Where's the best viewing at Le Mans?

[danwarner]

This will be my third year at Le Mans. Now I've got the jist of the flow of weekend's events, I'd like to try and take in a bit more. For the last two years I've stayed mainly within walking distance of the pit area (Dunlop bridge - pit entrance). I'd like to venture round the other side of the track to Mulsanne and/or Arnage. Are you able to walk all the way round the track? I usually park in the Bleu carpark (I think) near the main entrance. Will my ticket be valid for Arnage etc? Any suggestions would be much appreciated, as I want to make the most of a great weekend.

Thanks,

Dan.

[Nick M (nmilton)]

Your car park ticket will get you into the car parks down at Arnage / Indianapolis, as well as the new viewing area at the beginning of the Porsche curves.

Definitely wander down to the Esses (past the Dunlop bridge and down past the fair) and beyond if possible to somewhere near Tetre Rouge.

Also head out to the viewing area at the Porsche curves (walkable from the main grandstands - head towards Arnage and past the campsites and it's pretty much straight in front of you).

You really should also make the trek down to Arnage / Indianapolis at night - it's an excellent place to watch the cars come hurtling down from Mulsanne and then go round Arnage corner like they're on rails. Well, most of them anyway...

Mulsanne corner is also worth a look but the best bit is the walk from the car park to the spectator banking as the cars pass you flat out. Great if you want to record any sounds or call your mates at home on your mobile and make them jealous !!

Finally you could try and see the cars on the Mulsanne straight, but the viewing area by the chinese restaurant has been shielded with large screens for the last couple of years which dramatically cuts down on the view. Previously you could stand in a bush right behind the armco and the cars would be about 20 feet away.

So basically, get yourself out and about. Friday is a good day to suss out the lie of the land, or early Saturday morning before the traffic gets too silly.

Enjoy !!

[alfa dave]

Agree totally with Nicks comments. In answer to your other question - no you cannot walk right around the circuit. Also expect heavy traffic if you intend to drive to Arnage and Mulsanne corners at night, but do it - it's worth it - even in the pi$$ing rain last year - no where quite like it.

If you go to Mulsanne during the early morning on Sunday you can park near the bar at the roundabout and walk through a little industrial area to get to the corner - worth doing to avoid the swampy car parks if it's wet.

Just makes me more jealous thinking about it - still I'll be there next year for sure.

[danwarner]

Thanks for the info. That's just what I needed, cos I thought I've been missing out on loads of stuff, but didn't know how to find it. I'll certainly be venturing round to Arnage and Mulsanne this year though

Thanks again,

Dan.

[simont]

Go to Tertre Rouge corner at night. The cars are on the outsde of the track and a breaking hard for the corner. You can see the disks glowing bright red, see all the exhausts glowing, especially on the turbo cars and you can smell the heady mixture of burnt fuel, brakes and cluches. Heaven.......

I'll be there in 3 days!!!

>> Edited by simont on Monday 10th June 16:48

[danwarner]

Simon,

Where's the Tete Rouge corner, in relation to the main pit/grandstand area?

Dan.

[johnny boy]

From the main grandstands, head up past the Dunlop Bridge and the Funfair - keep going on the path through a small wooded area and you're there!

It get's busy though....

John

[simont]

up the hill, past the Dunlop bridge (stay on the outside of the track), down the hill past the new section of track past the fun fair, or at least were it used to be. Keep going till you run out of track, the corner is a right hander. Just at the 50 m marker there is a small tunnel that allows you to cross to the inside of the corner

www.club-arnage.com/getabout.htm

This URL will help

Sinmon

[JonVickers]

My folks are staying in the hotel on the Mulsanne 'straight'. You get some good views of the cars at the chicanes along there. Just try not to use your flash there at night - les gendarmes n'aime pas ca.

As others have said the far end of the Mulsanne straight is good for a laugh (I drove that part before they closed it last time around - in a Cavalier!).

Wave to the folks at the MR2 drivers club from me and if you see an English couple in their late 50s snogging and giggling tell them you know Jon.

>> Edited by JonVickers on Thursday 13th June 10:43

[flasher]

The best viewing this year was in the strippers tent behind the grandstand!!!

Hello to everyone I met this year, f****g awesome the whole weekend, from the drivers parade to the footy and the partying, this was the best so far!!

[MikeyT]

I did introduce myself to Flasher, Bennno and others who were having a pint at the bar at the top of the two tunnels at the end of the finish straight (don't know the name) (not that I think they remember much about it (nor the whole weekend probably)

Here's to yer

[flasher]

quote:
I did introduce myself to Flasher, Bennno and others who were having a pint at the bar at the top of the two tunnels at the end of the finish straight (don't know the name) (not that I think they remember much about it (nor the whole weekend probably)

Here's to yer

Mikey

great to meet you mate!!! You should have joined us for a beer!! But you seemed pre-occupied with getting to the strippers tent

Jamer was with us too, with his mate in a wig and floppy hat (we have yet to work out what the story was there!!