Best place to watch start
Discussion
My experience of the start is that it's very difficult, if not impossible now, to get to see the start from the grandstands (unless you have tickets of course). I only managed it once, in '88, when a mate I was with at the time used his fluent french to charm one of the security staff guarding the entrance to one of the grandstands. We got in for 20 minutes. I would imagine that is impossible to do now.
I always try to get down to the Esses, just before Tetre Rouge. It's an awesome sight watching the entire field streaming down the hill in one enormous pack, and it's the only time you'll see them like that. The noise is indescribeable. Remember, the track is so long that by the time they come round the second time, they will all have spread out.
Hope this helps,
Effortless.
As posted on here before, standing anywhere is gonna be a waste of time if your 4 rows back or more.
Solution buy a b&q bucket fill it with ice and a few beers ,Drink them on the way to the circuit .At the start of the race upside down with the bucket and stand on it done this twice and a brill idea.The best £1.99 you can spend.
Solution buy a b&q bucket fill it with ice and a few beers ,Drink them on the way to the circuit .At the start of the race upside down with the bucket and stand on it done this twice and a brill idea.The best £1.99 you can spend.
You'll miss a lot of the action at the Porsche curves.
For all but one year we have sat below the ACO stand, got there early, I mean four hours before the start, so take some beers and food.
But you see all the action, can see down to the Ford chicane, just, and up to the start of dunlop. You see what's going on in the pits, the car line up, drivers parade and everything else the ACO offers and a huge screen in front of you for the rest.
A few tips to get a good view, get as far back as you can but not the back two rows - these will become walkways even if you are sat there, about fourth back is good. Put you camp chair at the front of the step, not the back or someone who just wants to 'squeeze past' will stand in front of you, put your bag/cooler box at the back of the step below you. If you keep your camp chairs close enough together people won't push through to stand in front loosing you that all important view.
Or.... book tickets in a stand like I did this year, smug
For all but one year we have sat below the ACO stand, got there early, I mean four hours before the start, so take some beers and food.
But you see all the action, can see down to the Ford chicane, just, and up to the start of dunlop. You see what's going on in the pits, the car line up, drivers parade and everything else the ACO offers and a huge screen in front of you for the rest.
A few tips to get a good view, get as far back as you can but not the back two rows - these will become walkways even if you are sat there, about fourth back is good. Put you camp chair at the front of the step, not the back or someone who just wants to 'squeeze past' will stand in front of you, put your bag/cooler box at the back of the step below you. If you keep your camp chairs close enough together people won't push through to stand in front loosing you that all important view.
Or.... book tickets in a stand like I did this year, smug
I just had general entry tickets for the first few years. We went to the terraces in front of the grandstands on the start finish.
If you get there early, you can bag a decent spot, but you will need to guard your space ruthlessly. ie. don't all go for a beer leaving chairs in your place. They will have been moved by the time you come back. Always leave one person there to keep a space. The cheap fold up chairs you can buy are ideal at keeping the space.
Even turning up quite late, you will find somewhere along the start finish on the terraces. Even at the back you will have view of sorts.
It does get very very busy. Also if it is very hot, you are right in the sun for the start and finish. Also you will no shelter from rain.
The atmosphere is great at the start.
It will be our fourth year with grandstand seats. Shelter from the sun and rain, and although the seats are packed close, you do have a comfy place to sit, and when you go for a beer, you know your place is still there. I haven't seen people being allowed onto the stands without the right ticket. Maybe in very small numbers might charm their way on, but gnerally it is quite tight.
I wouldn't be anywhere else for the finish, in order to make the track invasion.
If you get there early, you can bag a decent spot, but you will need to guard your space ruthlessly. ie. don't all go for a beer leaving chairs in your place. They will have been moved by the time you come back. Always leave one person there to keep a space. The cheap fold up chairs you can buy are ideal at keeping the space.
Even turning up quite late, you will find somewhere along the start finish on the terraces. Even at the back you will have view of sorts.
It does get very very busy. Also if it is very hot, you are right in the sun for the start and finish. Also you will no shelter from rain.
The atmosphere is great at the start.
It will be our fourth year with grandstand seats. Shelter from the sun and rain, and although the seats are packed close, you do have a comfy place to sit, and when you go for a beer, you know your place is still there. I haven't seen people being allowed onto the stands without the right ticket. Maybe in very small numbers might charm their way on, but gnerally it is quite tight.
