Mark Webber Q&A on Tasmania Challenge

Will Gray (Webber Challenge) / 25.03.2011

The return of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge was announced in Hobart this week. Below is a Q and A interview with Mark Webber about the event, which will take place in Tasmania in December:

<b>Q: You’ve run a few of these events now, so how did it begin?</b>

The first race was in 2003, when me and a few mates thought it would be fun to race across Tasmania! We got a few big names involved and it spiralled from there, with three big races between 2006 and 2008.

<b>Q: It was stopped after the 2008 edition - so why did you decide to bring it back now?</b>

We ran four successful events but decided to stop in 2008 when economics made it tough to continue. Ever since then, I’ve always been itching to put it on again, and fortunately after securing some important support during 2010 we’re in a position to bring it back. We now have an agreement for it to take place for at least the next three years.

Q: So what exactly is the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge?

MW: It’s a major multi-day multisport competition through the remote wilderness of Tasmania. It challenges competitors to kayak, trail run, trek, mountain bike and climb in the great outdoors – and we’ll also throw in a few other surprises along the way! It’s typical of the many popular adventure race events around the world and the aim is to make it open to all, from elite champions to people who’ve never tried it before.

<b>Q: What’s the idea behind it?</b>

I’ve always been passionate about the outdoors and the thrill of adventure. It’s what I love to do away from Formula One. So I set up the Challenge partly as a platform to promote the great outdoors but also as the main fundraising event for the Mark Webber Challenge Foundation, which supports a variety of Australian charities. As a professional sports person, I feel privileged to be having so many special experiences and the Challenge offers a way for me to help support the important work of my chosen charities and environmental projects.

<b>Q: When and where is it going to take place?</b>

This year, it will take place between December 7 and 11 and the course will take in some of the highlights of Tasmania, which has so many wild spots it really does justify its reputation as Australia’s adventure playground! The course is never revealed in detail until 24 hours before the race so I can’t give much away - but I can promise some stunning locations including the awesome Wineglass Bay and the fascinating historic region around Port Arthur..