Why do some motorsport only care about Le Mans?
Why do some motorsport only care about Le Mans?
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Discussion

entropy

Original Poster:

6,441 posts

232 months

Friday 21st June 2013
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Why is Le Mans the only time when some fans are only bothered to be interested in endurance racing?

RobGT81

5,229 posts

215 months

Friday 21st June 2013
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Because its the biggest sporting event in the world.

stew-S160

8,020 posts

267 months

Friday 21st June 2013
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Why do some folk only care about soccer/rugby/etc?

nsa

1,704 posts

257 months

Friday 21st June 2013
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For me Le Mans is the race that provides the best coverage and variety of teams. I've tried to watch Spa 6hr, Nurburgring 24hr on TV but nothing comes close. I went to Britcar 24hr once but left after a couple of hours because I had no clue what was happening.


tristancliffe

357 posts

242 months

Friday 21st June 2013
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24 hour 2CV race at Snetterton. Some manage 6 or 7 laps in that time!

Chris944_S2

2,063 posts

252 months

Friday 21st June 2013
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The same happens in every sport. Why do UK tennis "fans" only ever watch Wimbledon.

Streps

2,457 posts

195 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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TV Coverage is otherwise pretty poor.
I try and watch the nurburgring 24 but the night coverage is a cctv camera at some stages.

Turn7

25,673 posts

250 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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nsa said:
For me Le Mans is the race that provides the best coverage and variety of teams. I've tried to watch Spa 6hr, Nurburgring 24hr on TV but nothing comes close. I went to Britcar 24hr once but left after a couple of hours because I had no clue what was happening.
Glad it wasnt just me then. I was really deflated by my trip to Britcar last year.

Im not really a fan of endurance though so that could explain it.....

SAS Tom

3,754 posts

203 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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That sums up most motorsport to me. You go to the race and its good for the atmosphere, watching your favourite drivers/riders and seeing the cars/bikes up close. The problem is you don't really have a clue who is winning the race, where so and so is etc as they all come flying past at speed.

If I go to a race then I'll probably watch it again on tv so I know what actually happened.

A9XXC

621 posts

178 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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Silverstone has a massive leader board and a radio station to tell you whats going on!

Janesy B

2,625 posts

215 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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As do most circuits, and it's not like you can't get hold of live timing on your smartphone etc.

Marcellus

7,204 posts

248 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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entropy said:
Why is Le Mans the only time when some fans are only bothered to be interested in endurance racing?
Have you ever been?

Once experienced never forgotten!

homer3uk

454 posts

260 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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Marcellus said:
entropy said:
Why is Le Mans the only time when some fans are only bothered to be interested in endurance racing?
Have you ever been?

Once experienced never forgotten!
Only a Le Mans virgin could make this statement.
Le Mans makes F1 look like child's play. To keep a car racing for 24 hrs is a mamouth effort and a joy to watch. Some crews are awake and working for up to 48 hrs depending on how much work needs doing prior and during the race. Each driver can potentially complete up to 6 gp's in a day with little rest.
The whole experience from quali to the final lap is something to behold. But nothing compares to sunrise at le sarthe. A very special time of day at a very special place.
As regards to endurance racing the whole experience is something special and now we have the WEC hopefully more people will enjoy endurance racing on the whole

coppice

9,697 posts

173 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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The same reason that discussions about a tyre test consume 50 odd pages - yawn- but when I go to most live motorsport there are as many drivers as spectators.

stephen300o

15,464 posts

257 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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It's Glastonbury for petrolheads, large gatherings of folk getting muddy and drunk, while the relentless 'music' continues.
That's why I don't bother going.

BlackpoolRock

1,183 posts

181 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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Take a radio with you, most events do the small ones with programmes now that clip on your ear. 87.7fm

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

255 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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entropy said:
Why is Le Mans the only time when some fans are only bothered to be interested in endurance racing?
Is It? Have you been to the Nurburgring 24hrs? I have, it's packed. Have you watched endurance racing at Silverstone? I have, way back to 1978. I used to go to the Willhire 24 too.
Endurance racing doesn't get the high profile TV coverage of other championships but that doesn't mean that people, lots of them, aren't interested in it - they are, throughout the year, every year.


IforB

9,840 posts

258 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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The racing at Le Mans is almost incidental. The whole experience is fantastic. I've not experienced that level of lunacy and hedonism at another car race. I have seen even more nuttiness at bike races (particularly the Bol D'or) but Le Mans isn't just about the race and that's why it the only motorsport event I go to regularly.

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

280 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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I think the reason is that the Le Mans race is on every motorsport enthusiast's bucket list and watching a round of the championship is just not in the same league.

You only have to look at the way the manufacturers and drivers present their accomplishments 25 years on after winning - the Le Mans win is almost better than a championship.

Then you go to the race itself. The journey there is an experience whether you are in the car of your dreams or the hire car of Avis. The price of everything is far more reasonable than for most events in general, let alone motorsport ones. The race can be seen from multiple points on the circuit, and you have time to go to all of them at some point during the race.

Whether you have a favourite driver or team, or not as the case may be, it's a great experience and that's why people want to go then keep on going.