Webber: Bathurst bid unlikely
Aussie WEC champ and F1 stalwart, Mark Webber, says time for Bathurst tilt is pastMark Webber has drawn a curtain on any Bathurst racing return.
That’s one of the key take outs of the Aussie WEC champion’s most comprehensive recent interview, with friend of motoring.com.au and carsales.com.au, Greg Rust.
Rust grabbed WEC champ and F1 stalwart, Webber for an episode of his new podcast, Rusty’s Garage.
Local motorsport social media has fired up from time to time with talk of Mark Webber returning to the Mountain for the Bathurst 12-hour behind the wheel of a factory Porsche.
In Rust’s podcast, Webber confirms that Porsche did make the offer. Further, he states that there were overtures from Triple Eight racing owner Roland Dane for Webber to test a Supercar for a potential shot at the Bathurst 1000.
Webber raced at Mt Panorama in 1994 in a Formula Ford before heading to Europe and (eventually) breaking into F1. His subsequent career included nine GP wins (including two at Monaco) and a World Endurance Championship win with Porsche.
The lure of Bathurst is strong for any race driver and there is a well-worn path of Aussie F1 drivers who have returned from Europe to take on the Mountain.
Larry Perkins made it to F1 in the early 1970s but is perhaps best known for his six wins in the Bathurst 1000. Former Simtek driver David Brabham won the race in 1997 with his brother Geoff in a BMW during the Super Touring era. F1 World Champion, Alan Jones, also raced at Mt Panorama.
Webber says timing was the probable when he was active in F1 and WEC.
He told Rust: “I couldn’t do it until, I suppose, now. Because when I was doing [Formula One] Suzuka always [clashed]. I mean when I was in F1 forget it -- I can’t do Bathurst when I was in F1.
“And then I went to [WEC] sportcars and it always was around Fuji time so there was always a[nother] clash”.
“Roland Dane always asked me. [But] I just thought that the cars are so [unique]… The guys are so plugged into those type of cars,” he enthused.
“The guys are always on the limit… And the commitment over the top looks sensational! But there’s enough young guys doing well…
“Ok I’ve done well overseas... But in some ways it’s a bit wanky to say ‘well I’ll have a go at this on the way out sort of thing’,” Webber stated.
Hear the Mark Webber episode of Rusty’s Garage in full here:
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