A look at the WEC

The next Formula 1 race is still a week away. In the meantime the fantastic LMP1 cars of the WEC are racing in the six hours of Belgium at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The pole time was not far away from the times of Formula 1 race pace, these are seriously quick cars. Combined with LMP2 and the two GT classes this is a series which provides a taste of the Le Mans 24 hours, which starts in just over a months time.

I've already been able to experience watching these machines at Silverstone a few weeks ago. With many an ex-Formula 1 drivers including Mark Webber, Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson in the ranks as well as current Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg racing in Belgium and Le Mans, it was quite the mesmeric watch, especially as the LMP1 cars sliced through the GT cars. And although it's not easy to follow without a radio plugged into your ear, there was some good action. For a six hour race the LMP1 cars kept close to each other throughout with only 15 seconds separating the top three by the end. 

Here's a few pictures of a fine if windy race day at Silverstone.

The number 2 Toyota on the formation grid

Number 7 Audi getting a few last minute checks

Wurz gracefully getting out of his Toyota

World Champion Anthony Davidson calming everyone down

Mark Webber heads over to his pole sitting Porsche

Webber getting ready to lead the grid away

Sebastien Buemi taking the first stint in the No. 1 Toyota

Racing under way, the GT cars provided a lot of close action

No. 2 Toyota still with Wurz at the wheel.

Buemi staying near the front

It was close for a long time in the LMP1 class.

No. 8 Audi would fall back later on after challenging at the front.

Webber led the early going but a problem took the car out of the race

The Toyota didn't look as fast as the Audi or Porsche.

No. 7 Audi would swap the lead for a long way into the race.

The LMP1 cars just cut through the back-markers.

No. 18 Porsche kept the race alive.

Gulf sponsored Aston Martin looks great.

Davidson pushed hard to stay in contention.

Another look at the Aston.

No. 7 Audi despite late pit stop and penalty kept the lead.

No. 1 Toyota managed to get on the podium.

But the No. 7 Audi won, ahead of the 18 Porsche and 1 Toyota.

Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer & Benoit Treluyer take their rewards.

Michelin man watches as it's time for Champagne.

Mark Webber leaves Formula 1 for Le Mans

Mark Webber announced today that  he will be leaving Formula 1 at the end of this season to return to sportscars with Porsche in the highest class of LMP1 to take on the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 hours. 

He last competed at Le Mans in 1999 driving for Mercedes when the cars literally took off. The decision doesn't come as too much of a surprise, rumours of his impending departure have circulated for months now.

Webber is one of the most astute drivers on the grid and I think he knew there was nothing more to be gained in Formula 1. If he stayed at Red Bull he's still got the Sebastian Vettel problem, especially now he definitely knows Vettel will never help him after the Malaysian team orders fiasco, which will certainly have influenced his decision.

Potentially joining Ferrari? Fernando Alonso is good friend of Webber's but racing against each other in the same team? He'd be on a  hiding to nowhere. Anywhere else right now would be a step back so why not take on a new challenge.

I for one will be sad to see him go. As most of the F1 media have pointed out, he is an honest sort, and will speak from the heart and say what needs to be said. If there is injustice in the sport of Formula 1 then Mark Webber will give a good quote.

But more than that, some of his drives have just been epic. Especially if you've made him angry before hand he will seek to put the record straight out on the track, where it should be done.

Webber has had a decent career in Formula 1, finishing fifth at his home race in Australia on his debut for Minardi in 2002, stints at Jaguar and Williams followed before joining Red Bull alongside David Coulthard in 2007.

He had a few podiums in this time, but it was 2009 before he grabbed his first win in Germany that year, no one as going to stop him that day. He started from pole position but suffered a drive through penalty and yet still fought back to win he was untouchable.

2010 saw lead the championship for most of the year and was still the lead Red Bull driver when they got to the final race. A poor strategy left him down the points and his shot at the title was done. It was his most consistent and impressive season but Vettel snatched the title from him and since then he's dominated the team, with only glimpses of what Webber can do. He may not have won the championship but he's shown he has been more the capable of racing with the best drivers in the world and has more than deserved to be up there.

So now Webber seeks a new challenge and I have no doubt he will be a Le Mans winner in the next few years. He and the team will have to go some to beat Audi and the ever quicker Toyota's in the LMP1 category, but if any manufacturer is going to become the team to beat in sports cars, it's Porsche.

Of course the next question has to be who will replace him? It hasn't been often that a top seat has become available over the last few years and this is one of the best to come on offer. Initial rumours go that Kimi Raikkonen will be joining Red Bull next season, with the Toro Rosso pair in contention too. We'll see how this develops over the coming months, I certainly don't expect a rushed decision.

But for now he still has over half the current F1 season left, and where better to kick off his swansong than at Silverstone, a track where he's scored two of his most impressive wins including the 'not bad for a number 2 driver' moment. I will not be surprised to see him take a third this weekend. 

all photo's taken from autosport.com