The 2007 Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge
At Cradle Mountain
16.11.2007
Competitors flew in from all corners of the world including New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, with one local, Mark Padgett due to arrive from Launceston tomorrow. Former Olympic swimmer Michael Klim didn’t quite make his flight and will arrive tomorrow. Tatiana Grigorieva managed to make the journey from the Gold Coast and while full of nerves is very excited to be here for the event.
This year the event has attracted seven international competitors with many others, including Renault F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen expected to compete in next year’s Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge. Rumour has it that a number of other F1 drivers are keen to come down under to race Webber off the track. Webber’s home grown advantage would have to have him as favourite in a showdown of F1 drivers.
Tomorrow competitors will be given the race brief, which will outline the 450km course they will tackle over the next seven days. While maps are provided, Race Director Tim Saul has ensured there will be plenty of navigational skills put to the test as competitors find their own way up to 80km each day.
The prologue event, due to begin at 2pm tomorrow will set the start times for the remainder of the event. It will be a great opportunity for competitors to further compare their own form and fitness against the rest of the field. Kiwi’s Richard and Elina Ussher, world champion adventure racers, are tipped to be the ones to beat. But Freycinet Lodge Challenge winner Jarad Kohlar and his partner Rob Preston will be taking it up to them every day.
In the Van Diemen Cup category, corporate team Telstra are the ones the watch. They won the corporate category last year and came in third overall – beating many of the elite pairs.
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