F1 Star's Big Challenge
News Release / 14.11.2012
A celebrated field of Olympians, sporting identities and world champion adventure racers will spearhead a list of over 80 competitors who will push their bodies to the limit in the five day 350-kilometre Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge, starting in Launceston on November 28.
Webber, who is preparing for the final two events of the F1 2012 season, says a world-class field will compete in his Challenge this year.
“This is by far the strongest field we’ve ever had for the Challenge,” Webber said. “I just can’t believe the interest we’ve had this year.
“It's definitely one of, if not the best, multi-sport adventure race in the world."
Arguably the world’s greatest multi-sport athlete, New Zealand’s Richard Ussher, will be joined by his countryman, Brendan Currie, as Team Tasmania. Ussher, a two-time World Adventure Racing champion and five-time winner of his home’s Coast to Coast race, will be hard to beat.
However, current World Adventure Racing champions, France’s Myriam Guillot and Jacky Boisset, will take part as Pure Tasmania, and will be a real threat to the Kiwis. The duo won their world title in Tasmania last year and they know the local conditions.
Last year’s Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge winners, the locally based Ironhouse team of Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder, certainly have their eyes on a big pay day, with a $20,000 first prize cheque on offer.
Among the star-studded team-based field is Olympic triathlete, Courtney Atkinson who will compete along side Olympic gold medallist paddler Ken Wallace as Team Rexona.
Another London tiathlete, Brendan Sexton, will be joined by Aaron Royle, who recently won the ITU 2012 Under 23 Triathlon Grand Final, to tackle the five-day race as the 2XU Aussie All stars team.
The high-profile field also includes the all-woman combination of ASP World Surfing Championship star, Sally Fitzgibbon, and surf life saving’s Jordan Mercer, competing as the Red Bullettes. London Olympic rowing bronze medallists, Karsten Forsterling and Chris Morgan will need to find their legs on land, competing as Team James Boag.
Experienced adventure racers Jarad Kohlar and James Pretto will be in action as Swisse Active. The Renault Adventure team of former ironman Guy Andrews and triathlete Darren Clarke finished second in the Challenge last year, and hold high hopes of going one better in 2012.
The three person relay team section will be headed by Team Renault, consisting of multiple world and national ironman champion Shannon Eckstein and two NZ world champion surf lifesavers Kevin Morrison and Andrew McMillan.
Former AFL greats Glenn Archer and Leigh Colbert have entered as an Enthusiast team, with the goal of making Hobart on December 2, but not chasing the ultimate first prize in the Elite competition.
The supremely fit Webber is also hoping to take part in the event following the season end of his 2012 Formula 1 commitments with Red Bull Racing.
The five-day course includes running, ocean and river paddling, orienteering, mountain biking, as well as a number of other still secret activities.
“While the course is over 350 competitive kilometres, it is more than the distance itself that defines this test, as each stage has a special twist,” Webber said.
“The course looks awesome. The details remain a secret until each morning of the race, but last year was brilliant, yet this looks even better.
“Really, there is no better place anywhere in the world to do an adventure race than Tasmania. It doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the locations we can find to test people and that’s why it is such a great place for the race. Year after year we have sensational locations.”
Webber, who races in the final round of the F1 championship in Brazil the Sunday before the Challenge, will arrive in Tasmania on the second day of competition. He then plans to take part in the action on the final three days.
The 2012 Challenge has attracted 14 elite teams and 26 enthusiasts teams.
The event raises money for the Mark Webber Challenge Foundation, established in 2006 to umbrella all of Mark Webber’s philanthropic activities.
“It’s very special for me, “ Webber said. It’s a real buzz for me to see that people get a lot out of the event themselves, and obviously we know that we can put back in with the funds raised going to really needy causes.”
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