Discussion
The weather ensured large areas of BSJ remained open unlike previous years with water logged areas, that made the campsites look less busy.
I still think it was quiet in general as the roads were quiet in comparison to previous years.
The fact there are limited number of LMP1 cars hurts the event also.
I still think it was quiet in general as the roads were quiet in comparison to previous years.
The fact there are limited number of LMP1 cars hurts the event also.
I thought that crowd-wise it felt really busy; coming back from the Stella bar on Sat night/sun morn there were still hoards of people watching the racing at Tetre Rouge & up to the Dunlop bridge. Felt that there was a good, relaxed feel about the whole place all weekend.
Also seemed to be more food/drink places (notwithstanding the piss-take price for a pint) than usual so little queuing.
We lucked into some seats for the Motul grandstand at the Ford Chicane for the start - that was packed but cleared out as the race progressed.
Getting in was easy - we arrived on Fri @ 16:30 to Beasejour / SpeedChills via Arnage; the BSJ roundabout was clear - largely due to several fully tooled up CRS blokes standing about.
Getting back was completely clear - we left Mulsanne at the end of the race & got to Eurotunnel with no delays - I've never seen the toll booths or Eurotunnel so clear post-LM: we drove straight onto the 21:26 crossing. Typically only hold-up was back in England as one of the tunnels was closed at the Dartford Crossing.
Went for dinner in Arnage on Fri night - some action there, but mostly locals showing off their cars, but still very relaxed.
If the #63 Corvette had held on & the Toyota's had held together it would've been almost perfect!
Also seemed to be more food/drink places (notwithstanding the piss-take price for a pint) than usual so little queuing.
We lucked into some seats for the Motul grandstand at the Ford Chicane for the start - that was packed but cleared out as the race progressed.
Getting in was easy - we arrived on Fri @ 16:30 to Beasejour / SpeedChills via Arnage; the BSJ roundabout was clear - largely due to several fully tooled up CRS blokes standing about.
Getting back was completely clear - we left Mulsanne at the end of the race & got to Eurotunnel with no delays - I've never seen the toll booths or Eurotunnel so clear post-LM: we drove straight onto the 21:26 crossing. Typically only hold-up was back in England as one of the tunnels was closed at the Dartford Crossing.
Went for dinner in Arnage on Fri night - some action there, but mostly locals showing off their cars, but still very relaxed.
If the #63 Corvette had held on & the Toyota's had held together it would've been almost perfect!
Maison Blanche was significantly quieter than previous years, sad to see really
Only one block of showers/ loos this year, sure there was at least two previously
Compared to ten years ago I would suggest only 1/3 of the capacity
Oddly there didn't seem to be many Dutch people
Not sure if maison Blanche days are numbered as there seems to be a lot of capacity used for the porches racing stuffed
I also think a lot lof people stayed away because of terror situ
Only one block of showers/ loos this year, sure there was at least two previously
Compared to ten years ago I would suggest only 1/3 of the capacity
Oddly there didn't seem to be many Dutch people
Not sure if maison Blanche days are numbered as there seems to be a lot of capacity used for the porches racing stuffed
I also think a lot lof people stayed away because of terror situ
We commented within our group that it seemed quiet, the Wednesday night session was especially short of spectators.
Plenty of space on the Epinettes campsite where we were and Houx seemed to have lots of empty lots on the Thursday when it is usually rammed.
As we walked out of the circuit after the race the queue of cars out of Houx was much smaller than in the past.
Race day was as busy as ever, I think the good weather made people stay longer into the night.
As for the Danes, a lot more of them seem to be self driving these days rather than them all coming on a coach (and then just sitting around drinking as they have no transport to other areas of town).
Plenty of space on the Epinettes campsite where we were and Houx seemed to have lots of empty lots on the Thursday when it is usually rammed.
As we walked out of the circuit after the race the queue of cars out of Houx was much smaller than in the past.
Race day was as busy as ever, I think the good weather made people stay longer into the night.
As for the Danes, a lot more of them seem to be self driving these days rather than them all coming on a coach (and then just sitting around drinking as they have no transport to other areas of town).
