Webber Tasmania Challenge hits 10th anniversary

27 November 2013, 9:44AM
Femme

The Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge will mark its 10th anniversary by returning to the region where it first began – and the F1 driver believes tough terrain will make it a real challenge for even the best competitors.

Webber, whose long F1 career came to an end in yesterday’s Sunday Brazilian Grand Prix, set up the multisport race after competing a 1000km adventure through the Tasmanian wilderness with a few celebrity friends back in 2003.

The charity Challenge that has run six times since – and although this year is the first Webber will not be able to compete in, he has used his knowledge to help plot a challenging course and is eager to see how competitors fare.

“I have great memories of this region from back in 2003 and it’s incredible that it is now 10 years since we did that,” said Webber. “It was an incredible life changing experience and it really kicked off my love of adventure.

“Now that my F1 career is over, I’m hoping to do more of this stuff and it is a real shame I can’t make it to Tassie this year to take on this course because I think it’s going to be a real challenge.

“We’ve got a great field of competitors this year too, with some top adventure racers and big rivalries at the front and some great athletes - including two Olympic gold medallists - hoping to get in the mix there too.”

The field includes Webber’s motorsport protégé, GP2 driver, Mitch Evans, competing for the first time, as well as seven-time world champion surfer Layne Beachley and Olympians Emma Snowsill (triathlon) and Kenny Wallace (kayak).

The event starts on November 27 and consists of a total of 341km of racing on bikes, kayaks and foot. It runs over five one-day stages, with some competitors expected to take up to 10 hours to complete each one.
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
The opening day will see more than 80km of racing in scenic Mole Creek before the action heads to the highlights of Cradle Mountain and the rugged west coast of Strahan on the next two days.

The teams then visit Mount Field, a lake-filled alpine region, on day four before a final day of multisport challenges in and around the beautiful Tasmanian capital of Hobart.

“We’re heading back over to the west coast, which is World Heritage listed, so people are going to get some dirt under their nails,” said Webber. “I’ve been to those places a few times now and it never disappoints. It really lets you experience Tassie in raw form.

“We’ve had some phenomenal athletes come down in the last few years and this time is no different. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone take the course on!”

After his first adventure in 2003, Webber ran the event from 2006-2008 and brought it back after a break in 2011. So far, it has raised more than AUD$1.5m for charities supported by the Mark Webber Foundation.

This year, funds will be raised for the Save the Tassie Devil Appeal – which has recently made a breakthrough in their search for a cure to the debilitating disease threatening the species.

It will also support the Whitelion youth charity, which helps young offenders in five different states return to communities and has recently set up a Mark Webber Scholarship Programme.

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