2021 - Don't get too excited

[RobbyJ]

Antler said:

we might have been Covisheild people (although apparently there are none, the stuff hasn’t been used yet)

Thanks for the post, really useful to hear some real world experience.

Just on your Covishield point my sister in law and one of my mates have both had it and are unsure if their European summer hols will now be possible.

I've had the good old AZ clotter so I'm good to go if I don't die first.

[lowdrag]

Today I had a coffee with the deputy mayor of Mulsanne, and frankly they have no idea as to what is going on. One month ago today I went to Nantes for the celebration of the 60 years of the E-type. My friend, with whom I was staying, is an ACO committee member, and he told me that on that day, Friday 11th June, the ACO had taken the decision that al camping areas were to remain closed. Saturday, I read on internet that Bleu and Epinettes were to open. In the space of 24 hours they had done an about face. Today I heard from the deputy Mayor that they are now talking about separate areas for families and others. All of the shops, bars and restaurants are crying out for definite news so they can make decisions as to what they can and can't do. Not one shop has had the poster for this year to put in their window. all the people who live inside the circuit have the right to two tickets every year for friends, some of which they have sold on if no friends are coming. But if the procedure is the same as the classic racing last weekend you have to produce a passport or driving licence and then a bracelet is put on your wrist so that you can't pass the ticket on to someone else if you decide not to go. the families have always shared the tickets so different members can go one day and others another day, but that will be out of the window.

There are still whispers, but only rumours, that it might still be behind closed doors if the Delta situation here gets worse. It is rising, with more than half of all new cases being of the Delta variety. Not numerous, but 30 per day and rising. 600 here have died of the virus. Again not really a lot it is admitted. I usually have enough contacts to know just what is going on, but no one, but no one, now seems to know where we are. The ACO seem to be changing their minds daily. No one knows, for example, if spectator viewing at Mulsanne and Arnage will be open.

One good bit of news for the future concerns Mulsanne bend. The derelict house next to Mulsanne spectator viewing has been sold by the town to the ACO, and next year it will be demolished and stands built for spectators.

I am sorry I cannot give you any definite news as to what is going on, because all is rumour with no substance. None of us here believe we will truly know until August.

[DangerDoom]

Thanks for the update Lowdrag. Appreciate these insights into how things are there.

Interesting to hear that it's wildly chaotic. Seems pretty unfair to penalise the residents - and not provide some alternative options for those families which would share between themselves.

In the meantime let's hope things with Corona continue to be manageable; primarily for the benefit of everyone in the Sarthe and of course those of us who are keen on attending.

[early_911]

Bit of a shame to lose the old building . . . but it will make for great spectating.

[Chrisgr31]

Antler said:

MI was concerned that they would fuss about the NHS Scotland vac proof which doesn’t show batch numbers so technically we might have been Covisheild people (although apparently there are none, the stuff hasn’t been used yet),

e
Who says it hasnt been used yet? Fairly sure one of the jabs I had was from one of those batches. Well assuming I can read properly!

[Great Dane]

lowdrag said:

Today I had a coffee with the deputy mayor of Mulsanne, and frankly they have no idea as to what is going on. One month ago today I went to Nantes for the celebration of the 60 years of the E-type. My friend, with whom I was staying, is an ACO committee member, and he told me that on that day, Friday 11th June, the ACO had taken the decision that al camping areas were to remain closed. Saturday, I read on internet that Bleu and Epinettes were to open. In the space of 24 hours they had done an about face. Today I heard from the deputy Mayor that they are now talking about separate areas for families and others. All of the shops, bars and restaurants are crying out for definite news so they can make decisions as to what they can and can't do. Not one shop has had the poster for this year to put in their window. all the people who live inside the circuit have the right to two tickets every year for friends, some of which they have sold on if no friends are coming. But if the procedure is the same as the classic racing last weekend you have to produce a passport or driving licence and then a bracelet is put on your wrist so that you can't pass the ticket on to someone else if you decide not to go. the families have always shared the tickets so different members can go one day and others another day, but that will be out of the window.

There are still whispers, but only rumours, that it might still be behind closed doors if the Delta situation here gets worse. It is rising, with more than half of all new cases being of the Delta variety. Not numerous, but 30 per day and rising. 600 here have died of the virus. Again not really a lot it is admitted. I usually have enough contacts to know just what is going on, but no one, but no one, now seems to know where we are. The ACO seem to be changing their minds daily. No one knows, for example, if spectator viewing at Mulsanne and Arnage will be open.

