Friday 14th October 2016

Mark Webber: Pic Of The Week

As Webber bids farewell to racing, POTW celebrates PH's favourite number two driver

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Porsche issued two press releases yesterday. One was telling the world how many gazillion Macans it has sold in 2016, the other announcing the retirement of Mark Webber. Well officially it said 'World class driver takes on new tasks at the end of the season' but, however it is phrased, Mark Webber won't be racing next year.

He will continue with Porsche, but as a representative and consultant for its sports car programmes. Given the formula effectively bookends his career, an image from Webber in a GT racer seemed most appropriate this Friday. And, well, CLK LMs are more interesting than Jaguar Formula 1 cars, aren't they?

This image is from the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours, the first CLK of Jean-Marc Gounon, Christophe Bouchut and Ricardo Zonta leading Webber's car that he shared with Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig. Webber didn't enjoy Le Mans success early on his career, with the 1998 race ending in retirement and then not making the race start due to that incident in 1999.

Having returned to sportscars after his spell in F1 Webber finally took to the podium at Le Mans last year with Porsche, his second place with Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley a much deserved and popular result on the way to an overall WEC title. Less than a day after his retirement, we're already hearing that Webber will be back in the paddock as part of Channel 4's F1 coverage from next year too. There's no getting rid of him just yet then, which sounds just fine by us. Nice work Mark, enjoy your retirement!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

[Digga]

A great driver. Circumstance as much as anything - and no circumstance more than the infamous "Multi 21" fiasco - probably robbed him of a better run in F1. Superb brand ambassador for Porsche these days and his result at LM last year is thoroughly deserved.

I've very much enjoyed the banter and insight that the Webber and Coulthard partnership brings to the F1 TV coverage, so I'm pleased to hear there's more to come.

Edited by Digga on Friday 14th October 13:27

[SunsetZed]

Agree with everything Digga said.

He certainly seems like a down to earth bloke with a great perspective on things.

And the story from when he had an M5 in his book made me laugh enough to justify the cost of the book on it's own!

[Craikeybaby]

I thought it was Nico Hulkenburg/Earl Bamber/Nick Tandy that won Le Mans last year? Webber/Hartley/Bernhard won the championship, but not the Le Mans race.

[Dusty964]

Webber didnt win le mans.

[Dan Trent]

Ahem; we like the bloke but retrospectively gifting him the Le Mans win is beyond our power! Corrected/updated with apologies for the cock-up!

Cheers,

Dan

[VladD]

That's a shame, I thought he had a few more years in him yet. Top bloke. As you say, at least we'll be getting to see him on the F1 coverage.

[Craikeybaby]

I'd have liked to see him having another crack at Le Mans!

[Ozzie Osmond]

That opening pic must surely lead on to,

[C70R]

Digga said:

A great driver. Circumstance as much as anything - and no circumstance more than the infamous "Multi 21" fiasco - probably robbed him of a better run in F1. Superb brand ambassador for Porsche these days and his result at LM last year is thoroughly deserved.

I've very much enjoyed the banter and insight that the Webber and Coulthard partnership brings to the F1 TV coverage, so I'm pleased to hear there's more to come.

Edited by Digga on Friday 14th October 13:27

Couldn't agree more. Probably one of the few genuinely likeable F1 drivers of recent times.

[oldtimer2]

He comes across as one of the more likeable and approachable top drivers.He has been an effective commenter for C4 on F1, combing excellent knowledge with the necessary media ability to talk at speed at all times on any topic thrown his way.

[Digga]

Ozzie Osmond said:

That opening pic must surely lead on to,

Always thought those Mercs and the Porsche GT1s extremely handsome racing cars.

I know F1 drivers have big shunts, but Webber must have had balls of steel to shrug that one off like he did.

[funkyrobot]

Digga said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

That opening pic must surely lead on to,

Always thought those Mercs and the Porsche GT1s extremely handsome racing cars.

I know F1 drivers have big shunts, but Webber must have had balls of steel to shrug that one off like he did.

He seems a thoroughly nice chap. Very knowledgeable and works well with DC etc.

He did seem to flip more than one Le Mans car too:

[RobM77]

C70R said:

Digga said:

A great driver. Circumstance as much as anything - and no circumstance more than the infamous "Multi 21" fiasco - probably robbed him of a better run in F1. Superb brand ambassador for Porsche these days and his result at LM last year is thoroughly deserved.

I've very much enjoyed the banter and insight that the Webber and Coulthard partnership brings to the F1 TV coverage, so I'm pleased to hear there's more to come.

Edited by Digga on Friday 14th October 13:27

Couldn't agree more. Probably one of the few genuinely likeable F1 drivers of recent times.

I've always been a fan. Top guy and a great driver.

[DexB15]

a fantastic driver, one of those guys who could have gotten an F1 title, except when your racing against Vettel it doesn't seem to work that well! great job Mark, congrats on a briliant racing career

[S30N]

There'll be 2 square heads presenting F1. Now they just need to replace Eddie for a full set!

[Digga]

S30N said:

There'll be 2 square heads presenting F1. Now they just need to replace Eddie for a full set!

Or get him to try and swallow a cereal box.

[Dave Hedgehog]

I am sure there are plenty of teams that would have him if he wanted, especially in the historic racing

[blade7]

DexB15 said:

a fantastic driver, one of those guys who could have gotten an F1 title, except when your racing against Vettel it doesn't seem to work that well! great job Mark, congrats on a briliant racing career

Who knows what his contract said at Red Bull, but if Webber hadn't been such a nice guy maybe he could have unsettled Vettel enough to win a F1 title.

[WCZ]

SunsetZed said:

Agree with everything Digga said.
And the story from when he had an M5 in his book made me laugh enough to justify the cost of the book on it's own!

do tell

[jonnyb]

Going to Le Mans next year, gutted he won't be racing!