It's postponed!

[wsn03]

delta0 said:

Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 said:

Spain opened up today so I suspect it's just a matter of time for France.

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1298880/...

I might try and book a Brittany Ferry to Santander for next week...take the C63 with me

EDIT: OMG it's nearly 1k???? lol

Edited by Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 on Sunday 21st June 18:32

Until the foreign office advice changes from “The Foreign & Commonwealth Office currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel.” no one has valid travel insurance if they do go abroad. Hopefully this will change soon.

Le Mans is "essential travel", so hopefully we will be ok.

All I want:
1. To be allowed to travel
2. To be allowed to view at 2 or 3 places (including my favourite venues on the East side)
3. To run for the hills once its finished...getting everything put away before Lock Down 2 (about October most "experts" reckon, start of flu season).

[Jim on the hill]

wsn03 said:

delta0 said:

Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 said:

Spain opened up today so I suspect it's just a matter of time for France.

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1298880/...

I might try and book a Brittany Ferry to Santander for next week...take the C63 with me

EDIT: OMG it's nearly 1k???? lol

Edited by Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 on Sunday 21st June 18:32

Until the foreign office advice changes from “The Foreign & Commonwealth Office currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel.” no one has valid travel insurance if they do go abroad. Hopefully this will change soon.

Le Mans is "essential travel", so hopefully we will be ok.

All I want:
1. To be allowed to travel
2. To be allowed to view at 2 or 3 places (including my favourite venues on the East side)
3. To run for the hills once its finished...getting everything put away before Lock Down 2 (about October most "experts" reckon, start of flu season).

Unless you are working there it's not essential by the definition.

[chasingracecars]

I will be head chef on the campsite does that qualify?

[eps]

Can we not just say we're conducting a mass eye test??

[gt6]

I think that in three months time the essential only travel restriction will be long gone

[Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35]

gt6 said:

I think that in three months time the essential only travel restriction will be long gone

I think it might be gone (along with this 14 day UK quarantine) by the end of this month with regards to the holiday hotspots: France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece...

Someone in Spain has certainly woke up and thought "holy st, we need those Brit tourists back PDQ"...France etc will follow suit I reckon.

[Jim on the hill]

gt6 said:

I think that in three months time the essential only travel restriction will be long gone

Agreed, can't see it being in place in a month tbh

[vincegail]

Too bad the ACO will be announcing the policy about public at the 24 Hours on june 30th, not in a month's time.

[LawrieC]

Yes - a lot can happen in July and August - next week even. They may do a Boris, and at the end of the month announce that the announcement will be at the end of next month

[wsn03]

Jim on the hill said:

Unless you are working there it's not essential by the definition.

Im working - chief guide and beer master - key worker

[Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35]

LawrieC said:

Yes - a lot can happen in July and August - next week even. They may do a Boris, and at the end of the month announce that the announcement will be at the end of next month

I’m sure I heard, on LBC last nite, that .gov.uk will make an announcement on 29th June with regards to travelling abroad and restrictions lifted by mid July.

Damn sure I heard that but I could be wrong. Sorry that I have no evidence.

[LawrieC]

Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 said:

I’m sure I heard, on LBC last nite, that .gov.uk will make an announcement on 29th June with regards to travelling abroad and restrictions lifted by mid July.

Damn sure I heard that but I could be wrong. Sorry that I have no evidence.

You're quite right! but the announcement could be that they'll make another announcement

My mate Dave with a place in France is packing his bags, so I reckon its on

[Vette_1978]

LawrieC said:

You're quite right! but the announcement could be that they'll make another announcement

My mate Dave with a place in France is packing his bags, so I reckon its on

Exactly. The laws are easing to allow sporting crowds of up to 5000 from July 11th. The announcement could simply be that spectators are expected to be allowed, but lets wait and see. I doubt they'd offer credit notes for an event so far out if there was a chance it could go ahead. There maybe some clarity on what definitely won't happen, pit walk cancelled, no concerts, no fairground, no access to scrutineering, stuff like that. Could be they make a decision on spectator access sometime in August, the race teams and media know what they're doing well in advance, we just wait and see.

[Red Firecracker]

Vette_1978 said:

... the race teams and media know what they're doing well in advance, we just wait and see.

(apologies for snipping your post)

We're (media) mostly in exactly the same position as everyone else. I know that I have an email saying I have accreditation for Le Mans, but whether that will get rescinded or if the event actually happens, we'll not know until nearer the time. As an example, ELMS and LMC starts at Ricard next month, I got confirmation yesterday that I can attend. I have no word on WEC Spa as yet, all anyone knows is that those races are behind closed doors but are going ahead.

The ACO are being (quite rightly) very agile on this. I would be very very surprised if the race does not go ahead.

[wsn03]

LawrieC said:

My mate Dave with a place in France is packing his bags, so I reckon its on

That's pretty much confirmed it for me then

[LM240]

June being cancelled was hard to take and treated September as unlikely, but as time has gone on I’m desperate for sept to go ahead.

If they make an early announcement about no spectators or restrictions to French residents, that will be really really hard.

I’d be half tempted to make the trip anyway and see if there are any work arounds to watch it.

I think ACO will be keen to have people through the doors, so hoping they are keeping options open as much/late as possible.

[icepop]

There's a couple I follow on YT, that went to France , by ferry 10 days ago. They just had to sign a form at the port to say that they had no symptoms of CV, and off they went. When I asked how they were camping etc, with most sites being shut and lack of WC's etc, they said that all the sites were open,and functioning, all WC's too, locals were being very welcoming too, and there were hundreds of motorhomes currently holidaying in France. I was surprised to say the least, as I thought, and have since found to be correct, that the FO is still advising against all non essential travel.

[//j17]

LM240 said:

If they make an early announcement about no spectators or restrictions to French residents, that will be really really hard.

No, that would be great!

On the one hand it's straight on the phone to move my booking to 2021.

On the other I can get down to planning an at-home Le Mans.
Do I take a half day Friday for the Driver's Parade (go out for lunch, go to the pub and drink beer while basically ignoring the traffic on the road outside, followed by another meal out - which is basically our normal Le Mans Friday)?
Do I just live on pain au chocolat for 4 days?
Where can you buy boxes of "33" Export in the UK?
Will I need to take Monday off to recover?
Do I put the beer in the fridge, or keep it real by drinking them tepid out of a bucket of water that had ice in it...for about 20min...on Thursday?
etc


This current limbo is worse than knowing one way or the other.

[Truckosaurus]

//j17 said:

...This current limbo is worse than knowing one way or the other.

Indeed. I suspect the biggest issue the ACO have is that even if they announce on the 30th that it is all systems go, they have to be prepared that there might be a last minute lockdown or change in travel restrictions so it'll end up behind closed doors and they've paid out for beer and sandwiches etc. and will have to do more refunds than if they announce it being closed doors on the 30th.

[Ramona]

Red Firecracker said:

We're (media) mostly in exactly the same position as everyone else. [...] I would be very very surprised if the race does not go ahead.

Would be interested in your views as to whether spectators will be present if it does go ahead - though I do appreciate that your crystal ball may be no better than anybody else's :-)