Camping at the Classic.

[Blue 7]

I’ve recently booked ferry & entry tickets for the Classic. I went to the 24 Hours three times in the early 2000s, the last time in 2005, but I’ve never been to the Classic.

Back in the day, we simply turned up with general admission tickets & found ourselves a camping pitch, without pre-booking a pitch. Would that be a feasible option for the Classic in 2026, or am I being naive?

If I need to pre-book camping where’s the best place to do that?

Cheers in advance, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[quarryman111]

You’ll need to book a camping space via the ACO site, as you did your GA tickets. Also ensure that you get Paddock tickets to maximise what you can see during the weekend.
Someone will correct me if otherwise but I suspect only the Beausejour site will be available now; it’s not numbered pitches but it’s a big site so there’ll be space somewhere.

[Blue 7]

Thank you!

I’m sure I looked for camping tickets when I booked the General Admission, but nothing was showing up on the website at the time.

Pitches for Beausejour & Prairie are still available, so I decided to go for Prairie. I’ve booked paddock passes too.

Cheers again! I’m looking forward to it already!

[bergclimber34]

I did it once, never again, poorly organised, massive queues at the few shower and wash points, horrendous noise, very poor tent pitch areas.

Never again, but that would be the whole event not just LM.

[Blue 7]

I’m feeling nostalgic already!

[quarryman111]

Blue 7 said:

Thank you!

I m sure I looked for camping tickets when I booked the General Admission, but nothing was showing up on the website at the time.

Pitches for Beausejour & Prairie are still available, so I decided to go for Prairie. I ve booked paddock passes too.

Cheers again! I m looking forward to it already!

We’ve booked Prarie this time as well for a change. Perhaps marginally closer to the action than BSJ; we’ll see.
Don’t forget to get a CritAir sticker for your car: not sure whether it’s necessary for LeMans city centre as we’ve not driven in for years, but it’s the sort of thing BiB will want along with all your car docs if you happen to transgress!!

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

[quarryman111]

Blue 7 said:

Thank you!

I m sure I looked for camping tickets when I booked the General Admission, but nothing was showing up on the website at the time.

Pitches for Beausejour & Prairie are still available, so I decided to go for Prairie. I ve booked paddock passes too.

Cheers again! I m looking forward to it already!

We’ve booked Prarie this time as well for a change. Perhaps marginally closer to the action than BSJ; we’ll see.
Don’t forget to get a CritAir sticker for your car: not sure whether it’s necessary for LeMans city centre as we’ve not driven in for years, but it’s the sort of thing BiB will want along with all your car docs if you happen to transgress!!

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

[leyorkie]

Crit aire not needed for Le Mans but necessary to pass through Rouen

[Blue 7]

That’s great, do come & say hello!

I’ve had a few trips to France in the Caterham in recent years, so I have a Crit’air sticker. Strangely, the Seven qualified for a Crit’air 1!

I do wonder if they simply didn’t know what a Caterham is!

[FredericRobinson]

Is Critair continuing then? Wasn’t there talk of cancellation?

[harrycovert]

I think you can get a free pass for Rouen that allows 24 visits a year to the ZFE .

[leyorkie]

harrycovert said:

I think you can get a free pass for Rouen that allows 24 visits a year to the ZFE .

I may be wrong but I believe the exception allowed is for residents who live outside the area with cars that don't comply to visit the area occasionally. Think of old farmer with 30 year old car that needs to visit tax office or hospital etc as it's not daily use they don't have to buy a modern vehicle just get a temporary permit.
The English translation says open to all and free but I've no idea where you get one from

Edited by leyorkie on Monday 16th February 23:57

[D9]

I don't think it's too hard to avoid the emissions zone at Rouen if you don't need to go through the centre of Rouen.

Have travelled via Rouen a couple of times.

First time my sat nav took me right through the city centre which was like London in the rush hour, and I had forgotten to get a critair sticker ( but never received a fine)

The second time , I was prepared, had my critair sticker, yet the sat nav took me around Rouen and I never entered the emissions zone !

I couldn't tell you route, but it wasn't as painful as going through the centre.

[FredericRobinson]

D9 said:

I don't think it's too hard to avoid the emissions zone at Rouen if you don't need to go through the centre of Rouen.

Have travelled via Rouen a couple of times.

First time my sat nav took me right through the city centre which was like London in the rush hour, and I had forgotten to get a critair sticker ( but never received a fine)

The second time , I was prepared, had my critair sticker, yet the sat nav took me around Rouen and I never entered the emissions zone !

I couldn't tell you route, but it wasn't as painful as going through the centre.

Yvetot and the Pont de Brotonne is the easiest way round

[D9]

FredericRobinson said:

D9 said:

I don't think it's too hard to avoid the emissions zone at Rouen if you don't need to go through the centre of Rouen.

Have travelled via Rouen a couple of times.

First time my sat nav took me right through the city centre which was like London in the rush hour, and I had forgotten to get a critair sticker ( but never received a fine)

The second time , I was prepared, had my critair sticker, yet the sat nav took me around Rouen and I never entered the emissions zone !

I couldn't tell you route, but it wasn't as painful as going through the centre.

Yvetot and the Pont de Brotonne is the easiest way round

Yes, your right, that is actually the route I tried on my return last year, and is now my preference for this year

[quarryman111]

FredericRobinson said:

Is Critair continuing then? Wasn t there talk of cancellation?

Who knows with French regulations! Just like the 80/90kph speed limits it seems that National and Local governments are rarely on the same page!

But I have noticed an increasing number of French cars carrying the sticker these days.