Saturday 19th May 2018

8 reasons to go to Le Mans 24 with PH

With Le Mans less than a month away, here's why you need to be there with PH

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LMP1 will see 10 cars on the grid
Porsche may have gone, but the top tier will be far from a walk in the park for Toyota, with competition including the British-built Ginetta G60-LT P1 and the Rebellion-TVR partnership's Oreca R-13.

The PistonHeads experience
Enjoy all the benefits of staying with PistonHeads and 1st Tickets, including a fenced perimeter with 24-hour security, cooked meals, a large marquee with bar and live TV coverage of the race, free Wi-Fi and clean toilet and shower facilities. It really is the best way to soak up that inimitable Le Mans atmosphere whilst retaining the comfort and peace of mind afforded by a hotel.

BMW is back with the M8 in GTE Pro
Having completed its Daytona debut unscathed, and taken pole at the 12 hours of Sebring, the 500hp monster is on course to win over spectators just as its M6-based predecessor did before it.

Pub quiz prizes!
Our Friday night pub quiz returns for a second consecutive year, once again giving you and your friends not only the chance to test your Le Mans knowledge but also to win a mid-race tour of the Aston Martin pit garage. We'll make sure to bring enough pens this time...

Aston Martin
Speaking of Aston Martin, the all new Vantage GTE will be taking part in its first Le Mans, fighting to defend last year's penultimate lap victory. It'll be going up against that M8, as well as rivals like the Ford GT, Ferrari 488 GTE Evo and Porsche 911 RSR in the GTE Pro class.

There's more than just cars...
Not that you need more, of course, but the inaugural Grand Concert will be taking place at the MMArena next door to the track. The Friday night concert will be headlined by Jamiroquai and their car-crazy frontman Jay Kay, and entry is now guaranteed with your weekend ticket - yep, that's a Jamiroquai concert for no extra cost over your Le Mans race pass.

The drive to Le Mans
The say the journey is as important as the destination, and that's never truer than during Le Mans weekend. With so many Brits heading down from Calais, Caen and Dieppe, the sights and sounds of the French road network are, for a few short days, better than anywhere else in the world.

The Classic British Welcome
After you've arrived, make sure to head over to the Classic British Welcome. The annual car show takes place on the Friday before the race in nearby Saint Saturnin, with this year's featured marque being BMW.

Click here to visit the 1st Tickets website and secure your place on the PH campsite. With prices from £390/pp, space is limited so book now to avoid disappointment! See you there!

[Images: LAT, Ben Lowden]

 

[sc0tt]

£390 p/p!

Wow.

[surveyor]

sc0tt said:

£390 p/p!

Wow.

There is no wonder they have not filled up yet. That's bleeding expensive compared to one of the ordinary sites.

[V8 FOU]

I can think of 19 reasons not to go......... starting with the cost. Got to be well over a grand by the time it's all done.....

[Potatoes]

Yeah, I don't camp there due to the huge cost... I camp with another provider who are awesome but a fraction of the cost. It's a shame really as I'd live to camp with PistonHeads

[Truckosaurus]

The prices do seem on the premium side, especially as they don't seem to include any grandstand seating (which is the most expensive part of our package).

[V8 FOU]

They havent told you that you will have the "honour" or a very long winded speech by Cackett.....

[JT3K]

I'm sorry, it's less than 30d before we leave, and NOW you're getting involved?

[Potatoes]

where've you been Pistonheads? We've all been here waiting for you!

Also, clock?

[BenLowden]

To clarify, the 'from £390/pp' is a package price, this is not simply just a pitch. Our packages include:

• General admission to the race.
• Up to five-day return Channel crossings are available.
• Pre-allocated camping pitches mean there's no rush - your space will be set out for you, whenever you arrive.
• Free Wi-Fi access.
• Cooked meals included (3x full English breakfast and 3x evening meals)
• Fenced perimeter for your peace of mind.
• On-site security, including night patrols at the weekend, to protect your car and belongings.
• Private toilets and warm showers, so no long queues for the facilities.
• Large marquee with a cash bar - a social hub for all campers whatever the weather, with live TV coverage of the race so you don't miss any of the action.

[BenLowden]

JT3K said:

I'm sorry, it's less than 30d before we leave, and NOW you're getting involved?

Perhaps you missed our registration article in October, then our launch in January and then when this article first went up in April?!

[davidd]

We go with them every year. Well not Pistonheads but 1st tickets. Yes of course it’s more cash but it is very well organised, the facilities are excellent. I look at other operators and going basic every year and always end up back with 1st tickets.

I appreciate it can be done a lot cheaper ( I did it for years ). For me it’s worth it.

If be interested to hear of a comparable service that’s much cheaper.

[davidd]

Potatoes said:

Yeah, I don't camp there due to the huge cost... I camp with another provider who are awesome but a fraction of the cost. It's a shame really as I'd live to camp with PistonHeads

Which provider is this ?

[MrC986]

davidd said:

We go with them every year. Well not Pistonheads but 1st tickets. Yes of course it’s more cash but it is very well organised, the facilities are excellent. I look at other operators and going basic every year and always end up back with 1st tickets.

I appreciate it can be done a lot cheaper ( I did it for years ). For me it’s worth it.

If be interested to hear of a comparable service that’s much cheaper.

It depends how you value your time. I've booked with 1st Tickets for the 5 previous years I've been to LM and whilst I've looked at other operators, I decided that I'm happy with what it costs and the service we get. If you want to book the component parts of the trip individually, you might save some £s, though I take the one stop shop approach to this (& I've also acted as leader traveller for 6 guys which can at times be a pain the ar*e when getting them to commit to go & Brian has been very understanding with this).

[surveyor]

I guess 1st tickets are a way of doing this - I think the point of pretending that it’s piatonheads has gone with the PH technical team...

The alternative that many of us do is to book direct with ACO - about £180 for race and camping ticket from memory. £100 or so for a ferry ticket.

There is some value to the stuff that 1st tickets offer, but the basic camps have got better in recent years. Really you are paying for additional security and I’m not clear if the food is included or just available to buy ...

I’m also wary of a cash bar in this scenario.. I would be interested in the cost of a beer...

[Ekona]

surveyor said:

I guess 1st tickets are a way of doing this - I think the point of pretending that it’s piatonheads has gone with the PH technical team...

The alternative that many of us do is to book direct with ACO - about £180 for race and camping ticket from memory. £100 or so for a ferry ticket.

There is some value to the stuff that 1st tickets offer, but the basic camps have got better in recent years. Really you are paying for additional security and I’m not clear if the food is included or just available to buy ...

I’m also wary of a cash bar in this scenario.. I would be interested in the cost of a beer...

Food is included (well, 3x breakfast and 3x dinner on your choice of days), and the bar is cheaper than in the circuit IIRC from the previous few years. Telly in the gazebo is also worth the extra especially if it's bucketing down or raging heat.

The PH/1stT enclosure may not be the cheapest way of doing LM, but in my experience it's worth every penny. Sadly I can't go this year for one reason or another, but I'll definitely be looking to go back again with Brian & co next year

[Tyre Smoke]

How much!

Four of us camp on a double pitch in Houx with TV, 'free' bar, full English each morning, proper dinner each evening, roast beef on Sunday night and six nights with ferry from Pompey is a lot less than that.

I can see why it hasn't sold out. Let's face it, anywhere would be cheaper than buying flat beer inside the circuit.

[chum racing]

surveyor said:

I’m not clear if the food is included or just available to buy ...

I’m also wary of a cash bar in this scenario.. I would be interested in the cost of a beer...

The food is included in the package. You get 3x full English breakfast and 3 x two course evening meal. You can choose beforehand which days you want to take these on, giving you the flexibility.

Last year out beer price was €6 for 500ml which was certainly less than the circuit. They are changing the official beer to Carlsberg, which will be slightly more.

[davidd]

surveyor said:

I guess 1st tickets are a way of doing this - I think the point of pretending that it’s piatonheads has gone with the PH technical team...

The alternative that many of us do is to book direct with ACO - about £180 for race and camping ticket from memory. £100 or so for a ferry ticket.

There is some value to the stuff that 1st tickets offer, but the basic camps have got better in recent years. Really you are paying for additional security and I’m not clear if the food is included or just available to buy ...

I’m also wary of a cash bar in this scenario.. I would be interested in the cost of a beer...

The public camps have got better, the there are still long queues for the toilets/showers and very little security.

I’ve done several public sites and a couple of private ones.

I guess it comes down to priorities and as long as we are all happy with what we pay for then all is well in the world.

[davidd]

Tyre Smoke said:

How much!

Four of us camp on a double pitch in Houx with TV, 'free' bar, full English each morning, proper dinner each evening, roast beef on Sunday night and six nights with ferry from Pompey is a lot less than that.

I can see why it hasn't sold out. Let's face it, anywhere would be cheaper than buying flat beer inside the circuit.

In the big scheme of things it’s not expensive, of course you can do it for less. If you’d tasted my cooking you’d be very happy to go catered

[lasuze]

Caveat emptor

I have been attending the 24hrs for over 30 years and have never felt an organised trip could offer any benefits.

It's much more fun going by yourselves and learning along the way, far more beneficial.