Le Mans attendance better this year ?

[Rs2oo]

Is it me or was the attendance at Le Mans '09 a bit low ? We were on our usual 7am ferry and on our way down to Dover, we only encountered a dozen or so Le Manners on the M20. When we got there on thursday afternoon, it seemed to lack the buzz. We were very outnumbered in the grandstand too, mainly by the french and our trip home after the race at around 6pm was very quiet. Even the campsite was a bit quieter (Kamping Nord) except for the nutty Danes.

Im thinking that with such a formidable british entry this year, the figures will be up. My theory is that the ACO are funding the Mansell car to push up the gate money...........

[Maruchino]

There was this little thing called the recession

The GBP EUR rate was really poor last year too, unfortunately doesn't look any better this time round either.

[BeeGT]

Numbers were down for sure. I've organised my group's trip for 11 years now and after year on year growth we were doen to 5 last year and this year just 2 of us are making the pilgrimage, although we're doing it twice this year with the Classic. Mainly it comes down to cost and for many a need to cut back, most of my pals see Le Mans as an every two or three year event to attend and let's be honest, the team battles are just not exciting enough to attract new spectators. My 1st Le Mans in '99 was probably the best with BMW, Toyota, Nissan and Audi all competing. Apart from the return of Bentley and Aston Martin there has not been a great deal to get excited about since then.
I'm personally looking forward to the Drayson LMP, seeing a Jaguar XK in race trim and, of course, the Mansell effort.

[Chrisgr31]

I get the impression that there are more tickets available now, which I assume means less people are going. I may be wrong but its just a feeling I have.

With the state of the economy and the exchange rate its not surprising.

Personally I am looking forward to seeing Mansell race, as he was why I started watching F1

[Rs2oo]

I agree with the recession reasons for some but its still a bargain compared to an F1 race weekend. Entry, campsite, ferry and petrol can be done with 2 in a car for as little as £130 per person plus food and drink. I know a lot of people who are going over to the classic now as well. Personally I collect any spare £1 and £2 coins and pay for my trip each year with that including a grandstand ticket.

[Chrisgr31]

Well its defintely a bargain, its costing us £165 a person (Plus food, drink and fuel) for grantstand, ferry etc and you couldn't go to F1 as cheap. However the reality is that F1 is now too expensive and I won;t go unless its to the Abu Dhabi race (which is an exception as I can stay with my brother).

Its still a bargain that all in is going to cost around £300 so some won't want/cant pay.