Jan 10, 2007
Peugeot have confirmed that Jacques Villeneuve and Sebastien Bourdais will be part of their assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours race this June.
The former F1 world champion and three-time Champ Car champion will be joined on the French-based squad by Stephane Sarrazin, Nicolas Minassian as well as former F1 racers Pedro Lamy and Marc Gene.
Villeneuve will be driving the manufacturers new diesel-powered 908 sportscar as they make their official return to the endurance classic.
Villeneuve says he's excited by the opportunity to make motorsport history.
"Le Mans is a mythical race like Indianapolis," he said. "It will be a great experience and I think we should be extremely competitive."
Villeneuve says he is still pursuing options in NASCAR but adds he will have "plenty of time" to prepare for Le Mans.
Villeneuve will be the first Formula One world champion to take part in the 24 hour race since Mario Andretti competed in 2000. His best result came in 1995, when he finished second.
The Canadian will look to join Phil Hill as the only drivers to have won the Indy 500, Formula One world championship and Le Mans. Villeneuve also has a CART series championship under his belt, a title that Hill never sought.
Team manager Serge Saulnier says it was the French manufacturer who sought out Villeneuve for his participation in the event.
"Jacques is someone who has won in every competition he has undertaken," said Saulnier.
"I like his sporting spirit and I knew that he'd dreamed of taking part at Le Mans. When I contacted him, he convinced me that he could be the first driver to win the Formula One world championship, Champ Car title, Indianapolis 500, and Le Mans 24 Hours."
Saulnier says the decision on their driver lineup had little to do with profile and more to do with specific qualities such as speed and consistency.
"We need drivers that know how to get the best from the vehicle in all conditions, especially changes in the track, while being able to master traffic, and someone who is in excellent physical condition."
