Return of the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge is back, Minister for Tourism Michelle O’Byrne announced today.

Ms O’Byrne said a new partnership between the State Government, Mark Webber Challenge Management Pty Ltd and its event management company Octagon Australia will bring the event back to the state for the next three years.

“This is fantastic news for Tasmania and we welcome Mark Webber back as one of our state’s greatest ambassadors,” she said.

“The last event, held in 2008, resulted in global media exposure for Tasmania worth more than $7 million and the marketing power of one of the most recognisable Australians in the world has only grown since then.”

Ms O’Byrne said next December, the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge will shine the spotlight on some of the state’s most iconic adventure tourism locations including Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and the Bay of Fires.

“The adventure race will feature the traditional mountain biking, trail running and kayaking and may be expanded to include sports such as swimming, white water rafting, caving or ropes courses,” she said.

“The course will be designed to not only test the elite athlete, but to provide an opportunity for the less “hard core” adventure sports enthusiasts to compete and challenge themselves.”

In the new partnership, the State Government will invest $400,000 a year for three years, securing an event which is expected to deliver more than $21 million in media coverage and position Tasmania as a world-class adventure travel destination.

“The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge is a great event that will help deliver on the State Government’s tourism strategy and promote our adventure tourism potential to the world,” Ms O’ Byrne said.

“The event itself, coupled with Mark’s personal endorsement, will also enhance our status globally as the clean, green nature-based state of Australia.

“And as in previous years, we expect the event to attract a number of celebrities, elite athletes and high profile visitors, whether as competitors or sponsors.”

Ms O’Byrne said the 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge would run over four days from 5 December to 8 December.

The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge was previously held in the state in 2006, 2007 and 2008. During that period, over $1 million was raised for Mark Webber’s nominated charities, the Leukaemia Foundation and the Save the Devil Campaign.

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