F1: Webber reveals Campese loan

Formula One rookie Mark Webber has revealed how Australian rugby union legend David Campese winged in with a £40,000 (€65,400) loan to help keep his racing career afloat.

Webber, who has signed by the KL Minardi Asiatech team for the coming season, had seen his hopes of track success almost grind to a halt because of a lack of cash.

But the 25-year-old was able to continue racing in the British F3 series in 1997 after fellow countryman Campese came up with the 100,000 Australian dollars boost.

And Campese will be on hand when Webber makes his F1 debut in his home race in Melbourne when the season gets underway on March 3.

‘‘David and I both come from Queanbeyan and my father used to play rugby with his father, so we knew each other,’’ said Webber, who is now based in Buckinghamshire.

‘‘David saw the potential when I was lying something like third in the British F3 series, but that I might have to stop racing so he came up with the money.’’