Australian spends night in hospital for precautionary checks
Monday 1 December 2014 16:56, UK
Former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber is in a 'satisfactory condition' following high-speed crash at the Six Hours of Sao Paulo event in Brazil.
The Australian, racing for Porsche in the World Endurance Championship after calling time on his F1 career last year, was stretchered off the Interlagos circuit on Sunday after his car collided with Matteo Cressoni's Ferrari.
Both cars crashed into a concrete barrier at speeds estimated at around 185mph, with 38-year-old Webber's vehicle catching fire before coming to a stop with the car wrecked.
In a statement, autosport's governing body FIA said: "A dramatic accident occurred during the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo between the No 20 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Mark Webber and the No 90 8Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia of Matteo Cressoni.
"The two drivers were conscious and transported with medical assistance to the circuit's Medical Centre. Examinations took place.
"Both were then taken to the Hospital Bandeirantes in Sao Paulo for additional checks. They are in a condition which is for the moment satisfactory."
The race, which ended behind the Safety Car, was won by the Porsche of Neel Jani. "The first thing I would like to say is that Mark is basically ok so that is good," said Jani after the race.
In a statement the Porsche Team said: "The initial information the team received from the medical centre at the track was that he was not badly injured. However, he has been transferred to a hospital in Sao Paul for further checks."
On Monday afternoon the German marque revealed that Webber had been cleared to return to the UK: "@AussieGrit spent the night in hospital in São Paulo. He sustained bruising and concussion. He is set to return to the UK later this week," Porsche tweeted.
Webber added: "I’m quite sore this morning, am pretty bruised and have got a stinking headache. I’ve got no recollection of the accident."
After a 12-year career in Formula 1, former Red Bull driver Webber joined the Porsche team in the Endurance series where he finished ninth overall.
