectacular rock face abseiling is one of the many difficult disciplines during the 2007 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Competitors bike on beachside roads during the 2006 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Kayaking on Dove Lake during the 2007 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

The Tasmanian Devil is one of two charities supported by the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge.

A team treks through the bush in a remote section of the course during the 2007 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Competitors trek up the beach at Wineglass Bay during the 2008 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber pushing himself on a run through the coastal bush during the 2008 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark Webber pulls himself across a river on a wire during the 2008 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

A competitor silhouetted against the sky on a dramatic aerial section of the 2008 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

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Published: Tuesday 26th November 2013

Inspiration

Mark Webber may have just left the paddock, but he's straight back into the next challenge – the 10th anniversary of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge, which begins on 27 November.

The driver set up the challenge a decade ago after racing through the Tasmanian wilderness – although this is the first year he's not doing it himself.

The challenge starts on 27 November, and involves 341km of racing on kayaks, bikes and on foot in five one-day stages. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted – it's no surprise two Olympic gold medallists are taking part.

Here, Mark Webber talks about life after F1, and his love of adventure…

How does it feel to leave the paddock?

It’ll be a relief in some ways for that chapter to be finally over. F1 has been my environment for so long now but it’s time for a new challenge which I’m looking forward to. I’m not planning to revisit the F1 paddock too soon but on the two or three occasions I might do each year, I’m sure it’ll be in a more relaxed frame of mind.

How do you feel about the next chapter of your racing career?

I’m very excited about it. The first year will be different of course, different schedule, different type of racing, different people but at this time of my career it’s a perfect balance between adrenaline and working hard with a brand such as Porsche.

Outside of F1, one of your big passions has been adventure and fitness – will you be doing some more of that?

Well, the Tasmania Challenge is where I really got into adventure and fitness back in 2003. That’s still going strong and this year’s race starts on Wednesday. I won’t be there this time, because of team commitments but adventure is a key part of what I am and so I hope we can continue to grow that event, and maybe others, in the future.

How involved have you been with this year’s event?

I always like to keep tabs on how plans are developing through the year and I’ve talked over the course with the event guys down there. It takes a route around North Western Tasmania and sounds awesome so I’m gutted I won’t be able to give it a go. It’s a beautiful part of Tasmania and I’m actually very jealous of the guys who are going to get to race out there!

The Challenge has been the main driver for your Foundation – what plans do you have for that in future?

So far we’ve raised over 1.5m Australian dollars through the five challenges we’ve run so far. In the last few years we’ve been supporting the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal and children’s charity Whitelion, and the funds have helped both charities make some real progress.

You are also mentoring young Mitch Evans – who incidentally is going to be competing in the challenge this year. How do you think he’ll do?

I think he’ll have a good time in the challenge, but I’ve warned him it’s pretty tough. To race in GP2, though, you have to be pretty fit so he should do OK. In terms of his future, we’ll have to see but he’s going the right way about things and he’s knocking on the F1 door now. Next year could be a pretty big year for him.

How intense will your racing calendar be now, and how much time will you get to do more adventure stuff?

I don’t know how the first year will go out so it’s a case of wait and see. But, I do have an eye on a few events which I don’t have the motivation to do just yet but I’m sure I will once I have more time on my hand! I’m looking forward to not having to rush to do things and trying to squeeze them in between my race schedule, and having the opportunity to do some great things with people I enjoy spending time with in the adventure racing arena.

And finally, what will you miss about F1?

Driving the cars at some of the world’s most amazing circuits and the level of precision involved. But of course I’ll be looking to take a lot of that with me to Porsche.

Inspiration

Features

Mark Webber On His Tasmania Challenge And Life After F1

Mark Webber may have just left the paddock, but he's straight back into the next challenge – the 10th anniversary of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

by Cathy Adams

Published: Tuesday 26th November 2013

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