2021 - Don't get too excited

[LM240]

I wish anyone who is buying tickets and traveling a fantastic time. But this will i / won’t I, general stress and hassle is a major reason for me throwing in the towel.

I looked out of curiosity yesterday and it seemed quite telling I could still book two seats in ACO stand as part of weekend package.

It does hurt having tickets for sale and not making plans to attend. Apart from transport to France being an issue, I do wonder if I’m maybe being ‘too safe’ (covid wise) in deciding to abandon any plans for the trip this year.

The whole situation is crap. If 2022 is not back to some sort of normal it will be pretty depressing.

[Output Flange]

T-bagger said:

Anyone know where you can download your ticket? Can’t see the option and wanted to check grandstand. Maybe I’m being impatient.

You can view your invoice, which shows what you've been allocated, using the link I posted a few replies back up.

[T-bagger]

Output Flange said:

You can view your invoice, which shows what you've been allocated, using the link I posted a few replies back up.

Thanks, yes managed to find the invoice but couldn’t find the e-tickets. Any idea where they should be? Wondering if they haven’t been “issued” yet.

[Output Flange]

T-bagger said:

Thanks, yes managed to find the invoice but couldn’t find the e-tickets. Any idea where they should be? Wondering if they haven’t been “issued” yet.

Not issued yet, as far as I can see.

[Truckosaurus]

LM240 said:

...But this will i / won’t I, general stress and hassle is a major reason for me throwing in the towel...

That's my way of thinking too. I'd rather resign myself to watching on TV at this stage rather than buying tickets and hoping everything lines up to be able to watch in person (ferries/tunnels/quarantines/travel rules/negative tests/health passports/scanning UK vaccine QR codes on a French device/not getting pinged by the UK or French COVID apps/lockdowns/not having access to the whole spectator area/etc)

Are we having a 'watching at home setup' thread instead of the annual 'stickered up cars' thread?

[surveyor]

Output Flange said:

T-bagger said:

Thanks, yes managed to find the invoice but couldn’t find the e-tickets. Any idea where they should be? Wondering if they haven’t been “issued” yet.

Not issued yet, as far as I can see.

I suspect you will need to return the booking form that they are mailing out before they issue the barcode tickets.

[T-bagger]

Thanks guys.

[LM240]

Truckosaurus said:

LM240 said:

...But this will i / won’t I, general stress and hassle is a major reason for me throwing in the towel...

That's my way of thinking too. I'd rather resign myself to watching on TV at this stage rather than buying tickets and hoping everything lines up to be able to watch in person (ferries/tunnels/quarantines/travel rules/negative tests/health passports/scanning UK vaccine QR codes on a French device/not getting pinged by the UK or French COVID apps/lockdowns/not having access to the whole spectator area/etc)

Are we having a 'watching at home setup' thread instead of the annual 'stickered up cars' thread?

When there are issues on the entrances because the marshals translate a ‘no glass’ rule into meaning ‘no alcohol’, I dread to think about turning up with anything but the recognised French health passport QR code. Big shoulder shrugs all round.

Anyone established whether UK visitors will have access to that yet?

It must be very hard for the ACO, I can understand the make it up as you are going appearance after the moment to try and make something happen. I really want to support the event but in balance it just isn’t going to happen this year. Projector and garden set up again this year.

[RobbyJ]

https://ticket.lemans.org/en/24h-lemans/other/23

The camping option was removed 2 days ago, now the parking option has also been removed so I'm guessing they are both full.

Does anyone know if they are planning to add more camping options?

[RobbyJ]

Just received this:

https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/info/health-protocol...

The most relevant bit for us being buried at the bottom of the page:

What about foreign health certificates?

The rules on foreign health certificates will be confirmed in July. Presently, we recommend you arrange a PCR or antigen test in France with the results available no more than 48 hours before your arrival at the circuit.

[BeeGT]

RobbyJ said:

Just received this:

https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/info/health-protocol...

The most relevant bit for us being buried at the bottom of the page:

What about foreign health certificates?

The rules on foreign health certificates will be confirmed in July. Presently, we recommend you arrange a PCR or antigen test in France with the results available no more than 48 hours before your arrival at the circuit.

