Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Australian racing driver Mark Webber took the chequered flag in more ways than one last weekend as he brought his motorsport track career to an end with a podium finish at the WEC 6 Hours of Bahrain.
The former Formula One star finished third with Porsche co-drivers Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley after starting from second on the grid on Saturday. Webber drove the final 25-minute stint, bringing to a close a decorated 20-year career, which included nine F1 wins for the Red Bull team and an Endurance Championship last year.
He confirmed last month that the season-ending Bahrain race would be his last, and after the race reiterated that he has no plans to put on a racing helmet again in any form.
He said: “Nothing is forever, I’m stopping at a good time. It has been such an incredible three years for me with Porsche and I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life. “I was the second and the last driver in the car today, and pretty happy with both stints. “For the final stint it was pretty emotional putting my helmet on for the last time. I enjoyed the last stint. I got the chance to bring the car to the chequered flag for the top three finish and that was the maximum we could get.”
The star began his career in the UK’s Formula Ford championship in 1996 and borrowed funds from Australian rugby legend David Campese to enter Formula Three in 1997. He debuted in the pinnacle formula with Minardi in 2002, finishing fifth in his first race in Australia, before also spending time at Jaguar and Williams early in his career.
He came so close to winning the championship in 2010, leading for most of the year but losing out to teammate Sebastian Vettel in the final race at Abu Dhabi. He also finished third in the championship in 2011 and 2013.
Following his F1 retirement at the end of 2013, he joined Porsche in the WEC, winning eight races, including four this season. He has had a tumultuous relationship with the kingdom at times, as one of the most outspoken drivers against Bahrain hosting an F1 race after the unrest in 2011.
Still, race fans in the kingdom have a forgiving nature and it was here 12 months ago that he finally clinched his first major championship, and the first by an Australian on four wheels for more than 30 years.
His farewell on Sunday was warm with a splash of sparkling rose water for good measure. Webber will be taking on a new role at Porsche representing the marque at global events and as a consultant by lending his experience to the motorsport programme, including talent research and driver training for up-and-coming professionals and the huge number of worldwide Porsche amateur racers.
