We’ve been given a glimpse of the future as Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber prepares to become a motorsport team manager in 2010 – but he’s not giving up driving just yet…
Just in case anyone thought that the 33-year-old Australian, who took his first two victories in F1 for RBR this season, was thinking of hanging up the racing suit, Mark will shortly be getting behind the wheel of one of the GP3 cars that he and Christian Horner will be running for the new MW-Arden team next year.
“I'm intrigued to see what the cars are like to drive,” Webber said of the test at the Paul Ricard circuit in south-west France on November 17. “I also see this as an opportunity to get the series a bit of publicity.”
'It’s a good initiative that Mark has got involved in, to be putting something back into the sport' – Christian Horner
GP3 is the new feeder format for GP2, meaning that races will be held at most European F1 weekends next year, allowing Webber and Horner to get on the pitwall together for the first time. Like in GP2, the cars will be uniform, with chassis from current GP2 suppliers Dallara, and all running a common 280bhp Renault engine to provide greater opportunities for a very reasonable investment.
Webber has often lamented the difficulties that Antipodean drivers encounter trying to make their name in world motorsport, finding it hard to put down roots and settle into a career that is very often based on the other side of the world from home – something New Zealand’s Red Bull Junior driver Brendon Hartley has echoed. All nine other teams registered for GP3 in 2010 are European, so Webber hopes that launching what will be an Australian-licensed team will help the cause of young drivers from down under, something that Horner appreciates.
“I think it’s a good initiative that Mark has got involved in, to be putting something back into the sport, trying to help youngsters come through,” said the RBR team principal.
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