Arriving Saturday morning

[V8Driver]

Has anyone turned up to Le Mans on a Saturday morning?

I need to be at work on the Friday evening, so can only leave around about 7PM, which will mean driving pretty much non-stop bar the two hour ferry, arrival will be around 4/5am on the 14th.

Anything I need to be aware of turning up on the Saturday? Gutted I won't be there on the Friday but at least I'll still make it.

This is my first Le Mans, hence the rookie questions.

Thanks.

[gt6]

You will miss a lot of what Le mans is about but you will see the race, it will be getting light by the time you arrive so find a place to camp set up and catch some sleep, the campsite will start waking up around 8 ish on saturday morning

[grondo]

Did the same thing as you are planning in 1997, my first Le Mans.
Left home at 22:00 Friday and arrived at the circuit about 07:00 Sat. Parked opposite main gate, bought tickets, breakfast,lunch, race , lots of wine/beer, the noise of the Panoz," ready steady stop" go karts at the fun fair to the left of Dunlop bridge and managed to stay on my feet until 05:30 Sunday ( when we fell asleep on the bank at Maison Blanche wrapped in french newspapers). Still my favourite weekend and so many stories we still reel off.
Do it !!

Edited by grondo on Thursday 24th April 21:53

[ellroy]

I admire your dedication! Good luck, you'll still love it.

Look forward to seeing you there when you come back and have time to meet up for beers.

[The Leaper]

I've arrived Saturday morning several times, usually when going solo to LM. The schedule is something like:

21:00; leave home (mid Surrey)
22:30: Eurotunnel departure
00:00: Leave Calais
04:00-04:30: arrive LM, parking in Parking Blanc already booked. Access is easy at this time of day!

Then sleep in the car, and ready and refreshed for working the circuit, enjoying the racing etc.
I always get a tribune seat. Overnight trip will leave you weary at times so knowing I have a seat is great.

When I go with my son, we drive down Friday but usually stay in a hotel some way from LM. This means we aim to arrive at the circuit on Saturday at about 09:30 when it is a lot busier but no real problem because we know our way around LM so as to get to Parking Blanc without much problem.

R.

[V8Driver]

Thanks for your input guys, good to know it's a workable plan, booked the 23:15PM ferry crossing, can't wait!