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As we enter Le Mans week there is a noticeable difference; there is no one about. However, being but a few days now from the event the weather forecast becomes more believable - or not considering what it is saying for mid September. 36C today, and nothing under 30C until Sunday. Risk of storms on Saturday and Sunday. That'll be fun on the public road sectors, covered in road film and oil for the last few months. No need to post again, you can get the local forecast here:-
https://meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/mu...
But remember, I've seen Mulsanne to Arnage running with water, and nothing elsewhere.
https://meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/mu...
But remember, I've seen Mulsanne to Arnage running with water, and nothing elsewhere.
I would have had a departure at about 6pm on the Saturday, a 2 hours drive to Plymouth.
overnight crossing and a nice 5 hour drive down to Mulsanne.
Arriving mid afternoon, a few hours setting up camp and then first meal about 8pm.
then ready for the week!
overnight crossing and a nice 5 hour drive down to Mulsanne.
Arriving mid afternoon, a few hours setting up camp and then first meal about 8pm.
then ready for the week!
//j17 said:
Not being there for a few days before make me sad too - though I can't say I'll miss the alarm going off at 04:30 to head to the Eurotunnel 
Big interview on the race today and the ACO's replies. Apparently there will be 8,500 in side the circuit, including teams, marshals, press, etc. Three people will be constantly testing teams in the paddock and there will be plenty testing elsewhere. When asked about whether there will be a shortage of marshals the ACO said there would not be, since for the marshals this is a "must not miss" race. The surprise in the interview was that the ACO have been changing the Dunlop bridge so it will be operational again and also creating another bridge. Both will be open in 2021.
I drove into the back entrance of the circuit today and wasn't questioned by anyone. I parked the car and walked into the media centre. Again, no control at all. I asked if there were any programmes this year for press reference and they told me none were printed. I walked around and no one asked who I was. It was chilling to see dayglow signs pointing to Covid testing stations. I didn't stay long; it sent shivers up my spine and was depressing to be there. So deathly quiet.
I played golf this morning early doors in view of the hot day in prospect, and as I passed the posts between Arnage and Mulsanne I asked at each post how many they were. it started at 17/36 usuals, the next post is the one after the Mulsanne bend and they were but three, at Mulsanne they were less than half the usual. The post on the hump before Mulsanne bend was empty, and no one at their camp site. Empty - no one. Usually there are 26 Brits there but they had all taken the decision to stay at home this year. I drove up the Mulsanne and stopped at the Hotel Arbor. Locked up; no one in, bar empty, no answer to my knocking. I spoke to the marshals at the second chicane; same reply - about half the usual numbers. As I drove further and further up the Mulsanne I looked at other posts. One had but a few cars and three caravans. I peeled up at the top and drove back down the service road behind the football stadium, and the only people I saw - and there were quite a lot - were the riot police wagons, the CRS.
I came home rather dejected.
I played golf this morning early doors in view of the hot day in prospect, and as I passed the posts between Arnage and Mulsanne I asked at each post how many they were. it started at 17/36 usuals, the next post is the one after the Mulsanne bend and they were but three, at Mulsanne they were less than half the usual. The post on the hump before Mulsanne bend was empty, and no one at their camp site. Empty - no one. Usually there are 26 Brits there but they had all taken the decision to stay at home this year. I drove up the Mulsanne and stopped at the Hotel Arbor. Locked up; no one in, bar empty, no answer to my knocking. I spoke to the marshals at the second chicane; same reply - about half the usual numbers. As I drove further and further up the Mulsanne I looked at other posts. One had but a few cars and three caravans. I peeled up at the top and drove back down the service road behind the football stadium, and the only people I saw - and there were quite a lot - were the riot police wagons, the CRS.
I came home rather dejected.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 17th September 06:23
Have to say, we did the same. In the opposite direction. Surprised to see so many caravans, but more CRS than anything else. Tertre Rouge bar open, at the front (circuitside) at least. The back looking derelict. Houx Annexe locked and empty, Houx locked and empty, save for a 'village' of caravans at the circuit end. Every campsite horribly empty. Save for officials/marshals. Everywhere really eerily quiet. Carrefour empty. No massive stacks of '33' or those skewers with chicken and green peppers. Had to look hard, but the Merguez were there!
What I can say is this year is a scorcher! But oddly dark from 7 until 7. Lowdrag is spot on, it's not Le Mans. All the social media trying to build it up, but there is no 91.2 FM. There are no flags on campsites, no barbecues, no watching the campsites fill up, no village, no atmosphere at all. I suppose on Saturday I will gently reposition my satellite dish to pick up German Eurosport and listen to Radio Le Mans via the web, and sit drinking a beer in the deserted campsite North of the city. There's a Scouse couple here that are on their way home after touring France for three weeks, us and two Dutch campervans on a campsite that's huge. Just the four pitches, three cats, four donkeys, two pigs, some chickens and four dogs. Lovely and peaceful, but it really shouldn't be in race week.
What I can say is this year is a scorcher! But oddly dark from 7 until 7. Lowdrag is spot on, it's not Le Mans. All the social media trying to build it up, but there is no 91.2 FM. There are no flags on campsites, no barbecues, no watching the campsites fill up, no village, no atmosphere at all. I suppose on Saturday I will gently reposition my satellite dish to pick up German Eurosport and listen to Radio Le Mans via the web, and sit drinking a beer in the deserted campsite North of the city. There's a Scouse couple here that are on their way home after touring France for three weeks, us and two Dutch campervans on a campsite that's huge. Just the four pitches, three cats, four donkeys, two pigs, some chickens and four dogs. Lovely and peaceful, but it really shouldn't be in race week.
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