Formula One News » Webber to support van der Drift fundraiser Posted on 01/09/2010
Mark Webber has signed up to a fund-raising event that will go some way to helping pay for fellow antipodean driver Chris van der Drift’s recovery following a recent horror smash at Brands Hatch.
The New Zealander was setting the pace in the Superleague Formula event at the former F1 circuit when he clipped the rear wheel of another car and somersaulted, via the bridge parapet, down the road at Pilgrims Drop, with his Olympiacos-liveried machine eventually bursting in flames.
Remarkably, van der Drift survived the shunt with multiple broken bones, but the real drama came while he was in hospital and discovered that his management had failed to acquire the necessary insurance to cover his treatment and recovery.
The karting event, at Daytona Raceway in Milton Keynes next Tuesday, is just one of several events aimed at raising funds for the former GP2 Series driver, and Webber has put aside the natural Australia-New Zealand rivalry to lend his support to the cause, although his participation is likely to be limited to starting the race, rather than actually competing in it, as it comes just days before he is due back on track at Monza in pursuit of a first world title.
However, the field is expected to be littered with aspiring F1 drivers from the rungs below the top flight, and the public can get involved by either buying one of the limited spectator tickets, or bidding to join the likes of single-seater stars Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Sims, Jean-Eric Vergne, Brendon Hartley, Oli Webb and Tom Blomqvist in one of three teams offering race seats for auction on eBay via www.chrisvddrift.com .
“It’s really humbling to see so many good friends from within the industry support me through this difficult period,” van der Drift said in a statement, “I am really looking forward to the kart fundraiser. I am sure it will be a fantastic event and I really cannot thank everyone enough for their efforts.”
Webber, meanwhile, has revealed that he is preparing to resurrect his Pure Tasmania adventure race in 2011, having put the event on hold for the past two seasons. Despite suggestions that the suspension was down to the leg and shoulder injuries the Australian suffered when he was knocked from his bike on one of the tests in 2008, Webber insists that it was a financial decision and, with the local economy seemingly immune to the global meltdown, interest has risen amongst potential sponsors.
“We’re looking at reintroducing my Tasmania Challenge – in fact, we’re in the throes of finalising a deal which will hopefully see it return at the end of 2011,” he told the Sydney Morning Herlad newspaper.
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