Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Breaking news

Webber: Porsche deserved Mexico win after strong Audi challenge

Porsche’s reigning FIA World Endurance Champion Mark Webber believes his #1 919 Hybrid thoroughly deserved its victory in the 6 Hours of Mexico – despite a strong challenge from rivals Audi.

#1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley

#1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley

XPB Images

Podium: Race winners #1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard
Mark Webber
#1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley
#7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18: Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer
#1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley
Podium: Race winners #1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard
Pit crew working on the damaged #8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro: Lucas di Grassi, Loic Duval, Oliver Jarvis
#1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley

His car, which he shares with Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard, won by just over a minute after six hours of racing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

However, Audi’s Andre Lotterer drove some stunning stints over the course of the race and was, at times, lapping 5s quicker on better-suited tyres than the Porsches until he went off into the wall due to a braking issue.

“After Brendon did a brilliant opening stint, obviously it was a pretty tight race with the Audis,” said Webber.

“I managed to pass Lucas [di Grassi in the #8 Audi], he was caught up with some traffic with a spinning car. He had to go the long way around, I took the short way.

“I got in front and then at that point the #8 was pretty strong and I had to be very concentrated to keep him out as long as we did.

“It worked out well and I had to keep our pace alive. He got me on the in-lap but they I still followed him on the pit entry so we didn’t lose much.”

With the #8 Audi crashing out with a wheel bearing failure, Lotterer's #7 came back into contention for the win during the middle phase of the race when it rained and then dried.

“It was a really interesting race,” said Webber. “The conditions were playing a part and I think we were lucky it didn’t get sunny because the Audis were strong when it got hot.

“It didn’t rain heavy enough because they have been a little quicker in the wet. We thoroughly deserved the win today on the #1 car. Andre drove awesomely in the #7 but it was a hard race with very tricky conditions.

“Brendon was on fire, Timo had a tricky stint at the end, and I am bloody rapt.”

Don't miss our Inside WEC Mexico review...

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Audi ace Lotterer rues lost opportunity of Mexico victory
Next article Turner hails Stanaway’s slick heroics in wet Mexico

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA