Tips on getting on the track to watch the podium

[Bobbajack]

Hi

My first time to Le Mans this year and I really want to experience the podium. Any tips on where to be when they open up the track. I’m staying on a camp site at the Porsche Curves so I guess I will have to get up nearer start line.

Thanks

Edited by Bobbajack on Sunday 10th June 21:14

[DJFish]

Once the cars are in parc ferme they open gates at the base of the Dunlop Bridge & by the main entrance to the circuit to the right of the tunnel under the track.
They also open a small gate at the foot of the grandstand facing the pit lane but you have to drop about 6ft (possibly more) to get through it.
There are probably more gates up circuit that someone may be able to advise on.
If you want to be at the front of the podium crowd you need to leg it to the gates as soon as the race finishes, then leg it (or bike/scooter/roller skate) down to the pit lane.
It’s always a race between the pit crews to stash everything before the trophy hunters descend & nick everything that isn’t nailed down (& sometimes stuff that is).

[TheHoof]

Bobbajack said:

Hi

My first time to Le Mans this year and I really want to experience the podium. Any tips on where to be when they open up the track. I’m staying on a camp site at the Porsche Curves so I guess I will have to get up nearer start line.

Thanks

Edited by Bobbajack on Sunday 10th June 21:14

I'd suggest leaving the campsite a few hours from the end, walk to the track entrance by Blu campsite and watch the closing stages of the race from the general access concrete standing area on drivers left by the start finish line. Shortly after the track is clear of cars, the marshals open it up for everyone to climb over the wall and onto the track.

When all of the ceremonies are over, it's a pleasant walk back along the track (the wrong way!) to Porsche Curves and you can get back into the campsite no problem by dropping down one of the access ramp roads, or continuing to where the curves rejoins the public road.

I'm also at Porsche Curves again with travel destinations with a BMW 330i estate and either a 996 or a BMW M5 if the 996 isn't repaired in time. Say hello if you see us!

[Bobbajack]

Thank you for the advice TheHoof that’s that we will do. On another note, what is it like at the Travel Destinations site? They have been great with me so far so I hope the site is nice.

Thanks again.

[Bobbajack]

Thank you for the advice TheHoof that’s that we will do. On another note, what is it like at the Travel Destinations site? They have been great with me so far so I hope the site is nice.

Thanks again.

[Cass63]

Weve been going with travel destinations for the last five years, very helpful company, but I’ve never stayed on their campsite, I thought it was next to the roundabout next to the main entrance of bsj, so a bit of a walk to Porsche curves. We’ve always watched the last laps of the race right on the finish line under the grandstand, they open the gates there and let you on the track but it is a bit of a drop.

[JT3K]

All the access gates along the circuit are opened from the end of the race - it's never an issue even if you're a bit slower at walking out (like last year in the heat) to get in to the thick of it and watch the podium

[TheHoof]

Bobbajack said:

Thank you for the advice TheHoof that’s that we will do. On another note, what is it like at the Travel Destinations site? They have been great with me so far so I hope the site is nice.

Thanks again.

It's great, hence we've been with them for the last few years.

Private access to the banking on the drivers left of Porsche In is the big draw - it's a wonderful place to watch from & do remember to bring a folding chair. The beer/catering tent has a good atmosphere, the beer is cold and I recall the band being quite good last year although I had quite a few of the aforementioned cold beers before hand so happy to be corrected on that front.

Showers & toilet blocks are the standard affair across the other private sites I've used (i.e. tiny!) but the water is hot and they are regularly cleaned.

You've chosen well and will have a great time.

[TheHoof]

Bobbajack said:

Thank you for the advice TheHoof that’s that we will do. On another note, what is it like at the Travel Destinations site? They have been great with me so far so I hope the site is nice.

Thanks again.

How did you get on?

Catering at TD was a total fiasco on Sunday - I need to call Richard this week and give him some constructive feedback.

[Bobbajack]

Hi

Had an amazing weekend. Was impressed with the TD site apart from the tiny showers lol. The viewing bank was amazing. Definitely one of the best places to sit on the whole circuit. Food wasn’t great but like you say the beer was cold which made up for it.

Plus me and my mate managed to get on the circuit for the podium celebrations by climbing over a 10ft gate lol. We actually were the first on track by quite a way.

[Great Dane]

There is a big metal gate just before the finishing line that gets opened after the last car have passed the flag... never failed me in five attempts

[RL17]

Drive a Toyota!!!!!

sorry thought this last week but just back from pub after a long Le Mans weekend

Or/Plus if you take an extendable flag pole you can usually get to front if they've won

[sahajesh]

TheHoof said:

How did you get on?

Catering at TD was a total fiasco on Sunday - I need to call Richard this week and give him some constructive feedback.

What was the issue with the food, considering a TD stay next year.

[RL17]

sahajesh said:

What was the issue with the food, considering a TD stay next year.

Drove past TD loads and walked past a couple of times.

Looks a good site as we were on other side at Village on the Curves (no high banking but trackside with bar and food 40 metres away and had breakfast next to barriers on Sunday), loads of Porsches, on demand shuttles (most of time to/from Technopark and tram stop) but a little harder to drive into (as in BSJ) and a bit further to walk at 5am during the race. And 60 yards or so from gate to public banking on inside or track there.

Does TD have any shuttles as I'm also possibly considering that site?

[Monsterlime]

We stayed in the "glamping" part of the TD site, and had no problems with the catering on Sunday night. They did pause the chilli queue for a bit due to a 60 portions limit, but it was just to check they had enough left (I was the 60th portion, and they had loads when I got mine).

Quite impressed with the TD site, much better food and organisation than Speed Chills. The only other company I'd consider staying with instead of TD is Lycian Events (The Village on the Curves).

[JT3K]

Seems like the marshalls on MB were a bit clueless. Opened both the gates at the right time but then shouted at us for walking through them. Not a clue what their problem was - all their friends and family were happily out on track at the time.

[Jarcy]

Bobbajack said:

Hi

Had an amazing weekend. Was impressed with the TD site apart from the tiny showers lol. The viewing bank was amazing. Definitely one of the best places to sit on the whole circuit. Food wasn’t great but like you say the beer was cold which made up for it.

Plus me and my mate managed to get on the circuit for the podium celebrations by climbing over a 10ft gate lol. We actually were the first on track by quite a way.

Judging by the angle of your photo and that we were nearly first through the pit straight gate onto the circuit, I must have been standing right next to you!
Fantastic for our first visit to LM to get right into the thick of the action & celebrations.

[williamp]

JT3K said:

Seems like the marshalls on MB were a bit clueless. Opened both the gates at the right time but then shouted at us for walking through them. Not a clue what their problem was - all their friends and family were happily out on track at the time.

Could be they chnaged fhe ending this year? Beforehand the cars did the final lap, then turned right and went back down the pit exit to either the podium or parc ferme..

This year they did a lap of honour before the same. I dont remember that before

[StevieBee]

Cass63 said:

We’ve always watched the last laps of the race right on the finish line under the grandstand, they open the gates there and let you on the track but it is a bit of a drop.

There's steps down from the hard standing area where we went through. The tricky bit is the 5' concrete wall the other side.

We'd not thought about doing this but found ourselves near to one of the gates at the end and just joined the throng. Got close enough to get a shower of champagne.

[TheHoof]

sahajesh said:

What was the issue with the food, considering a TD stay next year.

Insufficient supplies on multiple occasions throughout the weekend.