If fully vaccinated then gaining access to France and to the circuit should be "straightforward" https://uk.ambafrance.org/Strategy-for-reopening-o... (Can't believe I used "straightforward" given the ever changing procedures from both the UK and French governments, but this advice does seem pretty clear - in summary the NHS app should be good enough)

[lowdrag]

I've just gone back to the start of this thread and it seems like years ago, yet is only 18 months. And still we don't have a clue as to where we are going and what is happening. The ACO change their decisions daily it seems, and it is only on Friday 11th June that I stayed for the weekend with an ACO committee member who had just come back from a meeting where the decision was taken that all camping sites would be closed. On Monday that had all changed of course. Financially the ACO is deep in the red, having lost €45 million last year and an estimated €35 million this year, so we can't blame them too much for moving the goal posts if it enables them to get a few more shekels in the kitty, now can we? So at the moment talk is pretty useless because it will be out of date tomorrow. And you'll only probably only know when you arrive as to where you are camping, despite all the "bookings" made. Many staff have "resigned" or been laid off, and the number of temps will probably be very restricted to cut down on costs.

Me? I'm not looking forward to 2022 but to 2023, the 100th anniversary of the race, when Chenard and Walker won. Now that should be a feast for sore eyes!

[Output Flange]

My view is that I've paid out a few hundred quid for tickets and crossings, and at the moment there's absolutely no certainty that I'll be able to make use of either.

However, if I can, I will. And if I can't, and the money ends up in the pockets of the ACO, then that's OK - it's a sport I love, so I don't mind taking a punt to support it.

[Oldwolf]

Output Flange said:

My view is that I've paid out a few hundred quid for tickets and crossings, and at the moment there's absolutely no certainty that I'll be able to make use of either.

However, if I can, I will. And if I can't, and the money ends up in the pockets of the ACO, then that's OK - it's a sport I love, so I don't mind taking a punt to support it.

Seconded

[BeeGT]

I can't make the full weekend but the thought of visitors being allowed and not being there for any of the atmosphere is winding me up. So I've just booked an entry ticket for Wednesday/Thursday practice and qualifying and hope to travel over Tuesday night and leave on Friday. Accommodation will have to be an AirBNB in the city centre with the campsites already sold out. Will be my first solo trip to LM, and as others have already said, if it doesn't work out then the ACO have benefitted from a small cash injection.

[Red9zero]

LM240 said:

I wish anyone who is buying tickets and traveling a fantastic time. But this will i / won’t I, general stress and hassle is a major reason for me throwing in the towel.

I looked out of curiosity yesterday and it seemed quite telling I could still book two seats in ACO stand as part of weekend package.

It does hurt having tickets for sale and not making plans to attend. Apart from transport to France being an issue, I do wonder if I’m maybe being ‘too safe’ (covid wise) in deciding to abandon any plans for the trip this year.

The whole situation is crap. If 2022 is not back to some sort of normal it will be pretty depressing.

Same here. We were booked through Travel Destinations but have transferred the booking to next year. We have got a credit note from Eurotunnel too, so at least next year will be a cheap one.

[RobbyJ]

BeeGT said:

I can't make the full weekend but the thought of visitors being allowed and not being there for any of the atmosphere is winding me up. So I've just booked an entry ticket for Wednesday/Thursday practice and qualifying and hope to travel over Tuesday night and leave on Friday. Accommodation will have to be an AirBNB in the city centre with the campsites already sold out. Will be my first solo trip to LM, and as others have already said, if it doesn't work out then the ACO have benefitted from a small cash injection.

Same here, planning on flying solo for the first time ever. Will get a camping pitch if they come up, if not I’ll kip in my car in the car park (all if COVID allows obviously).

[Nosynchro]

So now ticketed up it seems to hinge for some on green/amber/red and certain EU countries ignoring Merkel. I am hoping that the likes of France Spain Greece and Portugal would still like our tourism

[butaclor]

Nosynchro said:

So now ticketed up it seems to hinge for some on green/amber/red and certain EU countries ignoring Merkel. I am hoping that the likes of France Spain Greece and Portugal would still like our tourism

So I can get a grandstand and entrance but no parking. Ideas on where you can park up and get to the circuit (other than the awful hotel no one dare go to )

[Tyre Smoke]

Given up on this year. Sounds like an absolute cluster flock. ACO don't know what they're doing from one minute to the next, except desperate to avoid a behind closed doors event.

Covid quarantine, tests, certificates, no doubt French customs, will all make it thoroughly miserable.

Then there's the carnage of where you can and can't go, whether you get a grandstand or not, camping miles from where you want to be...

Nah. I'll pitch the caravan somewhere and watch it on German Eurosport and stream R LM.