> Red Bull gives Webber wings

Mark Webber got his first taste of what life as a Red Bull driver holds in store last weekend – when he experienced speeds of 400kph as a passenger in a racing plane in Perth, Australia.

Although not officially part of the RBR squad until his first test with the team at the end of November, the Australian was a guest of the energy drink company in his homeland at its final air race event of 2006.

The 30-year-old took to the skies piloted by Austrian Hannes Arch and was subjected to the full adrenalin rush of flying in between pylons just twenty metres above the city’s Swan River, as well as full loops and dives.

“I really enjoyed the ride,” he said.

“It’s similar in some ways to driving an F1 car, with all the g-forces you experience, although I hadn’t experienced negative g before.”

Webber is now due to head to the team’s Milton Keynes factory for a seat fitting before he takes the RB2 out for a first test run at the end of the month.
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