Which "village" are you in?
Discussion
Unfortunately, the article is only in French, but if you wish you can read it here:-
https://www.endurance-info.com/fr/les-24-heures-du...
And it is informative but a bit disconcerting. I'll try and précis it for you.
Because the maximum at any event is 5,000, the ACO has split the circuit up into "villages" of 5,000 each. Each village will, rather like the parking, be labelled red, green etc and each will be completely separate from one another. Each village will have a view of the track and a giant screen to view the rest of the race, and will have amusements, restaurants and toilet facilities. All over the age of 11 will be required to wear a mask. The camping sites will open at 2pm on Wednesday but spectators will not have access to the circuit until 8am Thursday. Security will be ramped up, and hand wash will be available and toilets and tribunes will be disinfected regularly. Every person who has bought a ticket will be contacted with information from the 17th August on. The ACO are snowed under and will not be able to reply to emails until August.
That is it in a nutshell, though I might have missed something out. Does this mean that your groups might be split up into different areas? So many questions come to mind, but until August 17th we won't know. No tickets will be on sale at the circuit, and they state you will be receiving a detailed map showing which entrance you will take, and which village.
https://www.endurance-info.com/fr/les-24-heures-du...
And it is informative but a bit disconcerting. I'll try and précis it for you.
Because the maximum at any event is 5,000, the ACO has split the circuit up into "villages" of 5,000 each. Each village will, rather like the parking, be labelled red, green etc and each will be completely separate from one another. Each village will have a view of the track and a giant screen to view the rest of the race, and will have amusements, restaurants and toilet facilities. All over the age of 11 will be required to wear a mask. The camping sites will open at 2pm on Wednesday but spectators will not have access to the circuit until 8am Thursday. Security will be ramped up, and hand wash will be available and toilets and tribunes will be disinfected regularly. Every person who has bought a ticket will be contacted with information from the 17th August on. The ACO are snowed under and will not be able to reply to emails until August.
That is it in a nutshell, though I might have missed something out. Does this mean that your groups might be split up into different areas? So many questions come to mind, but until August 17th we won't know. No tickets will be on sale at the circuit, and they state you will be receiving a detailed map showing which entrance you will take, and which village.
On the ACO site now - confirming Lowdrag's translation. It's going to be very 'different'.
Having been rescheduled for 19–20 September, the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans will be somewhat different for racegoers this year, in keeping with French government guidelines in force for large sports events in the current health context.
Working closely with the public authorities, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has thus opted to split the circuit enclosure into a number of “villages”, each with capacity for a maximum 5,000 spectators. Each village will be indicated by a colour (e.g. the Red Village) and will be strictly self-contained to prevent contact and movement between groups of fans. They will all offer a view over the racetrack and a big screen, along with special entertainment, eateries, car parking and some will have grandstands or camping pitches. Our priority is to help spectators enjoy the race as much as possible, despite the unusual circumstances.
A strict health protocol will apply throughout the event, with face masks compulsory for anyone over the age of 11. Shared facilities such as the toilets and grandstands will be thoroughly cleaned ahead of the race and disinfected regularly throughout the event. There will be hand sanitizer dispensers all around the circuit enclosure and signs to remind people of good hygiene and social distancing practices. There will be a specific protocol for competitors and their staff.
Due to the current restrictions and the streamlined schedule for the 2020 race, spectators may arrive at the circuit from 8 am on Thursday 17 September, while the campsites will be open from 2pm on Wednesday 16 September. The scrutineering process (technical and administrative checks) will take place on Wednesday 16 September, unfortunately behind closed doors this year.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TICKET OR PASS HOLDERS
From 17 August, the ACO ticket office will start contacting everyone who has already acquired a grandstand ticket or general enclosure pass or who has booked a car park or a camping pitch, regardless of whether they are ACO members or not, with information on:
how to access the circuit this year, providing a detailed plan of the site
how to purchase any additional tickets they require
which village they are assigned to
In order to process all the files, the ACO will not be able to respond to spectators’ and members’ enquiries before the end of August. We ask for your patience and understanding in this respect and ask you to avoid contacting the ACO ticket office. You will be contacted individually between 17 and 31 August.
