Nigel Mansell has described the prospect of lining up on the Le Mans grid this weekend as "terrifying" and says his aim for the race is just to be there at the end.

"If you can start and finish the Le Mans 24 hours that is amazing," he said.

"It never stops. You are up for 40 hours, it's not 24," he said. "You have to test the night before and then you get to bed about three o'clock and then you're up at six o'clock again as a warm up."

Mansell is racing with his two sons, Leo and Greg. "Our aim is to start it and to finish it. If you can then get placed, that's the icing on the cake. It's the most amazing week of anybody's life in motorsport."



The week after Le Mans, Mansell will experience racing from the other side of the barriers as he steps into the steward's box for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 20 June. However, he has promised to leave the drivers to compete, saying: "I'll let all the drivers race, don't worry!"

The 1992 Formula 1 world champion will be the latest of several former drivers to take up the advisory stewarding role. Damon Hill was caught up in controversy after he penalised Michael Schumacher for overtaking while behind the safety car at this year's Monaco Grand Prix.

Mansell faces a potentially even bigger challenge later in the summer, cycling 1,200 miles around Britain in just 13 days to raise money for the charity UK Youth. He will be riding with his two sons and former Tour de France cyclist Magnus Backstedt. The team aims to raise £1m for the cause, and anyone wishing to donate should head to www.nigelmansellcyclechallenge.co.uk for more information on how to do so.