Le Mans Top 10
Ask a hundred different people for their highlight of a trip to Le Mans is and you’re likely to get a hundred different answers. Here, in my opinion, are the top 10 essentials to see or do on a trip to Le Mans.
1. The Drive South
One of the best parts of a visit to Le Mans, and the part that I enjoy the most, is the drive down to the circuit. Meeting fellow race fans on the way down to the ferry, driving the roads in northern France, and car spotting from a bar in Placé or Beaumont-sur Sarthe with a nice cold bièrre are a few personal highlights.
While a trip to Le Mans by any means is a great experience, it becomes even more of an adventure when you take you’re pride and joy. You could go one step further by sharing the experience with a few like-minded mates, going with a club, or meeting up with other Le Mans-ers en route, turning what was just a simple motor race in to full-scale road trip.
There are a few companies now that offer stickers/decals to spruce up your ride for the big day, making your car stand out and making it easy to spot other like-minded individuals. Hollographics is a company that specialises in Le Mans decals, and Pistonheads usually sell stickers for the event.
While a trip to Le Mans by any means is a great experience, it becomes even more of an adventure when you take you’re pride and joy. You could go one step further by sharing the experience with a few like-minded mates, going with a club, or meeting up with other Le Mans-ers en route, turning what was just a simple motor race in to full-scale road trip.
There are a few companies now that offer stickers/decals to spruce up your ride for the big day, making your car stand out and making it easy to spot other like-minded individuals. Hollographics is a company that specialises in Le Mans decals, and Pistonheads usually sell stickers for the event.
2. Visit the ‘Classic British Welcome’
The Classic British Welcome, now in it’s 9th year, has established itself as a ‘must see’ event for any car fan on a trip to Le Mans.
Held on the Friday and Saturday mornings of race weekend, at the grounds of Val de Vray in Saint Saturnin, attracts some 1,000 cars and 4,000 visitors.
Aside from drooling over the cars (Bugatti Veyron anyone?), this year they have a cinema showing English motorsport films, an ACO ticket office and numerous restaurants and bars.
Held on the Friday and Saturday mornings of race weekend, at the grounds of Val de Vray in Saint Saturnin, attracts some 1,000 cars and 4,000 visitors.
Aside from drooling over the cars (Bugatti Veyron anyone?), this year they have a cinema showing English motorsport films, an ACO ticket office and numerous restaurants and bars.
3. Drive the circuit
For the most part of the year a large portion of the circuit is made up of public roads. Most notably, the N138 south of Le Mans to Mulsanne (the Mulsanne Straight), and the section of circuit leading down to Arnage Corner. These roads remain open up until the evening before the race (excluding qualifying).
The opportunity to drive the fabled circuit is too much to resist for most fans, and the route following the circuit is usually packed with cars on the Friday afternoon before the race. Many choose to film the occasion through an open sunroof (and probably watching it back on fast-forward!)
The best part by far is the impromptu car show that takes place between Mulsanne Corner and Arnage, with cars parking on the grass verge in front of the Armco all along the straight.
The opportunity to drive the fabled circuit is too much to resist for most fans, and the route following the circuit is usually packed with cars on the Friday afternoon before the race. Many choose to film the occasion through an open sunroof (and probably watching it back on fast-forward!)
The best part by far is the impromptu car show that takes place between Mulsanne Corner and Arnage, with cars parking on the grass verge in front of the Armco all along the straight.
4. Participate in ‘Mad Friday’
Mad Friday should be, and in the most part is, a chance for some harmless fun. It centres in the public roads in the vicinity of the track, usually near the main campsites. The bank next to the campsite at parking bleu makes for a great vantage point for watching the traffic go by.
A bit of friendly encouragement will often see a driver rev their engine, or even attempt a burnout. Past years have shown that TVR owners are the most lairy, but anything from Ladas to Lamborghinis get in on the action. The crowd is appreciative of anyone who shows a bit of enthusiasm!
