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Journalism of Courage
Veteran Australian motor racing driver Mark Webber was injured in a high-speed crash at the Six Hours of Sao Paulo event.Webber, racing for Porsche in the World Endurance Championship after quitting Formula One last season, was stretchered off the Interlagos circuit on Sunday after his car collided with the Ferrari of Matteo Cressoni.
Footage showed both cars crashing into a concrete barrier at speeds estimated at around 300km/h with Webber’s vehicle catching fire before it came to a stop with the car wrecked.
“Cressoni was checked by the medical staff at the side of the track and cleared, while Mark Webber, who was awake and alert, was taken to the circuit medical centre for further examination,” said a statement from the organisers.
Webber, 38, gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was taken to the medical centre. The 38-year-old Webber who was kept in hospital overnight after suffering a concussion said on his official website that he was “quite sore,” “pretty bruised” and with a “stinking headache.” He said he has “no recollection of the accident” that happened near the end of the six-hour race.
Porsche team boss Fritz Enzinger later said Webber was recovering in a Sao Paulo hospital. “Mark is OK, but he has had to go to hospital for further checks,” Enzinger said. “We have spoken to him and said that people can go and see him, so Timo (Bernhard) and Brendon (Hartley, Webber’s team-mates) have gone to the hospital.”
The race, which ended behind the safety car, was won by the Porsche of Neel Jani. Webber’s accident brought sympathy from former rivals. “Glad to see @AussieGrit is ok after his shunt at Interlagos @FIAWEC, that was a big one matey,” tweeted 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button, using Webber’s Twitter address to contact the Australian.
Dispensation for caterham
Caterham has been given dispensation to compete in next year’s Formula One with the 2014 car as the team’s administrator talks to three potential buyers.
The World Motor Sport Council this week needs to ratify the car decision made by the F1 commission to help the team, which is in bankruptcy protection. Team administrator Finbarr O’Connell says “the F1 Commission and FIA agreed if it would assist the weaker teams they can use the 2014 car next year, so giving them more time and options.”
Discussing the huge costs required to run a team, O’Connell says that makes it “very difficult” to secure a deal. But O’Connell added that he is talking with “two very strong candidates, and a third less strong.’’
