Changes to Maison Blanche 2015 - Porsche Experience Centre

[moribund]

I think they're in danger of killing the goose that lays the golden egg if they destroy any more circuit camping.

[G30001]

I was on MB again this year and we (as were the 10-12 surrounding groups we have got to know over the years)were very dissapointed to know we are going to lose our spot next year and now have to try other sites where security cannot be guarenteed.


Just starting to get hacked off that corporate spoil everything these days, I couldn't get a ticket to the FA Cup final as 45% of the tickets were coprorate now Le Mans is going to be soured by a bunch of idiots who don't give a monkies about the race but want the T-Shirt.

Edited by G30001 on Tuesday 17th June 14:19

[blueST]

For the first time I couldn't get onto MB this year, and it sounds as though it is only going to get harder. I think that your grass roots spectator, who just wants a long weekend with his mates is getting pushed out slowly. The lure of the big money corporate entertainment seems too great for the ACO to resist. Some of those hospitality places are vast and impressive, but impenetrable to likes of us.

Also, it appears that the private sites like Speedchills and K Rejser are growing, eating into the remaining on circuit camping. Now this I can see the ACO growing further. They effectively subcontract all the camping and all the associated hassle that goes with it. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the price seems to go up disprortionately, to the point where I couldn't justify it.

I ended up in Beausejour which was OK, bigger than some countries, and just too far from the pits for me to want to go back there.

[lowdrag]

I think your fears are unfounded, unless Porsche block books Maison Blanche for corporate hospitality as per Audi, with restaurant, dormitory etc. Have a look here for the siting of the PEC:_

http://www.total911.com/porsche-experience-centre-...

[SturdyHSV]

I've been in MB for the last 6 years, and the worst we've had were a few of the Le Mans beer cups being stolen that we left outside the tent overnight a couple of years ago (so our stupidity there...)

It'd be a massive shame to lose it, it's always been a very safe and friendly campsite, and generally pretty civilised, unless a group of gents baguette jousting on bicycles is a bit too much for you! (whoever that was, hilarious )

[Dave200]

Guys, I think we might be in danger of jumping the gun here. There has been a lot of misinformation shared about this, with Radio Le Mans being the most recent culprit. The snippet about "900 spaces" being lost at the end of the race is useless information - to remove 900 pitches from MB would mean that MB would no longer exist.

Talk to the tour operators and ACO ticket agencies - they are still being offered MB ticket allocations for next year.

[JamesHayward]

Just remember that Radio Le Mans were plugging their corporate sponsor, travel destinations who have pitches on MB. I don't doubt for a second that MB will probably disappear sooner rather than later but it's going to take a while to get planning permission etc.

I think we will be alright for 2015, and a lot of this is scare mongering.

[chum racing]

We've been in touch with the Head of the ACO Ticket office, who has confirmed that the Porsche Experience Centre will be built at Maison Blanche, but will not affect the camping pitches on MB.

[G30001]

chum racing said:

We've been in touch with the Head of the ACO Ticket office, who has confirmed that the Porsche Experience Centre will be built at Maison Blanche, but will not affect the camping pitches on MB.

So how does that work??

Built on MB but won't affect camping? are they going to give us the roof ??

[lowdrag]

I must admit to getting a bit hot under the collar with people who can only read the last post in a thread. Please see my post above and the link. No to save you the effort I'll quote for you

"THE PORSCHE CENTRE WILL BE BUILT ON THE INSIDE OF THE CIRCUIT.

The last time I looked Maison Blanche camping was on the OUTSIDE of the circuit. I doubt any of you remember what and where the real Maison Blanche was and anyway the area is Maison Blanche, not just the camp site.

