• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • Dakar
  • SUPERCARS
  • F1
  • MOTOGP
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • GT & ENDURANCE
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Dakar
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • GT & Endurance
  • Karting
  • Bikes
  • Rally
Home Features Cafe Chat

Q&A: Webber ‘absolutely ready’ for Le Mans

Speedcafe.com
Speedcafe.com
9 Jun 2016
Speedcafe.com
//
9 Jun 2016
// Cafe Chat, International
A A
0
Q&A: Webber ‘absolutely ready’ for Le Mans
Mark Webber lines up for his fifth Le Mans this year
Mark Webber lines up for his fifth Le Mans this year

Mark Webber will head to the famed Le Mans 24 Hours on June 15-19 with a maiden victory firmly in his sights.

This year marks Webber’s fifth Le Mans campaign and his third since leaving Formula 1 for a seat with Porsche, which won the race last year with its 919 Hybrid.

While the entry that Webber will share with co-drivers Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard carries the #1 thanks to its 2015 World Endurance Championship title, a Le Mans win remains elusive for the Australian.

Despite his WEC campaign being blighted by a crash for Hartley at Silverstone and mechanical trouble at Spa, Webber says he feels perfectly placed to break his Le Mans duck this time around.

QUESTION: Mark, let’s firstly reflect on the season so far. Mixed fortunes for the Porsche team, but are there any positives that can be drawn for car #1?

MARK WEBBER: Absolutely there is a lot of positives. We’ve been the form car really, even though the points don’t indicate that.

It’s been a bit frustrating for us but at the end of the day we’re not overly concerned by our form and our pace. We believe that’s still in pretty good shape.

Also the reliability is something we believe to be in pretty good shape. You can never get too complacent with a race like Le Mans.

Brendon, Timo and myself feel like we’re driving really well and from Le Mans last year, we know we’ve been extremely competitive as a trio.

We’re #1 for a reason and we haven’t had the smoothest start, but we’re ready for Le Mans for sure.

Webber
Webber’s Porsche at Spa

QUESTION: There’s been some testing in Spain since Spa. How did you feel it went?

WEBBER: That test in Aragon was honestly one of the most amazing tests that we’ve ever taken part in.

We have some ex-Audi personnel and they said that even when they were in their heyday they never achieved anything like that.

We were incredibly proud of how that test went. I think we did around 35 hours, fuel and tyres only and seven drivers over 8,500km, which is well, well clear of the Le Mans mileage.

But again, it wasn’t Le Mans. We need to do that again and also with two cars. My personal focus is on car #1, but we need to have both running well through the race.

We’re down to two now instead of three this year which is a little bit more intense, but the test was brilliant and we couldn’t be better prepared for the race.

We’re absolutely ready for it and we just need to go out and navigate our way through what is a tough 24 hours.

QUESTION: How hard is it to prepare for Le Mans when there are so many ‘what ifs’ that can occur throughout the course of the weekend?

WEBBER: You’ve just got to keep an open mind and not get too hung up on the variables, like the weather, the backmarkers and small issues with the car.

You’ve just got to tackle what’s in front of you at the time and not lose energy and focus on what you can’t control.

There’s a lot that will come on the radar and we have to use our experience and composure, be tight as a team and communicate well.

QUESTION: It’s a very intense weekend. Do you have a different approach to it from a personal stand point than you do for the other six hour races on the calendar?

WEBBER: Probably a little bit. Just the energy you need… you’ve got to be careful not to burn yourself up early in the week.

Monday through Saturday before you even start the race we are at the track, testing a lot.

The fans get incredible access which is great for them but also can be quite draining for the drivers to have to constantly facilitate some of the requests.

Porsche won Le Mans last year with its now defunct third entry
Porsche won Le Mans last year with its now defunct third entry

So you’ve got to keep an eye on that and manage your time and mentally get the sleep when you can.

The fitness is in the bank, I’m feeling very fit and am in good shape in that department.

