Car Hire for Le Mans

[DSOTM]

Hi guys
I'm planning on doing Le Mans 24 for the first time.
I don't really want to drive my own car abroad so was thinking of coming over as foot passengers to Caen then picking up a rental.
Does anyone have any advice/experience of doing this. I can see car hire companies based at the airport, just trying to see if anyone knows if they will deliver to the ferry terminal (Avis have already said no)
Thanks

[FredericRobinson]

Do you have a particular need to drive on the other side of the channel? Train to Le Mans/ tram to the circuit is very easy, or fly to Paris, train from there.

[DSOTM]

Hi thanks for the reply.
No I have no specific reason why I must drive.
The only reason I thought of a rental car is because when I looked into public transport I was getting travel times of around 5 hours with loads of transfers, that was SNCF, didn’t realise there was a tram, I’ll do some more digging around the interweb👍

[FredericRobinson]

When I’ve looked at it Eurostar to Lille and a direct train from there to Le Mans looked best, saved getting across Paris, I was only roughly scoping it out so don’t take that as gospel.
Tram from Le Mans station to the circuit is very good. You’d be wanting a campsite fairly near to the tram stop, Houx, Houx Annexe, Garage Vert or Epinettes for example.

[//j17]

I can tell you it's quicker to travel as a foot passenger Portsmouth->Le Havre, walk to the station, catch a TGV to Paris, change stations, and catch a TGV Paris to Le Mans than it is to drive (enjoying the drive by going cross country, sticking to "D" roads, and stopping for lunch).

(A member of our group broke down about 3 miles from Portsmouth one year.)

[RL17]

would much rather drive a UK car in France than one with controls on wrong side for me. Easier driving in France than UK

Pretty much all dual carriageway/autoroute 2 hours with a few twists at each end.

There do appear to be direct trains Caen to Le Mans taking 1 hour 50 mins or so. Hopefully foot passengers get through customs there quicker than cars

[DSOTM]

Unfortunately Brittany Ferries aren’t currently offering Portsmouth-Le Havre sailings

[//j17]

Actually as RL17 said there are direct, sub-2hr trains from Cean to Le Mans. Then you have ~10min on the tram and you're at the circuit, and handy for camping around Houx/Tetre Rouge but a bit of a hike to Bleu/Beausjour way.

[FredericRobinson]

Just remember the port is at Ouistreham, not sure how much of a fanny it is to get from there to Caen train station?

[DSOTM]

So it looks like the reason SNCF are currently quoting 5 hours with multiple changes is that 2023 time tables aren’t finalised yet.
So the train/tram is actually looking like a good option👍👍

[LawrieC]

RL17 said:

.....There do appear to be direct trains Caen to Le Mans taking 1 hour 50 mins or so. Hopefully foot passengers get through customs there quicker than cars

Google says its 6 hours, and via Paris plus you walk from Ouistreham to Caen. Eurostar's good

Edited by LawrieC on Thursday 20th October 20:19

[FredericRobinson]

I expect a foot passenger stood by the ferry ramp with a sign for Le Mans and his thumb out wouldn’t have to wait too long

[DSOTM]

Nice idea, but theres 4 of us, maybe I’ll hunt down a friendly looking mini bus on the sailing over