[andy_vtec]

I hope you are right LD, can't contemplate having to leave MB, although from this artist impression and the text, it looks like there will be some buildings on the outside the track by the ford chicane, either that or they are very confused in their write up - This impression shows the building in the region of the big wheel location:

Total911 says:
The artist’s impression of the new PEC appears to show the main building situated on the infield of the Circuit de la Sarthe, just behind the Ford Chicane. With plans for a 1.8-mile circuit, this would allow the PEC track to utilise some of the tarmac around the Porsche Curves

[lowdrag]

All they are doing is using the newish existing Maison Blanche circuit which from memory is about a mile long at the moment and incorporating a bit of the main circuit when it isn't the main race or the Classic

[chum racing]

G30001 said:

So how does that work??

Built on MB but won't affect camping? are they going to give us the roof ??

When you drive through the MB entrance, the campsite is to your right and all the way down towards Corvette and Porsche Curves. If you turn left (where they had the corvette display and usually the paddock for one of the support races) this area is still part of the Maison Blanche track, but not part of the campsite.

[cbrown7]

Any update on this topic?

I can't really see how the MB campsite and the proposed PEC, as per the artist impressions, can co-exist.

[Camberwell]

cbrown7 said:

Any update on this topic?

I can't really see how the MB campsite and the proposed PEC, as per the artist impressions, can co-exist.

It's really as the guys have said - as you go into Maison Blanche by car to the left will be the PEC, everything to the right will be as normal

[cbrown7]

Camberwell said:

It's really as the guys have said - as you go into Maison Blanche by car to the left will be the PEC, everything to the right will be as normal

I wish I shared some of the optimism expressed on this topic.

I was somewhat encouraged to discover that Porsche already offer 'Driver Experiences' in the MB track over the course of the year. http://www.porschedriving.fr/index.php/psds/Circui...
Some dedicated building to support this, with minimal impact to MB camping during the 24hrs, seemed a possibility.

I contacted the ACO and posed the question: "Are you yet able to inform me what will be the position regarding camping on the Maison Blanche campsite for the 2015 Le Mans 24hrs with the introduction of the Porsche Experience Centre in this area."

The replied: "We have no information yet concerning this. Thanks to contact us around end September."

Then I found http://www.porsche.com/france/aboutporsche/pressre...

I'm sure you can translate it yourselves but comment such as:

"A reception area for all events on the track, especially for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including a space overlooking the circuit."

"Conference facilities and a restaurant"

"A static display of Porsche cars in the current range and its historical heritage"

"Porsche service center"

"Ten full-time jobs created for the occasion"

Don't sound like minimal impact to me. They (Porsche) could of course shrink back to the complex during 'our' weekend and leave the track free for camping but I somehow doubt there will be as many pitches available on MB for 2015 and beyond.

I'm not scare mongering, just trying to be realistic and get as early an indication of my true 2015 options a soon a possible.

That said I am hanging on to my provisional MB booking for 2015, at least until the end of September.

[McDuck]

It's going to be fine!

I was back at Le Mans in August for 2 days on track. Work on the Porsche Centre is in full swing, and we couldn't use half of the usual paddock of the Maison Blanche circuit. Should've taken some photos - it's huge, but it shouldn't impact on the campsite. I've drawn the rough area of it here:



Was told that Porsche have booked around 200 days in 2015 on the Maison Blanche circuit, so it will be harder for trackday clubs to get days there. Hopefully availability of the Bugatti Circuit will be unaffected. There's also a rumour that Porsche may want to upgrade / extend the Maison Blanche circuit - awkwardly, it includes the Corvette Curves but not the Porsche Curves. Can't see how that would work though!

Either way, the campsite should be fine, for now..

[FredericRobinson]

I've had an e-mail today from Travel Destinations about my order (not for Maison Blanche), they're saying

'We would ask customers with Maison Blanche permits to proceed with full payment on the understanding that if the building works proposed by Porsche impact the availability of the camping, we will be obliged to offer you alternative campsites or refund your payment in full.'


So they're not being told by the ACO either

[cbrown7]

FredericRobinson - It was a similar email from Tickets2U that caused me to go looking for an update.

McDuck - Good work, lets hope you are right.

[Dickie Dastardly]

I've booked for MB for 2015 so it cannot be completely defunked yet!!