F1 driver Webber suffers broken leg

HOBART, Australia — Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber still hopes to be ready for the start of the F1 season after breaking his right leg in his charity multi-sports race.

However, the Red Bull driver will miss his team’s winter testing.

Webber was riding a bicycle when he collided with a four-wheel drive vehicle on a road near historic Port Arthur on the island state of Tasmania on Saturday, Tasmania Police Sgt. Jon Ford said.

Ford added Webber’s injuries were not life-threatening.

Transferred from Royal Hobart Hospital to Hobart Private Hospital, Webber underwent successful surgery, Geoff Donohue, event director for the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, told The Associated Press by telephone.

“The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins,” Donohue said.

“The broken leg is the injury, and beyond that, he’s in really good shape. He has a little bit of a graze on his left forearm, but he has had full scans and everything else is clear.”

Red Bull said on its Web site on Sunday that 32-year-old Webber would return to Britain to continue his recovery.

“While it looks like he’s out of the winter testing program, we fully expect Mark to make the starting grid in Melbourne next March,” the team said.

Red Bull has already begun testing for 2009 in Barcelona, involving Sebastian Vettel, who has joined from Toro Rosso, and five-time World Rally Championship winner Sebastien Loeb.

Donohue said Webber was like many elite athletes who immediately set goals after an injury.

“He has a positive attitude and a lot of determination,” Donohue said.

The accident happened while Webber was racing in his 250-kilometer (175-mile) challenge, which features mountain bikes, kayaks and trekking.

Ford said the bike leg used open public roads and it was not known whether the stage including the accident scene was cordoned off for the racers.

The challenge, first staged in 2003, is scheduled to end on Sunday in Hobart.