In recent years the gendarmes have clamped down on this sort of behaviour. Who can blame them, with reports of drunken yobs hurling abuse and empty bottles at cars who don’t play along.
A bit of friendly encouragement will often see a driver rev their engine, or even attempt a burnout. Past years have shown that TVR owners are the most lairy, but anything from Ladas to Lamborghinis get in on the action. The crowd is appreciative of anyone who shows a bit of enthusiasm!
In recent years the gendarmes have clamped down on this sort of behaviour. Who can blame them, with reports of drunken yobs hurling abuse and empty bottles at cars who don’t play along.
5. Walk the pitlane
Rich folk pay hundreds for access to the pitlane throughout the weekend. But they could have saved the cash toward their next Bentley if they had visited the track on Friday, because the pitlane is open to the public for most of the afternoon.
It’s a chance to see the mechanics at work, practicing driver changes, drinking tea, and there’s always a chance for the odd autograph.
It’s a chance to see the mechanics at work, practicing driver changes, drinking tea, and there’s always a chance for the odd autograph.
6. Mulsanne at night
Those spectators not tempted away from the action in search of a good restaurant, retreating to the free bar in hospitality, or the lure of a nice warm bed are rewarded with the spectacular sight of motor racing at night.
As the light fades around the circuit the drivers continue to drive flat out, bumper to bumper. While tiredness sets in for the spectator, there’s the opportunity to marvel at the driver’s almost super-human ability to drive at 100% whatever the hour.
While Mulsanne corner is the obvious choice to watch the action at night, the atmosphere is electric wherever you are. Try to find a sharp corner after a straight and watch the brake discs glow, while the noise of the cars echo around the empty stands.
As the light fades around the circuit the drivers continue to drive flat out, bumper to bumper. While tiredness sets in for the spectator, there’s the opportunity to marvel at the driver’s almost super-human ability to drive at 100% whatever the hour.
While Mulsanne corner is the obvious choice to watch the action at night, the atmosphere is electric wherever you are. Try to find a sharp corner after a straight and watch the brake discs glow, while the noise of the cars echo around the empty stands.
7. Racing at dawn
While many attempt to stay up for the full 24 hours, few succeed. If you do feel the need for a rest from the racing make sure you’re back at the track for daybreak.
Getting up early is a must for anyone who wants to use the showers at the circuit, but sun-up is often missed by revellers who have partied too-hard the night before.
It’s a shame, as daybreak is one of the best periods of the race. It’s a chance to catch up with the events overnight and find out who’s left running. There are also more incidents as the weary drivers on the nigh shift are coming to the end of their stints, and are more likely to overcook a corner, or go for a gap that just isn’t there.
Getting up early is a must for anyone who wants to use the showers at the circuit, but sun-up is often missed by revellers who have partied too-hard the night before.
It’s a shame, as daybreak is one of the best periods of the race. It’s a chance to catch up with the events overnight and find out who’s left running. There are also more incidents as the weary drivers on the nigh shift are coming to the end of their stints, and are more likely to overcook a corner, or go for a gap that just isn’t there.
8. Head off the beaten track
For many, the experience of the Le Mans 24 hours is limited to the grandstands and big screens of the start/finish straight. But there’s so much more!
On foot, within the general enclosure you can walk from Maison Blanche right round to Tetre Rouge. From Maison Blanche it’s just a short walk on foot outside the circuit to the Porsche Curves.
A regular bus service ferries spectators to the viewing areas at Arnage and Mulsanne corner, and is probably the easiest way to reach these parts of the circuit.
For the best part of the year the circuit is a public highway, and is criss-crossed with roads, tracks and footpaths. While most are closed or guarded by gendarmes during the race it’s still possible to find routes that will take you right up to the Armco at the edge of the circuit. For the most adventurous (and responsible) spectator, a bit of patience and perseverance can reward with a unique and memorable view of the action.
