24 Hours of Le Mans

[Habitual Speeder]

Hey, folks.

This June, I'm going to the 24 hours of Le Mans. As I've never been there before, I'm not certain if simply getting a general admission ticket is a good idea for the race. I've been to races for different series (ChampCar, ALMS, F1, NASCAR) & I realize that for certain venues getting a seat in a grandstand is a must & for others it isn't.

So, for the folks that've been there before, would I see enough of the action by walking around?

Cheers.

 

[Habitual Speeder]

So, no one has been to Le Mans, before?

 

[Gullwing]

So, no one has been to Le Mans, before?

Nope. Don't know anything about tickets and seats, but it looks like there is a lot to do during the race. Plus being 8 miles around there should be plenty of places to go.

 

[Habitual Speeder]

Nope. Don't know anything about tickets and seats, but it looks like there is a lot to do during the race. Plus being 8 miles around there should be plenty of places to go.

Yeah, that was my thinking.

I've seen there is a way to become a member of the ACO (Club 24), but I'm not sure if it seems worth it, either.

It'll get you a cheaper admission to the race, but it nets another 60 euros when the dust settles. I can't seem to find any info on it, either, as the web site for the race is terrible with its descriptions.

If I can find out what other perqs there are, if any, I might consider it.

 

[Mockenrue]

So, no one has been to Le Mans, before?

Yes, I went in 2007 and last year. The first time I had grandstand tickets, the second time I did not. Watching the start of the race and the first few hours from the grandstand in '07 was great, but last year I was standing down at the front of the tribunes and didn't feel as though I was missing out (there's no charge to stand there but there are no seats - if you sit on the steps you can't see the circuit). You need to get there a good hour before the race starts to get a good place. As the first few hours pass the crowds disperse and you can move around more freely.

As Gullwing says there are lots of places from which to watch, and plenty to do in the Le Mans village when you want a break. Both times I went watched mainly from the Dunlop chicane, the Esses and Tertre Rouge - the views from here are spectacular especially at night.

I don't know about the ACO membership side of things, but as this is your first Le Mans I'd strongly suggest you read this:

ca_guide:toc [Club Arnage]

Pretty much everything you need to know about Le Mans is included in this guide. There's a lot to take in but I found it invaluable when I went first time round. Keep an eye on the site as nearer the event it will be compiled into a downloadable .pdf file similar to those for previous years:

archive:caguides [Club Arnage]

You may also find this forum useful (a lot of knowledgable members):

24 Heures du Mans - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

Good luck and enjoy! I hope to go again this year - the whole experience is utterly addictive and intoxicating.

 

[klier]

So, no one has been to Le Mans, before?

I have, even drove on the circuit....just too bad the whole place was completely deserted

 

[Habitual Speeder]

Yes, I went in 2007 and last year. The first time I had grandstand tickets, the second time I did not. Watching the start of the race and the first few hours from the grandstand in '07 was great, but last year I was standing down at the front of the tribunes and didn't feel as though I was missing out (there's no charge to stand there but there are no seats - if you sit on the steps you can't see the circuit). You need to get there a good hour before the race starts to get a good place. As the first few hours pass the crowds disperse and you can move around more freely.

As Gullwing says there are lots of places from which to watch, and plenty to do in the Le Mans village when you want a break. Both times I went watched mainly from the Dunlop chicane, the Esses and Tertre Rouge - the views from here are spectacular especially at night.

I don't know about the ACO membership side of things, but as this is your first Le Mans I'd strongly suggest you read this:

ca_guide:toc [Club Arnage]

Pretty much everything you need to know about Le Mans is included in this guide. There's a lot to take in but I found it invaluable when I went first time round. Keep an eye on the site as nearer the event it will be compiled into a downloadable .pdf file similar to those for previous years:

archive:caguides [Club Arnage]

You may also find this forum useful (a lot of knowledgable members):

24 Heures du Mans - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

Good luck and enjoy! I hope to go again this year - the whole experience is utterly addictive and intoxicating.

Cheers, mate.

I've been checking out planetlemans.com for years (on & off), but I didn't think to find a forum there (10 Tenths, where I became a member a couple of days ago).

 

[Gullwing]

Anyone watching?

Peugeot started 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Audi in the next three positions I think.

Six hours to go and so far it is going the way I wanted. Two Peugeots out and Audi in first and second. The Peugeot in third just took out the class leading Corvette dropping it back to seventh place.

 

[footie]

It's looking very like an Audi 1, 2, 3 this year with Peugeot being very fast but unreliable.

 

[footie]

Well the final Peugeot finally let go of it's engine, so unless Audi suffer a similar fate it looks almost certain Audi will come home in position 1, 2 and 3.

 

[Poverty]

whats happened to audi? How can they let a a frenchie like peugeot build a car with more raw pace than them?

I think the regs need to be changed to make diesels unnattractive now aswell.

 

[Levi68]

VAG TDI's are not as reliable as LeMans TDI's, just as Renault engines are not as reliable as Reanult F1 engines. Only Porsche and BMW engines are the the same good on track as on street. Nonetheless thumbs up for tripple Audi win.

 

[Poverty]

VAG TDI's are not as reliable as LeMans TDI's, just as Renault engines are not as reliable as Reanult F1 engines. Only Porsche and BMW engines are the the same good on track as on street. Nonetheless thumbs up for tripple Audi win.

VAG tdis have alot of dpf regen issues. I think its fair to say that bmw engines have lot of issues aswell especially the *35i engines, porsche engines are pretty bullet proof apart from one design flaw where it will leak oil.

 

[Gullwing]

BMW didn't do too well. The art car crapped out early and the other car finished 18 laps back of the class leader.

Good for Audi 1, 2, 3. But it would be nice if they had some real competition, maybe MB, BMW and Porsche can each build up a car for 2012

 

[footie]

VAG TDI's are not as reliable as LeMans TDI's, just as Renault engines are not as reliable as Reanult F1 engines. Only Porsche and BMW engines are the the same good on track as on street. Nonetheless thumbs up for tripple Audi win.

Where or even how did you could to this conclusion?

BMW didn't do too well. The art car crapped out early and the other car finished 18 laps back of the class leader.

Considering this was a new car developed within a few months I think they did rather well.

Good for Audi 1, 2, 3. But it would be nice if they had some real competition, maybe MB, BMW and Porsche can each build up a car for 2012

Mercedes are too much committed to F1 to throw extra dosh into a LeMans series program, BMW have had their fingers seriously burned in F1 and I don't believe their heart is in it to committed similar money as F1 for a full LMP1 program and Porsche and Audi are now under one group banner I doubt you will see Volkswagen wanting to field two teams fighting for one prize.

What I would like to see is Audi and Mercedes committing to less expensive GT2 category, the racing here might not see the glory of outright victory but it can and often is far more exciting and more teams would only add to the excitement.