Mark Webber Officially Announces Racing for Porsche at Le Mans

After months of rumor, Mark Webber and PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
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have announced that the Red BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
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Formula 1 driver will leave the sport next season to join Porsche's World Endurance Championship effort. Neither side announced the duration of the contract beyond that it was for "several years."

Webber will drive the new Porsche LMP1 in the entire WEC season, including Le Mans.

“It’s an honor for me to join Porsche at its return to the top category in Le Mans and in the sports car World Endurance Championship and be part of the team. Porsche has written racing history as a manufacturer and stands for outstanding technology and performance at the highest level,” said Webber.

Webber has Le Mans experience. He raced in the 24-hour race in 1998 and 1999 but failed to finish either race. In 1999, he was behind the wheel the Mercedes-Benz CLRMercedes-Benz CLRGermany, 1999 > 1999 at Le Mans when it flipped during practice. He also finished third in the 1998 FIA GT Championship with the Mercedes CLK-GTRMercedes-Benz CLK-GTRGermany, 1997 > present2 photos
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Webber moved to Formula 1 in 2002 and took nine victories and 36 podiums so far in his F1 career. 

“I’m very pleased to have secured Mark Webber for our LMP1 project as one of the best and most successful Formula 1 pilots of our time,” said Wolfgang Hatz, head of research and development at Porsche.

Porsche has confirmed Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas for its LMP1 team, and they will also develop the car. Porsche also announced that former F1 test driver and current racer for the Rebellion Racing team in the WEC Neel Jani as its fourth driver. The team now has enough drivers to compete in the WEC and will just need to add two more drivers for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.