On foot, within the general enclosure you can walk from Maison Blanche right round to Tetre Rouge. From Maison Blanche it’s just a short walk on foot outside the circuit to the Porsche Curves.
A regular bus service ferries spectators to the viewing areas at Arnage and Mulsanne corner, and is probably the easiest way to reach these parts of the circuit.
For the best part of the year the circuit is a public highway, and is criss-crossed with roads, tracks and footpaths. While most are closed or guarded by gendarmes during the race it’s still possible to find routes that will take you right up to the Armco at the edge of the circuit. For the most adventurous (and responsible) spectator, a bit of patience and perseverance can reward with a unique and memorable view of the action.
9. Invade the track
Best left to the end of the race, many spectators choose to miss the finish in order to be first in the queue to invade the track.
Unlike the nutter who ran on to the track during the British GP a couple of years back, the marshalls throw open the gates to the circuit once all the cars have made it back to the pits.
For the souvenir-hunter, head for the pits to bag yourself a used tyre, or check the gravel traps for bodywork from the Ferrari that had the big off last night. Get some photos the other side of the fence; an action shot crossing the finshing line is obligatory!
The pits are also where you get to view the presentation ceremony, to get close to the winners and soaked with champagne. The champagne-spray rainbow above the crowd last year was a personal highlight.
Unlike the nutter who ran on to the track during the British GP a couple of years back, the marshalls throw open the gates to the circuit once all the cars have made it back to the pits.
For the souvenir-hunter, head for the pits to bag yourself a used tyre, or check the gravel traps for bodywork from the Ferrari that had the big off last night. Get some photos the other side of the fence; an action shot crossing the finshing line is obligatory!
The pits are also where you get to view the presentation ceremony, to get close to the winners and soaked with champagne. The champagne-spray rainbow above the crowd last year was a personal highlight.
10. Make a week of it
The race is always over too quickly. Many race-goers drive that afternoon back to the channel for evening sailings to England. The campsites at the circuit are open until the following Wednesday, so why not stick around for some post-race revelry?
The first visit I made to the race was by coach trip, where we arrived on the Saturday and returned after the race on the Sunday. Ever since I’ve driven down from Caen or Calais on the Friday and have always been amazed at the range of entertainment available before the race even starts.
This year I’ve come to the conclusion that heading to Le Mans the day before the race is just simply not enough time, and by doing so I’m missing out on much of the atmosphere from the build up. Next year I intend to head down on the Tuesday or the Wednesday, and I strongly suggest that you do the same..!
Qualifying starts on the Wednesday evening and continues on the Thursday. There’s usually musical entertainment at the circuit on the Wednesday evening. On the Friday before the race the pitlane is open, there’s the driver’s parade in the centre of Le Mans, the ‘Great British Welcome’ at St Saturnin and mad Friday exploits.
Plenty to do. Chuck in some Karting, culture (visit a chateau) and some wine and you’ve got the makings of a fantastic week.
The first visit I made to the race was by coach trip, where we arrived on the Saturday and returned after the race on the Sunday. Ever since I’ve driven down from Caen or Calais on the Friday and have always been amazed at the range of entertainment available before the race even starts.
This year I’ve come to the conclusion that heading to Le Mans the day before the race is just simply not enough time, and by doing so I’m missing out on much of the atmosphere from the build up. Next year I intend to head down on the Tuesday or the Wednesday, and I strongly suggest that you do the same..!
Qualifying starts on the Wednesday evening and continues on the Thursday. There’s usually musical entertainment at the circuit on the Wednesday evening. On the Friday before the race the pitlane is open, there’s the driver’s parade in the centre of Le Mans, the ‘Great British Welcome’ at St Saturnin and mad Friday exploits.
Plenty to do. Chuck in some Karting, culture (visit a chateau) and some wine and you’ve got the makings of a fantastic week.