We camped at Mulsanne, plenty of space. Tough to get a good spot on the corner for most of Sat but was up early Sunday to get a prime location. Didn't get around the circuit too much this year, spent most of it glued to the racing/radiolemans.
I don't mind it being quiet in the slightest, had a great camping pitch! Little video of our trip here: https://youtu.be/Jd8SdvM3u4A
Cheers,
Rob
I don't mind it being quiet in the slightest, had a great camping pitch! Little video of our trip here: https://youtu.be/Jd8SdvM3u4A
Cheers,
Rob
I saw 1 small group doing mad Friday when I came back after the drivers parade. Seems like they have all gone. Race day was very full. I think only pits tribune has some empty seats. Most campsites were filled up by Friday night from what I could see.
Anyone else see the burnt out van in one of the sites? I'm not sure which site it was. I saw it when I left Beausejour earlier today. I went right at the Beausejour roundabout and drove down the road and saw it on the left. That could have been what all the smoke was straight after the race finished.
Eurotunnel was busy coming back on Monday. I would say only 30% of our site left on Sunday. Beausejour was still busy on Monday. I managed to leave very easily and got to the Eurotunnel with no delays until we got to the booths. They loaded us onto the freight part of the train so it was very wide and high! Made it very easy to drive through without having to worry about the wheels on those edges!
Anyone else see the burnt out van in one of the sites? I'm not sure which site it was. I saw it when I left Beausejour earlier today. I went right at the Beausejour roundabout and drove down the road and saw it on the left. That could have been what all the smoke was straight after the race finished.
Eurotunnel was busy coming back on Monday. I would say only 30% of our site left on Sunday. Beausejour was still busy on Monday. I managed to leave very easily and got to the Eurotunnel with no delays until we got to the booths. They loaded us onto the freight part of the train so it was very wide and high! Made it very easy to drive through without having to worry about the wheels on those edges!
Edited by delta0 on Monday 19th June 22:20
It was my first year at Le Mans this year and got to take the M140 for a good long run through france into the bargain 
The crowds were not dissimilar to levels i have seen on tv in previous years however i cant comment on the campsites in relation to previous years.
We were camped in houx and did notice a few empty plots left by saturday afternoon (plenty filled up on friday evening). However even if there were less people this year, there were still people with fireworks that resembled artillery shells at 1am each night and dixie horns racing up and down like there was no tomorrow so i dont think the crowds are completeley disappearing!
The crowds were not dissimilar to levels i have seen on tv in previous years however i cant comment on the campsites in relation to previous years.
We were camped in houx and did notice a few empty plots left by saturday afternoon (plenty filled up on friday evening). However even if there were less people this year, there were still people with fireworks that resembled artillery shells at 1am each night and dixie horns racing up and down like there was no tomorrow so i dont think the crowds are completeley disappearing!
lots of French turning up and paying on gate as good weather and seemed to support Toyotas a lot after last year. Qualifying Friday night the stands were very busy and loads of cheering as Kobayashi did fastest lap. Saturday morning around 10.15am when Carrera cup was on the areas around Dunlop stand and the public terracing was packed 6 deep in rows of chairs and banking area 10 deep and packed all down in front on main stands opposite pits.
Still pretty busy until 1.30am when top 2 Toyotas out and then ground quietened down a bit and lots went . Big queues for most of the toilets start finish earlier - can't imagine how bad they'd be if beer reasonably priced although stands were full of glass stubbies etc but they did marshall our stand well with 6 or so walkways marshalled all Saturday and all through night until end of race
Still pretty busy until 1.30am when top 2 Toyotas out and then ground quietened down a bit and lots went . Big queues for most of the toilets start finish earlier - can't imagine how bad they'd be if beer reasonably priced although stands were full of glass stubbies etc but they did marshall our stand well with 6 or so walkways marshalled all Saturday and all through night until end of race
my 'vlogs' from the extended weekend
https://youtu.be/3Nm0ZOxB3OY
https://youtu.be/xdnzsBIXAIM
https://youtu.be/Fc_9kU7Dcm8
https://youtu.be/3Nm0ZOxB3OY
https://youtu.be/xdnzsBIXAIM
https://youtu.be/Fc_9kU7Dcm8
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff