Jacques Villeneuve has his sights set on becoming only the second man in motor-racing history to achieve the Triple Crown.

For the first time in his career, Villeneuve will compete in the famed Le Mans 24-hour race this weekend with Peugeot.

After a 14-year break since victory in 1993, the French marque are back on the grid and seriously threatening Audi's recent domination, the German giants having won six of the last seven events.

Victory on Sunday for Villeneuve would see him equal the legendary Graham Hill's feat of winning Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula One world championship.

Hill twice lifted the F1 crown in 1962 and 1968, won the Indy in 1966 and then took the chequered flag at Le Mans in 1972.

As for 36-year-old Canadian Villeneuve, his win at Indianapolis came in 1995, followed two years later by a successful transition to Formula One when he won the title with Williams.

A decade on, the chance to immortalise himself in motor-racing history beckons, and he knows it.

Although appreciating his duty lies with Peugeot, Villeneuve said: "On a personal level I would love to win the triple crown.

"Of course, it would be fantastic to do that with Peugeot. I love working with the team. There is a very good bond.

"If I and the team did win here then that would obviously reflect well on everyone."

It is clear Villeneuve has a positive chance of doing so as this year's Le Mans threatens to be a straight fight between the diesel -powered Peugeots and Audis.

Villeneuve, who is joined in the car by Ferrari test driver Marc Gene - another Le Mans debutant - and Nicolas Minassian, added: "It's going to be hard.

"Audi are our only serious rivals, and if there are no technical problems then they are the only team that can beat us.

"If there are problems, then the race will be open."

Although effectively a rookie at this event, Villeneuve's motor-racing background is second to none.

Peugeot have also developed a potential race-winning car, a fact he acknowledges.

He said: "Past history in motor-racing and at Le Mans tells you they are a very good team.

"They are professional, well equipped and not taking this lightly. They are certainly no amateurs.

"My experience in F1 will also be very useful - although one weekend here I believe will be more relaxed than one weekend of Formula 1."

Following Wednesday night's opening two qualifying sessions, Villeneuve and his two team-mates will provisionally start from third on the grid if the situation fails to change on Thursday night.

All of Wednesday night's times are carried forward into two further two-hour stints, with the grid formulated from the best timed laps over the four periods.