Spectators must acquire a ticket before arriving at the circuit. They must also wear a face mask as soon as they enter the site. Due to health requirements, there will be no tickets on sale at the circuit entrance.
Having been rescheduled for 19–20 September, the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans will be somewhat different for racegoers this year, in keeping with French government guidelines in force for large sports events in the current health context.
Working closely with the public authorities, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has thus opted to split the circuit enclosure into a number of “villages”, each with capacity for a maximum 5,000 spectators. Each village will be indicated by a colour (e.g. the Red Village) and will be strictly self-contained to prevent contact and movement between groups of fans. They will all offer a view over the racetrack and a big screen, along with special entertainment, eateries, car parking and some will have grandstands or camping pitches. Our priority is to help spectators enjoy the race as much as possible, despite the unusual circumstances.
A strict health protocol will apply throughout the event, with face masks compulsory for anyone over the age of 11. Shared facilities such as the toilets and grandstands will be thoroughly cleaned ahead of the race and disinfected regularly throughout the event. There will be hand sanitizer dispensers all around the circuit enclosure and signs to remind people of good hygiene and social distancing practices. There will be a specific protocol for competitors and their staff.
Due to the current restrictions and the streamlined schedule for the 2020 race, spectators may arrive at the circuit from 8 am on Thursday 17 September, while the campsites will be open from 2pm on Wednesday 16 September. The scrutineering process (technical and administrative checks) will take place on Wednesday 16 September, unfortunately behind closed doors this year.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TICKET OR PASS HOLDERS
From 17 August, the ACO ticket office will start contacting everyone who has already acquired a grandstand ticket or general enclosure pass or who has booked a car park or a camping pitch, regardless of whether they are ACO members or not, with information on:
how to access the circuit this year, providing a detailed plan of the site
how to purchase any additional tickets they require
which village they are assigned to
In order to process all the files, the ACO will not be able to respond to spectators’ and members’ enquiries before the end of August. We ask for your patience and understanding in this respect and ask you to avoid contacting the ACO ticket office. You will be contacted individually between 17 and 31 August.
Spectators must acquire a ticket before arriving at the circuit. They must also wear a face mask as soon as they enter the site. Due to health requirements, there will be no tickets on sale at the circuit entrance.
Presumably that means that a late night visit to Arnage corner won't be possible?
And will the tram into Le Mans town be running (and if so how will it be segregated)?
So many questions - and it makes me think that I've probably made the right decision to give it a miss this year (which would have been my 19th visit).
And will the tram into Le Mans town be running (and if so how will it be segregated)?
So many questions - and it makes me think that I've probably made the right decision to give it a miss this year (which would have been my 19th visit).
Thank god we might have put an end to the campsite opening time bickering! It’s entirely logical the decision that had been made.
As I thought, it is going to be a very different race this year. I hadn’t actually thought about the track being divided like that though.
I assume/hoping there will be some logic to your “village” based on the tickets you already have.
Regardless, it is better than nothing!
As I thought, it is going to be a very different race this year. I hadn’t actually thought about the track being divided like that though.
I assume/hoping there will be some logic to your “village” based on the tickets you already have.
Regardless, it is better than nothing!
It seems to me that you are allocated a village and you are stuck with it, and changing "villages" will not be possible. So wherever you are put, you are in for the duration. The trams I expect will be running so you can escape for a decent meal in town if you so wish - but up to what hour? From memory it's about 1am or thereabouts. I forget. But you can use the car and go into Mulsanne (A pizzeria a few hundred yards from Mulsanne bend and a bar called the Break near the church) and there is plenty of choice in Arnage.
But I am trying to work out just how the villages will work. 60,000 requires 12 villages, all of which will have a view of the circuit and a big screen. Tertre Rouge. Mulsanne, the Dunlops and Arnage leave eight more. Inside the Dunlops, La Chapelle and Porsche Curves come to mind but that still leaves five. Whatever, it is going to be chaos I think. Like Nazi camps - friends talking to each other through the wire.