One good bit of news for the future concerns Mulsanne bend. The derelict house next to Mulsanne spectator viewing has been sold by the town to the ACO, and next year it will be demolished and stands built for spectators.

I am sorry I cannot give you any definite news as to what is going on, because all is rumour with no substance. None of us here believe we will truly know until August.

that old barn was an unsual feature but the vieweing will be great from there... but when it is gone that will remove one of the questions in my Le Mans quiz

[Antler]

It all seems in the name. AZ is saying that Indian-made doses given in the UK were not called Covishield, so don't fall under the ban. Playing with words, if you ask me.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57665765.amp

[surveyor]

Have people returned their booking forms by email or in the post?

[surveyor]

I've had a reply from ACO to tell me I can only have 2 ACO members tickets - despite requesting their original allocation of 4. Am confused at their confusion....

[lowdrag]

You aren't the only one. Having posted that we have no idea as to whether Arnage and Molsanne spectating will be open, and reading your post, I went on to the ticketing site. Virtually everything is for sale still, from just basic tickets to packages including whichever stand you want. If you can't get the other two as you say, why not try this route? And all the packages include Mulsanne and Arnage, so that question seems for now to have been answered

https://ticket.lemans.org/fr/24h-lemans/billet?gcl...

[T-bagger]

surveyor said:

Have people returned their booking forms by email or in the post?

Did mine by post and email! Given speed that the tickets were available on my account, I think they reacted to the latter.

[surveyor]

T-bagger said:

surveyor said:

Have people returned their booking forms by email or in the post?

Did mine by post and email! Given speed that the tickets were available on my account, I think they reacted to the latter.

They are on it today. They have responded to the email, sorted their heads and supplied the right number of tickets. Now just have to get there!

[V12Vin]

All,

Trying to sort out some bits with ACO. And I am some 9 hours behind them. I even stayed up late to call them but nothing.

Generally, what's their working hours?

Thanks.

[lowdrag]

V12Vin said:

All,

Trying to sort out some bits with ACO. And I am some 9 hours behind them. I even stayed up late to call them but nothing.

Generally, what's their working hours?

Thanks.

Usually 0900 (so 0800 British time) but first we 'ave ze coffee, n'est ce pas, and zen ze croissant. So ring us après 1100, mais - vite! Ze déjeuer we 'ave 1130 - 1600, et zen ze little nap, et we close at 1700 rosbif time.

Translated, they are open 0800 - 1700 UK time. 'Owever, today is Bastille Day and ze France eez fermé. But you can still try.

[V12Vin]

lowdrag said:

Usually 0900 (so 0800 British time) but first we 'ave ze coffee, n'est ce pas, and zen ze croissant. So ring us après 1100, mais - vite! Ze déjeuer we 'ave 1130 - 1600, et zen ze little nap, et we close at 1700 rosbif time.

Translated, they are open 0800 - 1700 UK time. 'Owever, today is Bastille Day and ze France eez fermé. But you can still try.

ha! love it. And they probably live longer than us yanks.

I figure 1130 - 1600 sounds like it. Thanks again.

[joema]

The french like their long lunches. Usually 12 - 2pm so either morning or afternoon.

We’ve just transferred our 2020 booking to next year. This year is too much hassle

[Truckosaurus]

Anyone have access to a long range TV schedule to shout out what coverage Eurosport have lined up.

Will we be lucky enough to have streams of the support races?

Assuming, as always, only audio coverage of the test day.

[Output Flange]

Truckosaurus said:

Anyone have access to a long range TV schedule to shout out what coverage Eurosport have lined up.

Will we be lucky enough to have streams of the support races?

Assuming, as always, only audio coverage of the test day.

My understanding from RLM is that there wasn't going to be any coverage of the test day this year as it's behind closed doors. Obviously don't take that as gospel.

[eps]

Quite a few of the younger drivers tend to have twitch streams.... Will be worth checking

[lotus116tornado]

This does not look good and would probably stop any British involvement in Le Mans.
I can’t see teams and spectators stopping in designated hotels for 10 days.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk...