THE 2023 LE MANS GUIDE
The aim of this guide is to pull together useful information about the "Le Mans Experience". Some of the information is personal, based on 28 years of attending The 24hr. Other gems have been gleaned from extensive research on the web to save you the effort of digging it out yourself. The 24hr Race Programme is an amalgam of data from several sources - the Le Mans Classic Programme comes unaltered from Peter Auto who run the event. Le Mans is a great institution, well supported by the Brits since almost the first race. Le Mans gives the race-goer a dual experience, the actual Race and the "entertainment" benefit of Le Mans City, which is only a short tram ride from the circuit. This Race and City combination is typified by the 24hrs Drivers Parade on the Friday afternoon (CHANGE FOR '23) of race week. This is a MUST DO and is covered within this guide.
RACING - The Le Mans 24hr & The Classic Races are set on an 8.5 mile road/racetrack circuit just south of Le Mans, with all the usual racing impedimenta to support the Teams and upwards of 250,000 spectators over the weekends. There is the Village (behind the top of the Start/Finish Straight) for Food, Souvenirs, Beer, Bands, Competitions and more Beer! There were camp sites all round the circuit - we have lost all the campsites on the airfield side of the circuit for' 23! The ACO have decided to coral most of the campers into a "FAN ZONE "in Beausejour. There are new sites at Clos Fleuri - between Beausejour and the Mulsanne Straight and at L'Hippodrome - almost next to Epinettes.
CITY - Le Mans City - The Old part of Le Mans - the beautiful "PLANTAGENET CITY" is an evocative place with its dominant Cathedral and the many interesting restaurants in the old, narrow, cobbled streets . The newer part of the City has great restaurants, a brilliant tram system (starting at the track) and big supermarkets (to get the essential Wine and Beer!)
CIRCUIT - There is something special about the friendliness of the people you meet on the circuit and in the campsites . In this website I have tried to offer a few suggestions to encourage you to come to the Le Mans 24hrs & or The Classic. If your are already a veteran Le Mans visitor then I hope to enhance your experience. The Le Mans 24hrs is a most addictive event. It is the kind of event where you start planning your next visit just as you leave - this year will be my 26th visit!
I Hope you enjoy the website. Have a great time.
Regards Strass
LE MANS GUIDE for 2024
SEE THE 2024 24hrs RACE WEEK PROGRAMME. CLICK HERE
PLEASE USE THE MENU TO NAVIGATE THE SITE
2023 wa DIFFERENT and appears to be the model going forward
CAMPSITE NEWS - the ACO have been planning and have now executed the move of all inside circuit parking (i.e. Non essential Team cars, all /most Media , ACO(?) and Sponsor vehicles) to parking in RED, WHITE and BLUE NORTH & SOUTH !!! This of course means there will be NO PUBLIC CAMPING IN ANY OF THESE AREAS - 1st Tickets will continue with their Private Site on Blue Nord but ALL OTHER PRE-BOOKINGS FOR THESE SITES WILL HAVE TO BE RELOCATED BY THE RELEVANT BOOKING COMPANIES TO NEW SITES IF THE ACO CAN PRODUCE THEM.!!!
BEAUSEJOUR is being massively expanded and a NEW FOOD AND "FAN ZONE" IS PROMISED but it is miles from the START/FINISH &THE VILLAGE and there are never enough buses.
There are other new sites - SEE THE NEW CAMPING & PARKING MAP. CLICK HERE
ALL IN ALL NOT THE BEST START TO WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE "MAGIC" 100 YEARS CELEBRATION.
SEE NEW 2024 CIRCUIT MAP CLICK HERE
TICKETS - The ACO have a completely new ticketing system, giving various day combinations. THERE IS ALSO A FRIDAY ONLY TICKET BECAUSE THEY ARE ARRANGING "SPECIAL" ANNIVERSARY EVENTS INCLUDING A HEADLINE ACT FOR THE FRIDAY CONCERT . There is the implication that people going to the Friday "celebration" don't want to pay for Sat/Sun to watch the Race. Problem is most of us are here for the RACE not a POP Concert!
MIGHT BE WORTH A TRIP INTO TOWN ON THE FRIDAY NIGHT - IT WILL BE EMPTY AFTER THE 2pm DRIVERS PARADE LOCAL ECONOMY IN FOR A BIG HIT??
BALANCE - These changes MIGHT have been brought about by H&S giving the ACO a hard time about too many vehicles in amongst the spectators in the Village area - even I have noticed the increase, year on year.
As I say in other parts of the Guide - So patience “mon brave”!!!.... it’s all part of the charm of Le Mans!
Have another beer and calm down!
PROGRAMME NEWS
SAME AS LAST YEAR'S PROGRAMME FOR FRIDAY - AM RACING ON TRACK
FRIDAY, especially AFTER THE AFTERNOON DRIVERS PARADE IN THE CITY , the ACO are laying several ON CIRCUIT events to celebrate THE CENTENARY
Holders of an appropriate General Enclosure ticket will be able to enjoy an array of activities and visit the Garages, while other key spots around the circuit (from Tertre Rouge to the Porsche Curves) to anyone using an eco-friendly form of transport, such as walking, cycling, a kick scooter or rollerskates.
POP UPs AROUND THE CIRCUIT CLICK HERE
MULSANNE CORNER CLICK HERE
LE MANS GENERAL WARNING
No two Le Mans stewards react the same - be they checking for bottles at a circuit entrance or letting you park in a carpark you have already paid for! Everything is totally subject to the vagaries of the French ACO Stewards. This will become a recurring theme so just get used to it. As you can imagine, a circuit this big, over 8.5 miles, and all its outer areas needs hundreds of stewards. There is turnover and inevitably some are not as well briefed as they should be. So patience “mon brave”! .... it’s all part of the charm of Le Mans. Calm down! ..........& have another beer!