IT should probably come as no surprise that, 60 seconds before our interview under the shadows of the giant grandstand which dominates the start-finish line at Le Mans, Sir Chris Hoy should roll up, resplendent in his Nismo Racing racesuit, on two wheels.

“Honestly, it’s the best way to get around the paddock,” said the 40-year-old from Edinburgh, who will make his Le Mans 24-Hours race debut this weekend. “It certainly beats getting stuck in traffic.”

Hoy, a household name following his Olympic exploits on two wheels which harvested him a record-breaking six gold medals, will bid for four-wheel glory in his Nissan-powered Algarve Pro Racing Ligier LMP2 sportscar in the iconic French race.

While Audi, Porsche and Toyota will battle for overall honours in the more powerful LMP1 class, the Scot will battle it out with 22 LMP2 rivals.

When Hoy announced his bid two years ago to race at Le Mans in 2016, in a programme supported by Nissan, there were many who viewed it as nothing more than a glorified PR stunt by the global giant car manufacturer.

As he sat enjoying the rare sunshine, after regular showers which have already turned car parks into muddy quagmires, the Scot acknowledged their reservations.

“It’s understandable that people might think, ‘hang on, he’s doing Le Mans? It’s the world’s toughest endurance race in motorsport’," he said. “But I’ve worked at it. It’s basically been three-and-a-half years of my life working towards this moment. So hopefully people will see the results; they’ll see that I have taken it seriously, that I’ve given it the respect it deserves.”

That work has included racing in the British GT Championship, and last year winning the inaugural European Le Mans Series LMP3 Championship. So it’s clear Hoy is a bit of a pedaller, both on two wheels and four.

Still though he admits there are people who will question his right to be on the 60-car grid which will thunder across the start line at 3pm local time on Saturday.

“There are still people who will, unquestionably, only have heard that I’m racing because its Le Mans week,” he continued. “I can just imagine it: ‘he’s doing what? Le Mans? That’s ridiculous.’

“They just think I’ve decided at the beginning of the year to tackle Le Mans. It’s taken a lot of work, and so many people have helped me along the way.”

He is though quick to admit that, without the backing and support of Nissan - with whom he’s also working as an Olympic ambassador - he “100 per cent wouldn’t be here. It’s simple as that”.

Hoy, who will share his car with Renault-Nissan Alliance athlete Andrea Pizzitola and British racer Mike Munemann, has already experienced the gruelling 8.45-mile circuit, which includes closed-off public roads.

The Scot completed 30 laps and 408.88kms during the official test day 11 days ago, admitting he was “happy” with his lap times which improved throughout the day.

Since then he has “been really busy, trying not to be busy”, as he concentrated on ensuring he feels rested and ready for the demanding 24 hours of all-encompassing pressure, whether on-track or off, this weekend.

And for a big man - though he has slimmed down since his Hulk-like, muscle-bound image straddled his bike at the Olympics - he admits to feeling very much the new boy this week.

“I sat in the drivers’ briefing, looked round and saw how many F1 drivers there were. I lost count when I got to about 20-odd,” he laughed. “There are so many people racing this weekend who have already reached the pinnacle on their side of motorsport, and are now racing at Le Mans.

“You sort of pinch yourself. You realise, ‘hey, I’m racing alongside these guys’. In how many other sports can an amateur compete in the top event of that ladder at the same time? As a footballer, you don’t get to come on at half time in a World Cup final.”

In many ways, this weekend’s 24-hours threatens to be Hoy’s World Cup final. Not only is it the culmination of his 42 months of intensive preparations, but it’s also his final race of the year.

“This is it. This is the last one. There’s nothing else in the calendar for the rest of the year, unfortunately,” he said. “It’s been all about preparing for Le Mans. Everything has been focused on it, and I’ve been trying hard not to think too far ahead, because I don’t want this to be just another race. This is so special.

“It’s quite sad, but this could be, and I really hope it’s not, my only Le Mans. Hopefully when I get a taste for it, I’m going to want to come back again, and again. There will be things I want to improve, to become a better driver.”

What would be the one thing he would like to take away from the whole experience?

“The dream would be to be out in the car on Sunday at 3 o’clock when the chequered flag falls,” he said. “That would be amazing. That would be the gold medal moment.”