Webber to Compete in Tasmania in 2012
News Release / 24.01.2012
The 2012 Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge will start in Launceston on November 28, with the Formula 1 star heading straight from the final round of the season in Brazil to the island state to pursue his passion for adventure racing.
After the opening day around Tasmania’s second biggest city, the event will move to the north and north-east regions of the state for the next three days – taking in the Bay of Fires, Binalong Bay, Barnbougle and Bicheno - before moving south to finish in Hobart on Sunday December 2.
Webber, who is currently preparing for another assault on the F1 World Championship, is already looking forward to returning to Tasmania.
“The 2011 Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge was an amazing success with over $100,000 being donated to charity and we are aiming to make the 2012 event even bigger with a number of exciting new editions,” Webber sad.
“I have another big year ahead of me and I am looking forward to testing my limits again around the beautiful island of Tasmania straight after the last round in Brazil.”
Changes to the Swisse Mark Webber Challenge format will see three types of teams – elite pairs, enthusiast pairs and enthusiast teams - who will all compete over the full five days.
The new team format allows for three people to share the load and is expected to appeal to many specialist athletes, as it does to Webber himself.
Prize money will also be offered to the elite pairs, designed to attract some of the world’s best adventure racers to Tasmania.
The Swisse Mark Webber Challenge Adventure Run will again be held in Hobart, but this year the 6.8 kilometre citizens’ event will coincide with the final day of the five-day charity race.
The Adventure Run will take place on Sunday December 2 and gives everyone the chance to compete alongside the Red Bull team driver.
The run was a big hit on debut last December, when it was held as a stand-alone event the weekend before the Challenge.
Once again Webber’s major focus is to raise money for charity. In 2011, he nominated Whitelion, who support youth at risk, and Save the Tassie Devil, as his two charities.
Event Director, Octagon’s Mark Perry, said Webber is upbeat about the 2012 event.
“Mark will come straight from the final round of the F1 season in Brazil and will be part of the teams competition, similar to what he did on day one in 2011,” Perry said.
“The earlier date means that Mark will be able to stay for the whole event this year, which he was desperate to do because he is so passionate about this event and just loves hanging out with the other competitors.
“He’ll also take part in the Adventure Run, because he was thrilled with the format and the interest it generated with over 200 people taking part.”
Entry fees have been set for the 2012 Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge, with an early bird team-entry discount of $1400 for those teams that enter before May 31.
Full details are available at www.markwebberchallenge.com.au.
