Mark Webber was a special guest at the afternoon’s FIA WEC event press conference with Ben Constanduros in the wake of his announcement overnight here that he will retire from racing after the end of the 2016 FIA WEC.
“I decided around Spa time that it would be my last year racing. It takes a while to come to that decision but I have been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had. I’ve worked with this incredible group of people up until Bahrain this year, they’re the best there is in the business at Porsche and obviously I’ve had Formula One as well.
“Life rolls along pretty quick and it’s hard to do this job half pregnant, you have to involve yourself entirely, including the testing, with the racing being the real drug. You can’t do that half hearted, particularly in a team environment where I am with Timo and Brendon.
“You can justify to yourself, but not to your team-mates if you can’t have the passion to go to Aragon at 3am. These sorts of things add up and I want to be very fair to Porsche, everyone involved and in particular my team-mates.
“It’s an immediate weight off your shoulders to have made the decision. Last night I went to bed and finally it’s done, I’m finally committed and now I’ve got to do it!”
Memories of the WEC
Le Mans is pretty intense, driving these cars, particularly at night is something very dramatic intense and sexy, driving these cars to the very edge is something I will always remember. Particularly this year was tremendous racing.
The cameraderie with Timo and Brendon, the results that we’ve had and the way we’ve squeezed the most out of the car each weekend has been fantastic. Timo has been the consumate professional and Brendon, after being a bit rough around the edges in the first year is now one of the best in the world, a phenomenally rounded sportscar driver.
The competition from all of the other drivers I’ve raced against, the Toyota and Audi guys, there have been some great battles, it’s always been fair and has been played out in what we expect to be the true spirit of this Championship.
You will see me around for some WEC events, the programme will come together very quickly.
