New Access Changes for 2022

[Truckosaurus]

The ACO have published some details of changes to track access for this year's event:

https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-latest-info...

There's confirmation of the times that the roads will be closed off.

There will be an open track on Friday for cyclists and pedestrians with, it seems, activities at the major corner.

The biggest change is the stopping of vehicle access through the main gates to improve safety (even though they built a new bridge over the underpass entrance) and no pedestrian entrance on the outside of Tertre Rouge (penultimate tram stop).

[FredericRobinson]

The track walk on Friday is good news, the Tertre Rouge gate isn’t if you camp at TR and go in and out on foot, hopefully a bike will count as a vehicle, it’s a long way round otherwise. For all that the main entrance was chaotic sending lots more vehicles through the crowds all the way from Tertre Rouge to the inside of the main gate seems nuts, there must be another plan surely? How’s that going to work on Saturday night when the concert’s in full flow?

[Oldwolf]

I'd seen the pedestrian access to the whole circuit on the Friday....might have to run it if it's not too hot

[Truckosaurus]

FredericRobinson said:

...sending lots more vehicles through the crowds all the way from Tertre Rouge to the inside of the main gate seems nuts,...

Indeed. I suspect it won't be possible as it would defeat the object of the closure. Access to the infield would be via the entrances by the Karting track/Technoparc.

[//j17]

I'm not sure where people are seeing vehicles being sent from Tertre Rouge to the mian entrance. My reading of it is that they will use the entrance off the D338, between the ring road bridge and the roundabout as the vehicle entrance for Tertre Rouge camping and that that will no longer be open as a pedestrian gate. If you were on foot there you'd be directed across the top of Hunaudières to loop around the TR bar, and back under the circuit to follow Chemin aux Boeuf to the stadium entrance - though hopefully the pedestrian entrance to the 'inside TR' banking will still be open.

Think the only real impact on people staying on TR will be to those wanting to pop to the TR bar, but even then not a major change as, assuming the 'inside TR' banking entrance IS still open you'd just have to take the "no longer piss tunnel" from outside to inside TR and follow the path left to the gate, and from there 2min to the bar.

[FredericRobinson]

//j17 said:

I'm not sure where people are seeing vehicles being sent from Tertre Rouge to the mian entrance. My reading of it is that they will use the entrance off the D338, between the ring road bridge and the roundabout as the vehicle entrance for Tertre Rouge camping and that that will no longer be open as a pedestrian gate. If you were on foot there you'd be directed across the top of Hunaudi res to loop around the TR bar, and back under the circuit to follow Chemin aux Boeuf to the stadium entrance - though hopefully the pedestrian entrance to the 'inside TR' banking will still be open.

Think the only real impact on people staying on TR will be to those wanting to pop to the TR bar, but even then not a major change as, assuming the 'inside TR' banking entrance IS still open you'd just have to take the "no longer piss tunnel" from outside to inside TR and follow the path left to the gate, and from there 2min to the bar.

The main impact on me as a TR camper is my morning perambulation to the boulangerie, I’ll take my bike and see how I get on, no doubt in the finest French tradition there’ll be no consistency whatsoever and it’ll all depend on the mood of whoever is on the gate.

[FredericRobinson]

Truckosaurus said:

Indeed. I suspect it won't be possible as it would defeat the object of the closure. Access to the infield would be via the entrances by the Karting track/Technoparc.

That would make a lot more sense

[Truckosaurus]

FredericRobinson said:

.... I’ll take my bike and see how I get on....

Promise to bring them back a warm pain au chocolate and you'll have no problems.

[FredericRobinson]

Truckosaurus said:

Promise to bring them back a warm pain au chocolate and you'll have no problems.

Always pays to make friends with the staff!
Sadly it’s got a bit more professional in recent years, haven’t seen the old boys who used to supervise Tertre Rouge as a way of getting paid to watch the race for a while

[RL17]

So basically Mulsanne closed from Wednesday pm (and Indianapolis) until after race.

Does the D92 (east west road from Arnage to Ruadin) cross track just after 1st chicane - so does that mean no race cars on track in day on Wed & Thur before 7 or 6pm?

So presumably no car show at Mulsanne on the Friday?

[FredericRobinson]

RL17 said:

So basically Mulsanne closed from Wednesday pm (and Indianapolis) until after race.

