Webber prepares for winter challenge

Two weeks on from the 2003 season ending grand prix in Suzuka, Jaguar Racing driver Mark Webber has been spending some well-earned rest and relaxation time with his family in Queanbeyan, Australia. Webber won't have too long to put his feet up, ...

Two weeks on from the 2003 season ending grand prix in Suzuka, Jaguar Racing driver Mark Webber has been spending some well-earned rest and relaxation time with his family in Queanbeyan, Australia.

Webber won't have too long to put his feet up, however, before he joins fellow celebrities and athletes for the gruelling 'Challenge Tasmania'. It's a good job the Australian's one of the fittest drivers in Formula One!

Mark Webber.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"After Japan I came home to Australia and I'm spending time with my family for four weeks whilst preparing for and promoting the Challenge Tasmania charity event," said Webber. "It launches from 5-7 November and finishes on November 16. It involves long hikes through steep and narrow tracks, (not like your average walk around Earls Court!) and 80 miles of mountain biking and kayaking."

"I'll be joined by Pat Rafter, Cathy Freeman, Steve Waugh and James Tomkins -- the Australian rower who beat Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell to world rowing gold. We'll be sleeping in tents not in hotels so it will all be very different. They'll be helicopters on stand by if anything goes wrong and they're making a documentary about it so it's all very exciting."

Webber, who's also an avid rugby union fan and close friend of Aussie legend David Campese, has also made time in his calendar to watch a few Rugby World Cup games and cheer on his beloved Wallabies.

"Apart from that, I'm going to go and see a few Rugby World Cup games and cheer on the Aussie's," added Webber. "Campo (David Campese) tells me that Australia are currently just going through the motions and still yet to find top gear. But they're cranking up the training for the next phase of the tournament and the forwards in particular are apparently really beginning to gel."