Mark Webber takes new Porsche for quick spin

MARK Webber has received an early taste of the Porsche he will drive in next year's World Endurance Championship.

Webber in first Porsche drive

MARK Webber has received an early taste of the Porsche he will drive in next year's World Endurance Championship.

Having recently completed his 12-year Formula One career, Webber climbed behind the wheel of the new LMP1 race car at a test day in Algarve, Portugal.

Although still contracted to F1 team Red Bull Racing until the end of the year, the Australian was given the green light to test for the German manufacturer.

He had not been scheduled to drive the car until next month, when he will join the Porsche factory team officially.

"My first day in this fascinating project was an intense experience for me," Webber said. "I would like to thank Red Bull Racing for giving me the chance to join the project so early. "This is a major and important step for us all. It allows me to integrate with the team quicker and to contribute to developing the LMP1 race car.

"We have a long way to go and it involves a lot of hard work. I have no misconceptions about this."

Head of Porsche LMP1 Fritz Enzinger was "delighted" to have Webber in the team for the final scheduled test of the year. Webber is one of four confirmed drivers for the two-car, six-driver Porsche LMP1 campaign -- alongside Germany's Timo Bernhard, Frenchman Romain Dumas and Switzerland's Neel Jani.

Webber, 37, wrapped up his F1 career with a second-place finish behind teammate Sebastian Vettel at the Brazilian GP.

AAP