But I am trying to work out just how the villages will work. 60,000 requires 12 villages, all of which will have a view of the circuit and a big screen. Tertre Rouge. Mulsanne, the Dunlops and Arnage leave eight more. Inside the Dunlops, La Chapelle and Porsche Curves come to mind but that still leaves five. Whatever, it is going to be chaos I think. Like Nazi camps - friends talking to each other through the wire.
All seems very sensible. I assume they will split by camp sites and car parks. We have Blanc parking, so assume allocated village will be The Village area itself. Shame we won’t get to visit Mulsanne or Arnage or TR, but whatever we get, is better than nothing. Might put some more people off as this will be an odd year for sure. I’m just glad the race is going ahead and they have a plan for catering for spectators. Wait for August then to find out more, still feeling positive.
Vette_1978 said:
....I’m just glad the race is going ahead and they have a plan for catering for spectators....
Wise words.Being stuck in a small part of the track, not being in your usual stand or campsite is certainly better than it being behind closed doors.
There's always 2021 to look forward too (when there will either be a vaccine or people just accept the risks)
For you, Tommy, ze var ist over!
An absolute logistical nightmare for the ACO, they have my sympathies.
We have seats in the pitlane grandstand and tickets to park securely (relatively) in parking vert. I have no idea how they're going to accommodate even that fairly simple scenario. We camp away from the circuit, so we travel into and out of the circuit three or four times during the race. God knows how that'll work.
I have this vision of an acre of paper pinned to the back of the ACO building, covered in tiny writing as they try and work it all out!
An absolute logistical nightmare for the ACO, they have my sympathies.
We have seats in the pitlane grandstand and tickets to park securely (relatively) in parking vert. I have no idea how they're going to accommodate even that fairly simple scenario. We camp away from the circuit, so we travel into and out of the circuit three or four times during the race. God knows how that'll work.
I have this vision of an acre of paper pinned to the back of the ACO building, covered in tiny writing as they try and work it all out!
Hmm from that map it appears that the campers from Houx (myself included) will be limited to the approach to the Ford Chicane presumably where the large hospitality units usually are. Part of me is apprehensive that it is going to be rubbish not being able to explore but then I’ve never viewed from that area so maybe it will be ok.
I think on balance I’d rather be at Le Mans than not.
I think on balance I’d rather be at Le Mans than not.
K-Travel cancels his trip to Le Mans 2020
We just sent this message to our Le Mans 2020 guests 😢
We have received further restrictions from the Le Mans organization. These restrictions mean that almost everything that makes Le Mans a huge experience won't be possible in September. As a serious travel agency, we cannot vouch for such an amputated travel experience.
We are therefore unfortunately forced to cancel our Le Man's trip in September.
The restrictions mean the following:
Le Mans is being divided into zones and you must not leave these zones. For K-Travel guests this means you can stay at K-Camp as well as in a spectator area of approximately 300 meters. The spectator area will be on the inside of the field - from the go-cart track to the Ford Chicane. So short, you can't move outside the attentive yellow area on attached cards.
- You can't get up to the start / finish line - the pits - the main tribunes
- You can't get to other turns like Arnage, Mulsanne Corner, Dunlop Chicane etc.
- You can't go to Village
- The driving parade in Le Mans town Friday is cancelled
- Pitwalk is cancelled
- Scrutineering / technical control is not public
- Le Mans museum is expected to be closed
- The Danish drivers are not expected to visit the tent, as they are not allowed to leave the paddock
- You have to wear a mouthpiece both at K-Camp and outside the Camp
Last but not least, the organization behind Le Mans (ACO) has stated that there is still a risk that Le Mans will be held in completely closed doors, and this message can reach up to 10 days before departure.
As I said, we feel that what makes Le Mans a unique and huge experience is gone in 2020.
It pains us incredibly much that we are forced to cancel the trip in September.
