Red Bull driver Mark Webber has broken his leg after colliding with a car during his annual Tasmanian Challenge, a 250km endurance event consisting of mountain bike riding, kayaking and trekking.

The Australian driver was taken by helicopter to the Royal Hobart Hospital following the head-on crash with a car on the Tasman Peninsula

"Basically Mark was riding down the Fortescue Road and he's had an accident running into a car coming the other way and basically broken his lower leg," said Sergeant Damien Bidgood, a member of the rescue team.

Following surgery to the Australian's right leg, Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge director, Geoff Donohue, told local media: "The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins.

"Mark's in good spirits," he added. "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. He'll be in hospital for at least three days, for sure under a week. I was speaking to him before the operation, and he was already thinking about his rehabilitation."

Webber, who last sat in the Red Bull at Interlagos, is due back on duty for the Austrian team at Jerez next month.

"That date obviously will be an issue," said Donohue. "But I suspect that as soon as Mark is able to fly, they will be keen to get him back to Europe. They will have people working out his rehab program now with a view to getting him up and going as soon as possible."