Hospitality at LM24

[wwright]

Apologies if this has already been covered but haven't found anything useful hence the post.
Planning a return to LM in 2021 having previously stayed off circuit (Bounty Lakes which was excellent). To make it a special trip for my son I was wondering whether any of the various hospitality options - eg ACO/Aston M/Porsche - offered real value as an add on. Grateful to hear if anyone has had experience of booking these and was it worth the (often considerable) expense?

[Truckosaurus]

I assume the decent hospitality is limited to customers/staff/press rather than being able to buy off the shelf.

Getting seats in the ACO stand is a decent offer. Discounted food/drink, tables and chairs in the eating area, nice toilets and showers. Good view of the pits and screen.

[chrisring]

as said above there are benefits to being an ACO member.
As for other hospitality options, there are several operators (one easily found in this forum) !
You pay for what you get! Including security, better toilets and showers, food and drink, TVs and Wifi etc.
Similar to what you would have seen at Bounty but within a private area.
You mentioned Aston, that site is part of what 1st tickets offer along with being a Pistonheads area.
I am currently updating the information here
http://www.beermountain.com/p/campsites.html
but you can see a few of the other operators that do similar.

Its also worth noting that some of those private sites act as tour operators and are covered by ABTA and if you book a full package with them there is cover in case of cancellations.

From what I can see, and my conversations with some of the operators, they are still dealing with the effects of this years cancellations and events.
I imagine they will be posting details of 2021 later in the years once the September race is done and the ACO starts planning 2021.

Unlike most years I don't think there will be a rush of booking and waiting lists, so I would advise keeping an eye out for packages and prices.

[wwright]

Thanks both - v helpful. I was really thinking though of examples I've seen in recent years where organisations such as Aston M, Michelin and Porsche have made available hospitality options for purchase rather than invitation only. They seem v expensive and I'm really trying to find out if any members have experienced these?
Grateful for the responses so far.

[wsn03]

If you want to make it special I would:

1. Book a helicopter ride
2. Visit a hotel or eatery on the Mulsanne Straight while the race is on
3. Grandstand tickets opposite the pits
4. Glamping - Lycian are good, there are a few others seem good too
5. Buy a sportscar and sticker it up for the journey down

Ker-ching but worth it all im sure

[LM240]

I’ve thought about hospitality before but not sure it would add to the Le Mans experience or end up actually compromising it.

I stay away from the circuit, only 15-20mins but it would become a pain getting back and forth as I’d want to make the most of the open bar.

As for the ‘luxury’ accommodation options at the track, I just don’t think they are that ‘luxury’ for what you have to pay. The luxury/value balance doesn’t quite stack up in my head.

The ACO panoramic hospitality looks good. The Aston / Michelin offerings don’t look too bad either.

I think there’s ways you could enhance the trip with nice things without going full on.

Personally, it’s just whether the money spent would really enhance the weekend or actually take something away from the usual experience.

This year to make it a bit more special for a celebration, we were going to stay somewhere really nice on the Thursday night in the Loire valley and do Michelin Star dining before heading to our usual place for the weekend.

[Hoolio]

I've been lucky enough to enjoy hospitality at LM24 a number of times but it's always been invite only. I wouldn't pay for the privilege.

There's plenty to make LM24 "special"...just being there for a start! Whatever you decide to do, have a great time.

[Truckosaurus]

Another thing to look at is the tickets that get you on the grid walk just before the start.

Especially if you are the selfie sort and can post the pictures to show off.

[RL17]

Hospitality is not really the right word - more paid for VIP packages.

AM in 2018 & 2019 was circa £2,500 option I believe just for drinks and meals in the 3 storey temporary building just before the pit lane entrance(largest temporary structure in France) plus some briefings and driver meetings and probably a pit tour. Think it might have been hospitality if you bought one of the 59 special editions or were a regular buyer of the special editions etc. Can also be ferried from private parking near Arena and around grandstands area in airport style invalid buggies. Overall rated as worth it by some on AM forum, but spoke to someone who had it as part of the AM support race who didn't really rate it. Not sure if Stroll, F1 focused cash strapped company will continue with this at same level.

Happy to have a won a 3am pit visit to AM a few years back with PH/1st tickets site quiz which included being about 10 foot away from a pitstop for leading GTE Pro car.

Porsche: thought PCGB/Porsche drivers could visit Porsche Experience centre once? during stay and also go to Porsche viewing area.
Sounds like real hospitality.

ACO had bought for this year - ACO membership more complicated now as have to pay extra to get access to members areas plus a Euro 15 guest fee. If use discount off Gen Admission and stand tickets then it's pretty good value. Some of private camp sites don't insist you buy everything from then. A bit of space for slightly discounted drinks and break and toilets without the usual 100m queue Plus some good viewing areas.

Some private camp sites have some q& a sessions with a GTE team.

Agree that driving down, stickers, CBW show on Friday, trip into Le Mans for parade, early drive of public bits on Monday (although Mulsanne to Arnage not always open, and enjoying beers around the circuit at 5am during the race and big wheel etc beat the really expensive packages for Le Mans experience hands down!