We just sent this message to our Le Mans 2020 guests 😢
We have received further restrictions from the Le Mans organization. These restrictions mean that almost everything that makes Le Mans a huge experience won't be possible in September. As a serious travel agency, we cannot vouch for such an amputated travel experience.
We are therefore unfortunately forced to cancel our Le Man's trip in September.
The restrictions mean the following:
Le Mans is being divided into zones and you must not leave these zones. For K-Travel guests this means you can stay at K-Camp as well as in a spectator area of approximately 300 meters. The spectator area will be on the inside of the field - from the go-cart track to the Ford Chicane. So short, you can't move outside the attentive yellow area on attached cards.
- You can't get up to the start / finish line - the pits - the main tribunes
- You can't get to other turns like Arnage, Mulsanne Corner, Dunlop Chicane etc.
- You can't go to Village
- The driving parade in Le Mans town Friday is cancelled
- Pitwalk is cancelled
- Scrutineering / technical control is not public
- Le Mans museum is expected to be closed
- The Danish drivers are not expected to visit the tent, as they are not allowed to leave the paddock
- You have to wear a mouthpiece both at K-Camp and outside the Camp
Last but not least, the organization behind Le Mans (ACO) has stated that there is still a risk that Le Mans will be held in completely closed doors, and this message can reach up to 10 days before departure.
As I said, we feel that what makes Le Mans a unique and huge experience is gone in 2020.
It pains us incredibly much that we are forced to cancel the trip in September.
If this is a way of not cancelling it yet then at least we know.
They may have to do this now as the 5000 person limit is still in place, if that changes then it will be quite easy to disband the villages.
It may also be that they are over their 60,000 limit and releasing this hard press release now will reduce the numbers to what they are actually allowed.
If I can be there I will be, I'd prefer to be there watching from one corner than be at home, it's a holiday / road trip / sporting event all rolled into one for me.
They may have to do this now as the 5000 person limit is still in place, if that changes then it will be quite easy to disband the villages.
It may also be that they are over their 60,000 limit and releasing this hard press release now will reduce the numbers to what they are actually allowed.
If I can be there I will be, I'd prefer to be there watching from one corner than be at home, it's a holiday / road trip / sporting event all rolled into one for me.
Truckosaurus said:
Wise words.
Being stuck in a small part of the track, not being in your usual stand or campsite is certainly better than it being behind closed doors.)
This. For all the grumbling and mumbling going on (from me too), massive kudos to the ACO for coming up with something workable, safe and viable. It's a hell of an achievement and they deserve all the respect for making something happen. It'd have been easy to just roll over and say 'non', but it actually is happening and will be in front of fans.Being stuck in a small part of the track, not being in your usual stand or campsite is certainly better than it being behind closed doors.)
JT3K said:
Truckosaurus said:
Wise words.
Being stuck in a small part of the track, not being in your usual stand or campsite is certainly better than it being behind closed doors.)
This. For all the grumbling and mumbling going on (from me too), massive kudos to the ACO for coming up with something workable, safe and viable. It's a hell of an achievement and they deserve all the respect for making something happen. It'd have been easy to just roll over and say 'non', but it actually is happening and will be in front of fans.Being stuck in a small part of the track, not being in your usual stand or campsite is certainly better than it being behind closed doors.)
Looking forward to getting away to Le Mans!
I'm old and at the moment have an eye problem but with the good eye I have been studying the map shown above, and for the life of me I can't understand it. I deleted my last post fearing I had been misinformed, but trying to decypher the map I see only one purple area marked "village" and that seems to be north of the pits up to the Dunlops. Are the green areas both parking and camping? I see the "P" but is the other emblem supposed to represent camping? There is another purple area marked parking too. It just seems a jumble to me, and not really understandable. "Each "village" will have a view of the track, says the ACO, but I hope one of you can explain just what that means. I understand Tertre Rouge, Mulsanne and Arnage, but I can't see the latter holding 5,000 people with their cars. Are the ACO building temporary stands to aid viewing? No doubt one of you will make it all clear.
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