You need to keep the small niggles, the colds and flus, away and just get to the line fresh, lean and hungry to drive as many stints as possible.

QUESTION: You, Timo and Brendon are the reigning champions in the WEC but that Le Mans win eludes you. How much do you want it?

WEBBER: It would be incredibly unique to get it.

Obviously we were leading in ’14 with 90 minutes to go and had a problem with the car that was terminal. Then we were second last year.

We really are knocking on the door for the right result. Obviously we want to hit the middle step, but it’s hard to achieve.

It takes one small error of judgement to make it very difficult for us to achieve it. We’re aware of that and we’ve got tough competition.

Timo, Brendon and I don’t want to finish second or third. We’re going there to win the race. That’s the goal.

We’re not shy of saying it, but we’re respectful of the event and know we’ve got a lot of work to do.



Speedcafe Network 100 - logo representing the directory of leading suppliers to the motorsport industry in Australia

List your business today!

Sportsnet Holidays logo - Black text reads "sportsnet" with a red swirl at the beginning and "holidays" below in smaller text.

Sportsnet Holidays

Hospitality & Events

Sportsnet Holidays is Asia Pacific’s leading sports travel specialist. Founded in Melbourne in 1998, the company has more than 25 years of experience delivering unforgettable experiences for fans attending major sporting events around the world—including...

Sportsnet Holidays is Asia Pacific’s leading sports travel specialist. Founded in Melbourne in 1998, the company has more than 25 years of experience delivering unforgettable...

Discussion about this post

[postcode_search_form]

Latest from Torquecafe

Toyota reveals its hottest hatch yet

09 January 2026

US giant takes $9 billion hit after changing EV plans

09 January 2026

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing #76 with Mark Crutcher

08 January 2026

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing #75 with Mike Henry

23 December 2025

Related Articles

Speedcafe Driver of the Year: 10–1

General
1 week ago
General
0

Speedcafe Driver of the Year: 20–11

General
1 week ago
General
0
ADVERTISEMENT

Platinum Partners

Latest & Trending News

Audi will run their 2026 challenger for the first time this week during a filming day. Image: Audi

Audi poised to beat F1 rivals to landmark occasion

F1
9 January 2026
F1
0
Brad Keselowski's #6 RFK Racing Ford Mustang.

Broken leg forces NASCAR champion out of season-opener

NASCAR
9 January 2026
NASCAR
0
The #05 Holden Dealer Team VH Commodore in its 1982 specification.

Holden’s history-making double Bathurst winner restored

Supercars
9 January 2026
Supercars
0
Toby Price during Stage 5 of the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Navigation error, puncture blight Price’s Dakar progress

Dakar
9 January 2026
Dakar
0
Daniel Sanders during Stage 5 of the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Sanders survives marathon stage to retake Dakar lead

Dakar
9 January 2026
Dakar
0
The Toyota Supra during a demo run in Adelaide. Image: InSyde Media

The key to first-year Supercars wins for Toyota

Supercars
9 January 2026
Supercars
0

Advertisement

Pirtek Poll

POLL: Will Cadillac score a point in its first F1 season?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls
2025 Supercars Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Chaz Mostert
Mobil 1 Optus Racing
25 4 1 5306
2
Will Brown
Red Bull Ampol Racing
1 2 1 5244
3
Broc Feeney
Red Bull Ampol Racing
88 14 19 5240
4
Kai Allen
Penrite Racing
26 0 0 5233
5
Matthew Payne
Penrite Racing
19 5 1 4461
2025 Formula 1 Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Lando Norris (GBR)
McLaren
4 7 7 423
2
Max Verstappen (NED)
Red Bull
1 7 7 421
3
Oscar Piastri (AUS)
McLaren
81 7 6 410
4
George Russell (GBR)
Mercedes
63 2 2 319
5
Charles Leclerc (MON)
Ferrari
16 0 1 242
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates KTM FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions bathurst
Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.

Copyright © 2026 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team /  Advertise with us / Privacy Policy /

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

[mailpoet_form id=”28″]