Mark Webber has announced to quit as Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver at the end of the current 2013 season.
The 36-year-old veteran had an opportunity to continue in Formula 1, with either Red Bull or another Formula 1 team, but he decided its time for a new step in his career.
Webber will accept the offer to drive
the new LMP1 Porsche that will participate in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans and most likely also in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Before racing in Formula 1 Webber already drove the legendary race at Circuit de la Sarthe for Mercedes back in 1999 as many of you will still remember his
horrific crash during the warm-up.
To the BBC Webber
said that he considers it an honor to race for Porsche "I'm really looking forward to this new challenge."
In his twelve years in Formula 1 the Australian won a total of nine Grand Prix, scored podium finishes 36 times and has eleven pole positions under his belt. Twice he finished third in the World Drivers Championship.
Kimi Raikkonen, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne are named as possible replacements for Webber at Red Bull. '' Kimi is definitely an option if he is available,'' said team principal Christian Horner of Red Bull.