Paddock access?

[Roverload]

So, being a complete Le Mans virgin, I was wondering, how accessible is the area around the paddock / village? I've been to the f1 before and there was an awful lot that you couldn't access without a pass, also on an unrelated subject, are the campsites well signposted?

Ian

[davidd]

The paddock will be open on Friday (well it has been in the past) you will be able to get right up to the garages.

[Tyre Smoke]

davidd said:

The paddock will be open on Friday (well it has been in the past) you will be able to get right up to the garages.

But only on the Friday.

The Grandstands are open access for the practice/qualifying too, but you must show your pass for the 24 hours the race is on.

Campsites signposted very well from the motorway once you get off at the Le Mans exit.

[gt6]

Le Mans is nothing like F1 you will find that most area's are open access and with a little bit of trying you can also get into more select area's, Village is open all the time ans the pit lane on friday

[ciaranthemurph]

Tyre Smoke said:

But only on the Friday.

The Grandstands are open access for the practice/qualifying too, but you must show your pass for the 24 hours the race is on.

Campsites signposted very well from the motorway once you get off at the Le Mans exit.

I thought this, but last year in the middle of the night you could go into the grandstands with no pass at all. I had a pass, but a friend didn't, but nobody checked. I've got tickets for the stand opposite the pits this year and will head up to above them in the night to watch some of the pitstops.

[LC2]

ciaranthemurph said:

I thought this, but last year in the middle of the night you could go into the grandstands with no pass at all. I had a pass, but a friend didn't, but nobody checked. I've got tickets for the stand opposite the pits this year and will head up to above them in the night to watch some of the pitstops.

This is true, but if you don't have a ticket, you will be kicked out in the morning.
I watched some chap being woken up last year (he was in a sleeping bag) and turfed out as he didn't have a pass.

[GlennC]

davidd said:

The paddock will be open on Friday (well it has been in the past) you will be able to get right up to the garages.

Don't forget the pit walk on Tuesday. Having a chat with the drivers is always entertaining

[FredericRobinson]

It's often possible to wander round the paddock early in the week, unless you like looking at trucks and hospitality units there's not a great deal to see though.

[ciaranthemurph]

LC2 said:

This is true, but if you don't have a ticket, you will be kicked out in the morning.
I watched some chap being woken up last year (he was in a sleeping bag) and turfed out as he didn't have a pass.

Noted, I'll remember that for this year!

[DS240]

The last couple of years I noticed the stands are marshalled all night and tickets required.

[GrahamG]

Bit of confusion here - The Paddock is not open to the public during race week - there are though a couple of lengthy opportunities to access the pit lane when the teams are actively encourages to make the cars, and themselves, available - F1 eat your heart out!

[FredericRobinson]

The man on the gate must have gone for his lunch when I've been into the paddock then, we just walked down the steps from the village