Mark Webber named Officer of the Order of Australia

The 2015 World Endurance Champion has been awarded his country's highest national honour and promoted to the second highest ranking in the Order.

Very active with young, up-and-coming drivers, Mark Webber, who retired from competition at the end of the 2016 WEC season, was rewarded for "distinguished service to motor sport as a competitor and ambassador, and to the community through fundraising and patronage of a range of medical and youth support organisations".

Mark Webber: "I didn’t expect it at all. It’s a bit of a surprise, but I think it’s an absolute honour to be recognised at that level. I left Australia a long time ago, but I’ve always flown its flag. You don’t look back too much … but I hope I represented Australia as best I could."

Quotation from Mark Webber's official website.