Changes to Maison Blanche 2015 - Porsche Experience Centre

[indyxe]

AMD87 said:

Porsche curves work looks like another bit that will be blocked off

Fancied heading down to that part this year for abit
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/03/02/le-mans-t...

Bad news for spectators, if I'm reading that article right, no access for spectators to the outside of the entry to Porsche curves.
That was one of my favourite places to view the race. I take it you can still view from inside of circuit.

[Printertosh]

Let's hope they get that gravel trap design right with the public road passing under the bridge just after that!

Flying cars are quite common in the Porsche curves section!

[eastlmark]

fatboy18 said:

You never know, they might put the wheel back to where they used to have it in the 80s

Le mans 1982 039 by Fatboy 18, on Flickr

Happy days indeed, most cars would appear under the Dunlop bridge airbourne! A great place to watch from and indeed, the first place I ever saw a race car at Le mans having bought the cheap "Popular" ticket that only let you view from tetre rouge to the Dunlop bridge. (there used to be a barrier/ticket check at the bridge to stop us cheapo's getting down to the start finish/ pits area.) Hence the fun fair was always sighted there in order to attract plenty of punters, and it did, you could barely move on Saturday Evening such was the crush.

[SimoN138]

indyxe said:

AMD87 said:

Porsche curves work looks like another bit that will be blocked off

Fancied heading down to that part this year for abit
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/03/02/le-mans-t...

Bad news for spectators, if I'm reading that article right, no access for spectators to the outside of the entry to Porsche curves.
That was one of my favourite places to view the race. I take it you can still view from inside of circuit.

... bad news indeed. it was a great place to watch ... especially for anyone camped down that end of the circuit. i've watched the support races from here for the last few years before returning to base to get sorted ahead of the main event. very disappointing.

how does one get to the inside of the circuit at porsche curves? is it an official viewing spot or does it require a certain amount of 'initiative'? i've seen quite a lot of people viewing from across the track in recent years but always assumed they were from a campsite located over there ... is there general access to the interior track side there?

14 weeks, 4 days and counting ...

si

[Printertosh]

SimoN138 said:

how does one get to the inside of the circuit at porsche curves? is it an official viewing spot or does it require a certain amount of 'initiative'? i've seen quite a lot of people viewing from across the track in recent years but always assumed they were from a campsite located over there ... is there general access to the interior track side there?

si

From outside the circuit you go under the bridge just off the roundabout and a little way up on the right hand side is a lane / track that's wide enough for a car, go quite a way up there next to the allotments and eventually a camping field opens up on the right. Walk diagonally across that field to the far corner and a set of steps takes you up the banking. Only need to show your general ticket if anyone checking.

[SimoN138]

Printertosh said:

From outside the circuit you go under the bridge just off the roundabout and a little way up on the right hand side is a lane / track that's wide enough for a car, go quite a way up there next to the allotments and eventually a camping field opens up on the right. Walk diagonally across that field to the far corner and a set of steps takes you up the banking. Only need to show your general ticket if anyone checking.

thank you sir

[Porkieboy]

Printertosh said:

From outside the circuit you go under the bridge just off the roundabout and a little way up on the right hand side is a lane / track that's wide enough for a car, go quite a way up there next to the allotments and eventually a camping field opens up on the right. Walk diagonally across that field to the far corner and a set of steps takes you up the banking. Only need to show your general ticket if anyone checking.

A word of caution the lane is not always open as it is not part of the circuit and sometimes you are forced to enter via main entrance.

The bank has security guards who will check tickets and also ask you to leave any bottles in your possession.

There are also long queues at the start of the race and at the end so if you want to view make sure you arrive in good time.

The area does have a fence allowing only access by steps.

Edited by Porkieboy on Tuesday 3rd March 16:53

Edited by Porkieboy on Tuesday 3rd March 16:54

[Revhappychappy]

Bumping this for those interested in the camping situation on MB. Last week Andre Lotterer posted a photo on Instagram that shows some of the work done on the some of the infield sections of the Maison Blanche circuit.

https://instagram.com/p/2g1aIMrRTJ/

As feared it looks like a fair bit of the main camping area is lost to additional tarmac areas for the Experience Centre. Our group was lucky enough to get MB tickets for this year but wonder if there will be any at all next year...

[-crookedtail-]

Wow, all this is progress I suppose.

My first memories of Le Mans were from Maison Blanche back in the late 90s, the era of arriving early Monday to land grab the best spots. Any one else remember the 'wkers Arms'?

Have been in Bleu Nord for the last decade of so, its alright and probably quicker to get to the grandstands but still miss the good old days.

[Mutley]

Revhappychappy said:

.

We're in MB aswell, thankfully, but next year? Who knows.

But we were looking at the photo, and have concluded the new tarmac in the middle is the start of Le Mans airports 2nd runway

[FraMac]

Mutley said:

We're in MB aswell, thankfully, but next year? Who knows.

But we were looking at the photo, and have concluded the new tarmac in the middle is the start of Le Mans airports 2nd runway

We're there too - I'm wondering if it may be the last year tho' - it will be interesting to see what it looks like on the ground.

I can see why the ACO have done what they've done - I cannot say I agree with it tho' :-(

See you over there.

[AMD87]

looks like we've lost the banking too was hoping they were building behind that

[Lovey1]

We're in there too as we have been every year bar 3 since the mid 80's....and it looks like the last. Viewing looks completely decimated. No banks, i'm guessing you won't get close to the Porsche curves looking at the picture. Gutted. I dont think they'll be many of us there either so god knows what " facilities" we'll have. Looks like the bunker shower blocks still there....just join the queues. Anyhow itll all be good in a month..lets be optimistic

[Printertosh]

Isn't the banking nearest the chicanes still there on the right of the trees? Although it's got a barrier round it.

Right hand side of banking looks like it's now the water skid pan like the one at Silverstone!

[Mutley]

Agreed, a lot of the bankings are still there, and should be accessible from how this image shows it

[lowdrag]

Just wait until you go under the Porsche Curves towards Beauséjour and look to you left! A bloody great hill for the 4x4 "track day experience". I'll try and take a photo or two of both shortly.

[JT3K]

lowdrag said:

Just wait until you go under the Porsche Curves towards Beauséjour and look to you left! A bloody great hill for the 4x4 "track day experience". I'll try and take a photo or two of both shortly.

The-what-now? It's. Circuit. de. la. Sarthe. It's not a frigging off-road centre. At least try to get it right. Feel the room, ACO.

[Mutley]

JT3K said:

The-what-now? It's. Circuit. de. la. Sarthe. It's not a frigging off-road centre. At least try to get it right. Feel the room, ACO.

Yes, but the ACO have been paid squillions to let Porsche build on one of it's most popular campsites and I would imagine getting a nice rent. Short term gains

[cbrown7]

We got into MB too, the word from our ticket agent is that there has been a 2/3 reduction in pitches over all. Which from the new picture doesn't seem to be quite necessary, but what do I know.

It remains to be seen how the changes will effect the look and feel of the place.

[JT3K]

Mutley said:

Yes, but the ACO have been paid squillions to let Porsche build on one of it's most popular campsites and I would imagine getting a nice rent. Short term gains

I expected the Porsche centre, but a 4x4 centre is craptacular