I wouldn't be anywhere else for the finish, in order to make the track invasion.
In the last few years we have had lunch in the campsite at tertre rouge a few cold beers get up from the seat with around 15 mins to go and pop to the loos on our way to the banking at the enterance to the campsite, watch the cars on the warmup lap and then the massive swarm of cars coming under the dunlop bridge and through the curves.
Much better than the start line, incredible noise and a beautiful sight.
walk to start line after about 30 minutes which by then is already empting out.
Much better than the start line, incredible noise and a beautiful sight.
walk to start line after about 30 minutes which by then is already empting out.
I've always had the pleasure of grandstand tickets and if it's your first time at Le Mans I'd say go for the start finnish straight.
You don't get to actually see much from either the terraces of the grandstands at the start it's self - a small window of track and the people stood around you but the noise of all 50-odd cars in close formation hitting the cannyon between pit and non-pit grandstands... You have to experience it at least once.
When you go back next year you can either get grandstand tickets (main advantage knowing you will have a space whenever you turn up, cover from sun/rain and a seat!) or try somewhere else.
You don't get to actually see much from either the terraces of the grandstands at the start it's self - a small window of track and the people stood around you but the noise of all 50-odd cars in close formation hitting the cannyon between pit and non-pit grandstands... You have to experience it at least once.
When you go back next year you can either get grandstand tickets (main advantage knowing you will have a space whenever you turn up, cover from sun/rain and a seat!) or try somewhere else.
I got a grandstand ticket last year and whilst it was a different experience it's just not the same as setting up camp with your mates at 1pm at your favourite spot and passing round the beer, bread and cheese whilst heckling the 23 Danes with a 90 foot flag who try to stand in front of you 
I shall be using the money saved to add to my Hermes tie fund (last years have already doubled in value!)
I shall be using the money saved to add to my Hermes tie fund (last years have already doubled in value!)
Robbo,
By Ford Chicane grandstand I think you mean La Sarthe grandstand, known in previous years as Maison Blanche grandstand.
I have had a seat in this grandstand every year since 1996. I know it is not in the pits straight but because of its position and angle you get all the pits straight noise back at you and you can see all the way up the track to the start of the bend towards the Dunlop bridge area. You can see on track pre and post race action too although it is a bit distant. Additionally, it's a great place to be to see Ford Chicane action and also cars entering the pit lane.
I have also been in Lagache grandstand opposite the pits for Le Classic, and I still think La Sarthe is the best as an all round grandstand to be in. It's good place too for sun up as you're in the shade and the sun is on the cars, nice and free of other spectators too usually early on.
There is normally beer and food sellers near by.
Since 2007 the area immediately in front of the grandstand has been closed off except for those with this grandstand's tickets, which has made access a huge improvement too.
A possible downside is the fairground action is now usually located behind the grandstand but in reality it's no distraction.
Oh, and there's been no easily visible screen to see in the past. I take binoculars and you can see the screen at the end of the pits for some of the action. These and Radio Le Mans do me fine.
Hope this helps. Send me your seat number and we'll come over with some beers when the grandstand is reasonably quiet!
R.
By Ford Chicane grandstand I think you mean La Sarthe grandstand, known in previous years as Maison Blanche grandstand.
I have had a seat in this grandstand every year since 1996. I know it is not in the pits straight but because of its position and angle you get all the pits straight noise back at you and you can see all the way up the track to the start of the bend towards the Dunlop bridge area. You can see on track pre and post race action too although it is a bit distant. Additionally, it's a great place to be to see Ford Chicane action and also cars entering the pit lane.
I have also been in Lagache grandstand opposite the pits for Le Classic, and I still think La Sarthe is the best as an all round grandstand to be in. It's good place too for sun up as you're in the shade and the sun is on the cars, nice and free of other spectators too usually early on.
There is normally beer and food sellers near by.
Since 2007 the area immediately in front of the grandstand has been closed off except for those with this grandstand's tickets, which has made access a huge improvement too.
A possible downside is the fairground action is now usually located behind the grandstand but in reality it's no distraction.
Oh, and there's been no easily visible screen to see in the past. I take binoculars and you can see the screen at the end of the pits for some of the action. These and Radio Le Mans do me fine.
Hope this helps. Send me your seat number and we'll come over with some beers when the grandstand is reasonably quiet!
R.
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