10 replies to this topic

[Autumnpuma]

Villeneuve's Le Mans move confirmed

By Jonathan Noble, autosport.com Tuesday, January 9th 2007, 16:04 GMT

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve will return to competition with Peugeot at Le Mans this year, sources close to the Canadian have confirmed to autosport.com.

Villeneuve has been out of action since he left Formula One after last year's German Grand Prix, but he has been linked with a return in both NASCAR and the DTM.

However, French car manufacturer Peugeot have won the battle for his signature as they return to the French endurance classic with their diesel-powered 908 sportscar.

Although Villeneuve himself has been unavailable for comment since a report about his return first surfaced in L'Equipe this morning, a source close to him has confirmed that a deal is in place for Le Mans.

An official announcement about Villeneuve's presence in the team will be made by Peugeot on Wednesday, when they are also expected to confirm a line-up including Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais and Ferrari test driver Marc Gene.

Villeneuve has made no secret of his interest in Le Mans, especially because success there would make him the first man to capture four of motor racing's biggest prizes - the endurance classic, the F1 world championship, the Indy 500 and the Champ Car title.

Speaking to Autosport in 2005, Villeneuve said that it would be vital for him to compete at Le Mans as soon as possible after his F1 career ended because he needed to be race sharp.

"The reason for me to do Le Mans is that nobody has won all four. Three have been won, but never four," he said.

"If you stop racing for a few years, then you are not on it anymore. You can still be quick, but not absolutely on it. So I'd want to do Le Mans straightaway after F1, get it over with and then I can get away from racing completely."

Peugeot have declined to comment on the driver line-up ahead of the official announcement on Wednesday. The other drivers in the two-car entry are expected to be Stephane Sarrazin, Nicolas Minassian and Pedro Lamy.

[aussief1]

Ah thats good news. Winning Le Mans would cap off a stella career perfectly.

All the best Jacques

[shampion]

Sure would be great to see him pull it off. Good Luck Jacques!!!!

[Quiet One]

Wait a minute...he is confirmed to drive a Peugeot at LeMans or to sing one of his many, many, many classical hit songs?  

[Argento Reloaded]

Quiet One, on Jan 10 2007, 10:24 AM, said:

Wait a minute...he is confirmed to drive a Peugeot at LeMans or to sing one of his many, many, many classical hit songs?  

He will drive at Le Mans but before he will play the guitar and sing at the paddock! I think he will win because many drivers will never recover! Jokes aside the best for you Jacques and please if you win never forget to mention Dr. Mario....

[c21]

Argento, on Jan 10 2007, 04:07 PM, said:

He will drive at Le Mans but before he will play the guitar and sing at the paddock! I think he will win because many drivers will never recover! Jokes aside the best for you Jacques and please if you win never forget to mention Dr. Mario....

And say that he was right to replace him?

Good on you Mazza!

Edited by c21, 11 January 2007 - 11:42 AM.

[shampion]

Just a question....

I know villeneuve has a chance to win this and be the only one to have won all four.....

But has there been anyone else that has had the chance to contest all four events before???????????

Just curious!!!!

[ellswrth]

shampion, on Jan 11 2007, 11:46 AM, said:

Just a question....

I know villeneuve has a chance to win this and be the only one to have won all four.....

But has there been anyone else that has had the chance to contest all four events before???????????

Just curious!!!!

Well, that's a matter of interpretation.

Graham Hill won the F1 title, the Indy 500, and LeMans but did not contest the ChampCar (then USAC) championship although to my recollection he did run several events other than the Indy 500.

Emerson Fittipaldi won the F1 title, the ChampCar (then CART) title and the Indy 500, but I don't think he ever ran at Le Mans. Same record for Nigel Mansell. (Ed: oops - this reads wrong - Mansell ran twice at Indy but didn't actually win)

Dan Gurney won in F1 (but not a championship), won at LeMans, and competed in the Indy 500 and ChampCar (then USAC) championships, but he did not win the latter two. He did contest all four.

Mario Andretti won the F1 title, the ChampCar (then CART and USAC) title and the Indy 500, and entered Le Mans a couple of times so he was the closest to the the same parlay as Villeneuve is attempting. Something often overlooked is that Andretti also won the Daytona 500 which no other F1 or Indy champ has even attempted.

One thing is for certain - should Villeneuve win, it will give new motivation to those who need to establish that he does not belong amongst the greats ...

Edited by ellswrth, 12 January 2007 - 09:26 PM.

[Jean Todt]

With the presence of Audi, Its going to be difficult, anyways, Peugeot is considered to be the masters of Diesel engines(for cars). I dont expect J.V. to win in his very first attempt even if he is going to drive the best car.
All the best J.V.

[shampion]

ellswrth, on Jan 12 2007, 12:07 AM, said:

............One thing is for certain - should Villeneuve win, it will give new motivation to those who need to establish that he does not belong amongst the greats ...

Well....      I for one hope he does it.

     I like Jacques.

I,.....like many others,..... know that  his move to set up BAR tarnished everything he has accomplished.
Of course hind-sight is always 20/20.

      But I agree ... a good showing at Lemans could silence SOME of his critics and nay-sayers.

[spitfire]

ellswrth, on Jan 11 2007, 09:37 PM, said:

Well, that's a matter of interpretation.

Graham Hill won the F1 title, the Indy 500, and LeMans but did not contest the ChampCar (then USAC) championship although to my recollection he did run several events other than the Indy 500.

Emerson Fittipaldi won the F1 title, the ChampCar (then CART) title and the Indy 500, but I don't think he ever ran at Le Mans. Same record for Nigel Mansell.

Dan Gurney won in F1 (but not a championship), won at LeMans, and competed in the Indy 500 and ChampCar (then USAC) championships, but he did not win the latter two. He did contest all four.

Mario Andretti won the F1 title, the ChampCar (then CART and USAC) title and the Indy 500, and entered Le Mans a couple of times so he was the closest to the the same parlay as Villeneuve is attempting. Something often overlooked is that Andretti also won the Daytona 500 which no other F1 or Indy champ has even attempted.

One thing is for certain - should Villeneuve win, it will give new motivation to those who need to establish that he does not belong amongst the greats ...

whether or not he wins at LeMans...you must note that just to talk about this you have to include Jaques Villenueve in with the likes of Hill, Gurney, Andretti, Mansell and Fittipaldi....some pretty great company! All of them drivers who were capable of meeting and conquering all in more than just one racing format. True champion race car drivers!!