2021 - Don't get too excited
Discussion
lowdrag said:
It's all down to costs. Closing the roads Wednesday for free practice, opening again at midnight, closing again for Thursday afternoon qualifying, opening for Friday rest day, and then closing again Saturday midday and finally opening properly Sunday afternoon takes a lot of people and man hours.
Yes, I can imagine - too much faffing. Would the locals normally complain if they closed the roads for the duration, but this year, they're less likely to make a fuss?I can't speak for everyone, but just the thought of bars and restaurants opening once more and the scintilla of hope of seeing tourists is more than enough for me and for many of my friends. It is after all the 100 yrs of the ACO) and the race next year. There will always be grumbles of course, but it'll all be forgotten afterwards.
ewand said:
It always felt a bit odd to have the roads open on Friday as presumably they need to go out and sweep them all again before the racing on Saturday.
I always thought it was more hassle than it was worth too - especially after sitting on the "N138" heading north the Monday after the race...and watched the lorry go the other way with brimmed tanks pissing diesel all over the road!//j17 said:
I always thought it was more hassle than it was worth too - especially after sitting on the "N138" heading north the Monday after the race...and watched the lorry go the other way with brimmed tanks pissing diesel all over the road!
That was probably quite a while back. Lorries are banned from the Route Nationale now that the motorways are open unless they are doing local deliveries. A heavy fine if caught avoiding toll roads. The A28 motorway from Rouen to Tours opened in three stages from 2001 to 2005..
FredericRobinson said:
Mind you, I'm not sure how much "fun' a 5 hour fun cup race would be to watch, it's always struck me as one of those branches of motorsport that would be brilliant to take part in but dull to watch, I'll be delighted if I get the chance to find out though
Fun Cup is not a spectator friendly form of motorsport, and on the full Le Mans circuit it will be pretty rubbish. It’s a good way of the ACO raising some much needed revenue though..Having been involved in a little of the Fun Cup stuff those commenting may well be right, but...
The grid should be massive - I think the 25hrs of Spa has around 100 if not 120 entrants.
Some of the cars are duos - so you have a driver and a passenger (!!!)
They look like VW Beetles but they are space frame.
They should be quick enough - they just need to ensure they get a 'full' grid, which based on the circuit they should.
Should be an interesting mix of drivers in terms of skill as well - so could be quite entertaining.
Not sure how they will handle refuelling as at Spa this is carried out away from the pits.
The grid should be massive - I think the 25hrs of Spa has around 100 if not 120 entrants.
Some of the cars are duos - so you have a driver and a passenger (!!!)
They look like VW Beetles but they are space frame.
They should be quick enough - they just need to ensure they get a 'full' grid, which based on the circuit they should.
Should be an interesting mix of drivers in terms of skill as well - so could be quite entertaining.
Not sure how they will handle refuelling as at Spa this is carried out away from the pits.
LM240 said:
I’d have no interest in the Fun Cup. Great opportunity for those that take part though.
The 90’s and 00’s support race could be good. I’d love to see F1’s, F40’s, Porsche GT1’s and XJ220 on track. Just before my time of attending when they were racing in anger.
I agree on both points; fun cup seems to be for the competitors and will no doubt bring a few quid in for the ACO and looking forward to seeing the entry list for the support race.The 90’s and 00’s support race could be good. I’d love to see F1’s, F40’s, Porsche GT1’s and XJ220 on track. Just before my time of attending when they were racing in anger.
Seems to me there chance of spectators is slimming but I’m still heading down so long as travel is permitted
I'm afraid it is looking rather gloomy. We have been pretty lucky here in the Sarthe really, but whereas we had 100 deaths in the eight months up to the end of October we have had four hundred in the following five months, and while the government talk about opening shops and restaurants in May (put back from next week) I'm afraid I don't see it happening. The number of new cases has dropped to under 10,000 per day which is good news but we need to step up the vaccinations.
lowdrag said:
I'm afraid it is looking rather gloomy. We have been pretty lucky here in the Sarthe really, but whereas we had 100 deaths in the eight months up to the end of October we have had four hundred in the following five months, and while the government talk about opening shops and restaurants in May (put back from next week) I'm afraid I don't see it happening. The number of new cases has dropped to under 10,000 per day which is good news but we need to step up the vaccinations.
I think the only hope we have in the UK is that travel will be allowed and we can visit the non-spectator event from afar or notable vantage pointsIt's hard getting a grip on daily statistics because they seem to bunch a few days together which distorts things, but looking at this month there are, as of yesterday, 400,000 more active cases than at the end of March - 4.2 million on 31/3 and 4.6 million yesterday. Not looking at all healthy.
More news from Ouest-France, a whole bowl of not good.
Like Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome, Le Virage de Mulsanne, Arnage in the Race, and Neuville in the Race, the Twinning Committee and the Town Hall of Ruaudin, co-organizers of the R'Hunaudières, believe that it is not reasonable to consider such an event this year .
+ 24 Hours of Le Mans. What animations are maintained?
In a statement, the organizers explain the reasons for this decision. To date, a large number of uncertainties persist for the month of next August as to the sanitary conditions of reception of the public and the level of security that will have to be deployed (high Vigipirate plan). The period of August also poses many questions to us in terms of the availability of all the actors of such an event: volunteers, car owners, exhibitors ... It is also, to date, impossible to consider whether the participants of the race will be authorized to leave the enclosure of the circuit to take part in the animations organized during the week (principle of sanitary bubble). It is the same for a large number of guests who could show a form of reluctance to come and meet the public.
Like Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome, Le Virage de Mulsanne, Arnage in the Race, and Neuville in the Race, the Twinning Committee and the Town Hall of Ruaudin, co-organizers of the R'Hunaudières, believe that it is not reasonable to consider such an event this year .
+ 24 Hours of Le Mans. What animations are maintained?
In a statement, the organizers explain the reasons for this decision. To date, a large number of uncertainties persist for the month of next August as to the sanitary conditions of reception of the public and the level of security that will have to be deployed (high Vigipirate plan). The period of August also poses many questions to us in terms of the availability of all the actors of such an event: volunteers, car owners, exhibitors ... It is also, to date, impossible to consider whether the participants of the race will be authorized to leave the enclosure of the circuit to take part in the animations organized during the week (principle of sanitary bubble). It is the same for a large number of guests who could show a form of reluctance to come and meet the public.
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