According to Radio Le Mans, Mark Webber has signed a five-year deal to spearhead Porsche’s Le Mans assault as of 2014.
The Australian has suffered a difficult start to the 2013 Formula 1 season, with the Multi-21 affair in Malaysia, and then enduring a nightmare weekend in China which saw Webber pushed to the back of the grid following a fuel irregularity in qualifying and then the rear wheel parting company from his RB9 in the race which forced him into retirement following a pit stop.
To compound Webber’s misery, he will also take a three-place grid drop in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix after colliding with Jean-Eric Vergne’s Toro Rosso in yesterday’s race.
Citing information from the F1 paddock, Radio Le Mans broke the news during the World Endurance Championship’s season opener, the Six Hours of Silverstone, that Webber had signed a five-year deal with Porsche beginning next season, when the Stuttgart marque returns to sportscar racing as an official manufacturer.
However, neither party have confirmed or denied the rumour, despite Porsche shedding some light on the situation.
"There is a test plan, and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them,” said Wolfgang Hatz, a member of the Porsche management board.
Despite the comments seeming like an immediate rebuff to Webber, Hatz’s comments further reveal that teaming up with former Formula 1 drivers for next season was not impossible.
"We can have perhaps some F1 drivers in the future,” he continued, “but it is not necessary."
"We will use some of our own drivers and add some external drivers - we have two cars and need six drivers next year.”
"We still have plenty of time to decide our driver line up," he added.
"What we need is the best combination of drivers that fit together. LMP1 is a team sport, and if you have three of the quickest drivers I am not sure that this is the best way.”
Meanwhile, Webber has remained silent on the rumours following yesterday’s race and has not mentioned anything on his official page, Twitter or to the media.
The Australian previously raced at Le Mans in 1999 for Mercedes.
The Australian has suffered a difficult start to the 2013 Formula 1 season, with the Multi-21 affair in Malaysia, and then enduring a nightmare weekend in China which saw Webber pushed to the back of the grid following a fuel irregularity in qualifying and then the rear wheel parting company from his RB9 in the race which forced him into retirement following a pit stop.
To compound Webber’s misery, he will also take a three-place grid drop in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix after colliding with Jean-Eric Vergne’s Toro Rosso in yesterday’s race.
Citing information from the F1 paddock, Radio Le Mans broke the news during the World Endurance Championship’s season opener, the Six Hours of Silverstone, that Webber had signed a five-year deal with Porsche beginning next season, when the Stuttgart marque returns to sportscar racing as an official manufacturer.
 |
| Mark Webber. (Photo: WRi2) |
However, neither party have confirmed or denied the rumour, despite Porsche shedding some light on the situation.
"There is a test plan, and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them,” said Wolfgang Hatz, a member of the Porsche management board.
Despite the comments seeming like an immediate rebuff to Webber, Hatz’s comments further reveal that teaming up with former Formula 1 drivers for next season was not impossible.
"We can have perhaps some F1 drivers in the future,” he continued, “but it is not necessary."
"We will use some of our own drivers and add some external drivers - we have two cars and need six drivers next year.”
"We still have plenty of time to decide our driver line up," he added.
"What we need is the best combination of drivers that fit together. LMP1 is a team sport, and if you have three of the quickest drivers I am not sure that this is the best way.”
Meanwhile, Webber has remained silent on the rumours following yesterday’s race and has not mentioned anything on his official page, Twitter or to the media.
The Australian previously raced at Le Mans in 1999 for Mercedes.