Mark Webber rules out Bathurst drives

MARK Webber, who announced this month he will retired from serious motor sport at the end of his current World Endurance Championship deal with Porsche in a couple of more races, has been quick to dismiss any interest in competing in the Bathurst 1000 – or any other touring car or sports car competition.

“No, I think it [the Bathurst 1000] is for very specific cars,” Webber responded to questions about a possible start in Australia’s Great race.

“I grew up with formula racing…that came from my dad who always said that the best drivers are in single seaters. His heroes were Jack Brabham, Jimmy Clark and Jackie Stewart. Dad would hitch hike for three hours to watch these guys race.

“He ingrained that into me that if you want to be a racing driver, and an accurate one, then single seaters is where it was. So right then I had, and have, no real urge to do a different category on the way out because I already have all these memories [like] driving Adrian’s [Adrian Newey’s] car at Suzuka, driving Adrian’s car at Silverstone. I have that movie in my head forever, what that was like.

“So to drive a 1500 kilo touring car I think would be a pretty disappointing experience!“

Webber has also ruled out any prospect of racing a GT Porsche at the Bathurst 12 Hour sports car race. And at Pikes Peak. And in the Dakar.

He says he owes it to his mother Diane and wife Ann to walk away from motorsport and enjoy a quieter life.