Leaving early on Sunday :-(

[sahajesh]

Hi,

For the first time, I need to leave before the race ends and have the 21:36 tunnel back to UK. What sort of time do I need to leave to get back to Calais in good time (allowing for food and fuel stop at Baie de la Somme).

I've heard it's pretty busy just before the race as lots of people leave then - I could leave at 1pm (for example) but it seems far too early.

[fatboy18]

I think you would be fine to leave at 3ock Make sure the car is all packed up and ready to go first thing then relax for a bit watching the race, you know you are going to leave before race end so just go when you want to.

[gt6]

No problem really, we leave after the race and no problem getting back to the tunnel for 10pm without racing and with fuel and food on the way. As said pack up the car and park it somewhere it is eay to get to and away from the circuit. If you park up close to tertre rouge in the green car parks, as long as you have a camping or any car park pass you will have no problems, watch the cars go past from the banking walk back to the car and you should be the other side of le mans listening to the radio broadcast between 3.30 and 4 so no trouble getting back, roads will be fairly quiet apart from other le maners blasting back home. Last year we were on the m20 at 9.30pm uk time

[sahajesh]

Thanks guys - I still need to get parking and prefer Rouge (have used Blanc before) as it's easier get out from there.

[The Leaper]

Several years ago I needed to get back to the UK for sure Sunday night. I was in Parking Blanc, all packed up ready to go. Left Parkin Blanc 30 minutes before the end, listened to the end on RLM, breezed out of the circuit and Le Mans area, took about 4 hours to get back to Calais, job done.

[eastsider]

If you leave 30 mins before end no problem from anywhere.

Last few years we've used the method from the Club Arnage guide - park car in Mulsanne village, watch last hour from Mulsanne corner, as cars finish last lap leg it to car.

Away no problem and typically at Eurotunnel termial around 2000h local with one food/fuel stop.

The other general tip is to depart to the East of the circuit - there is far more traffic on the Western side throughout the race weekend.

[CatMatt7]

We're on the 20:40 ferry and will stay to watch the end of the race before leaving. Never had a problem making it before. As has been said, we will be packed up before the end of the race, usually done after breakfast on a Sunday morning, go and watch the last couple of hours and then wander back to the camp site when it has ended, followed by a leisurely drive to Calais.

[pete]

We leave the campsite before the end almost every year, and head to Mulsanne to watch the finish. It's very atmospheric watching the end from the start / finish straight, but it's a pain to get away if you're planning to either get home on Sunday night or spend the evening in a nice restaurant in Honfleur!

We've done Arnage for the finish as well, but Mulsanne has the advantage of plenty of places to park for free within 10 mins of the spectator enclosure, plus it's very easy to intercept the autoroute without getting stuck in race traffic.

[sahajesh]

Great tips - thanks to all!

[toxgobbler]

Again, agree with the Mulsanne, it's a lot easier to get out and less busy.

[DMN]

Think I may give the Mulsanne idea a go this year. We normally leave an hour before the end, having been parked on Blu Nord. Some times its a clean getaway, some times not.