Does the D92 (east west road from Arnage to Ruadin) cross track just after 1st chicane - so does that mean no race cars on track in day on Wed & Thur before 7 or 6pm?

So presumably no car show at Mulsanne on the Friday?

The circuit’s closed from 3.30am on Wednesday until after the race, cars on track throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday, Mulsanne car show is on on Friday afternoon when the track walk is on.

[//j17]

FredericRobinson said:

The main impact on me as a TR camper is my morning perambulation to the boulangerie...

Assuming the 'inside TR' banking gate is open a quick measure suggests it will add about 450m to your journey, or about 10min.

[//j17]

FredericRobinson said:

RL17 said:

So basically Mulsanne closed from Wednesday pm (and Indianapolis) until after race.

Does the D92 (east west road from Arnage to Ruadin) cross track just after 1st chicane - so does that mean no race cars on track in day on Wed & Thur before 7 or 6pm?

So presumably no car show at Mulsanne on the Friday?

The circuit’s closed from 3.30am on Wednesday until after the race, cars on track throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday, Mulsanne car show is on on Friday afternoon when the track walk is on.

The programme has action on track from 9am till midnight Wednesday and 10:15am till midnight Thursday.

[RL17]

Thanks. Have now been catching up with timetable

So open track for walk is only from 2.30pm on Friday when Pit Walk is also on, one race - European Ligier Series on late Friday morning so timetable works better for CBW in am and then either Pit Walk or other stuff later. Will wait for Monday for usual look at public bits of track for us.

Not surprised the chosen manufacturer of the year race and practices has been ditched after the exodus from GTE Pro.

[FredericRobinson]

//j17 said:

Assuming the 'inside TR' banking gate is open a quick measure suggests it will add about 450m to your journey, or about 10min.

450m in total or each way?

Will I need 1 extra croissant to replace the energy or a nice gateaux?

[LawrieC]

I'm even more confused now. How do you get in and out of Epinettes. I've assumed you can drive in form both ends - Tetre Rouge or the Beausejour roundabout.

As for pedestrian access to the track, I was just going to follow everyone else, and I'll be in deep dodo if they're going to KFC or McDonalds

[size13]

FredericRobinson said:

The main impact on me as a TR camper is my morning perambulation to the boulangerie, I’ll take my bike and see how I get on, no doubt in the finest French tradition there’ll be no consistency whatsoever and it’ll all depend on the mood of whoever is on the gate.

Which boulangerie do you head to?

[FredericRobinson]

size13 said:

Which boulangerie do you head to?

The one on the crossroads just south of the big Carrefour. Hopefully before all the Pepittos have gone

[//j17]

FredericRobinson said:

//j17 said:

Assuming the 'inside TR' banking gate is open a quick measure suggests it will add about 450m to your journey, or about 10min.

450m in total or each way?

Will I need 1 extra croissant to replace the energy or a nice gateaux?

That is just one way, so say 1km additional in total...but walking 1km will burn approx. 76 calories and your average all butter croissant has 282 calories. If you want an extra pastry I think you'll need to be walking via the main circuit entrance in order to get the steps in!

[//j17]

LawrieC said:

I'm even more confused now. How do you get in and out of Epinettes. I've assumed you can drive in form both ends - Tetre Rouge or the Beausejour roundabout.

Epinettes is just the other side of the road (Chemin aux Boeufs) to Houx/Houx Annex so you'd just follow the green route on the second map on the 24h-lemans page. And yes, that means you can access from either the Beausjour rounabout or TR ends.

LawrieC said:

As for pedestrian access to the track, I was just going to follow everyone else, and I'll be in deep dodo if they're going to KFC or McDonalds

Not sure exactly where the Epinettes entry is/will be this year but in general you just want to exit on the Chemin aux Boeufs side, cross the road and enter Houx campsite (the one on the left), turn right at the toilet blocks in the trees on your right and from there up over the bridge, left a bit through the car park and follow the road up into the Village. The exception would be if you were trying to get to Tetre Rouge/the tram in which case you'd walk right along Chemin aux Boeufs and either right at the rounabout for the tram or left up the pedestrian boulevard an in the entrance.

Even if you do end up at the KFC there's a rhumor of a viewing area/area you can see the Mulsanne from the KFC. Anyone tried it/know if it's true or an urban myth put out by KFC to sell chicken to people who are there so go "Well as we're here..."?