Parking at Hunadieres

[Mark B]

Hi all, it's beena few years since I went to Le Mans. We always go out to Hunadieres for either dinner or just to watch, does anyone know what the parking arrangements are? Do you need a ticket, or does owning another parking ticket get you access?

[VladD]

As far as I'm aware there's no general viewing access on Hunaudiers. If you've got a track side restaurant booked, then surely you can park at the restaurant can't you? I'd imagine that the restaurants and bars outside the circuit are independent from the ACO, so wouldn't think that an ACO car park pass would be applicable anywhere else.

I may have misunderstood the question though.

[eastsider]

Hotel Arbor - you'll have to find the secret in race car entry though

Its something like 10-20 Euro parking and you get a beer and a baguette too.

[Mark B]

VladD said:

As far as I'm aware there's no general viewing access on Hunaudiers. If you've got a track side restaurant booked, then surely you can park at the restaurant can't you? I'd imagine that the restaurants and bars outside the circuit are independent from the ACO, so wouldn't think that an ACO car park pass would be applicable anywhere else.

I may have misunderstood the question though.

Many thanks, this confirms our experience before, but I think they converted one of the fields to a campsite. We will aim for it anyway, I am sure a small charge of FOC will be the form.

[Mark B]

eastsider said:

Hotel Arbor - you'll have to find the secret in race car entry though

Its something like 10-20 Euro parking and you get a beer and a baguette too.

Many thanks, that is also on our track tour Saturday evening, €20 doesn't sound bad all things considered.

[Aysedasi2]

Not sure about during the race, but we watched the whole of Test Day from the Auberge des Hunaudieres last year. We did have a booking for lunch though.... The place was almost deserted, we only saw about 10 people all day - including a certain Robin Donovan).

[VladD]

Aysedasi2 said:

Not sure about during the race, but we watched the whole of Test Day from the Auberge des Hunaudieres last year. We did have a booking for lunch though.... The place was almost deserted, we only saw about 10 people all day - including a certain Robin Donovan).

I think I've read somewhere that for the race the ACO (I assume) put up a screen so that you can't see the track from there. Would be good if someone can confirm.

[Aysedasi2]

Yes they do. It was in place on Test Day last year. But it didn't extend to the first floor.....

[Bobo W]

VladD said:

Aysedasi2 said:

Not sure about during the race, but we watched the whole of Test Day from the Auberge des Hunaudieres last year. We did have a booking for lunch though.... The place was almost deserted, we only saw about 10 people all day - including a certain Robin Donovan).

I think I've read somewhere that for the race the ACO (I assume) put up a screen so that you can't see the track from there. Would be good if someone can confirm.

The screen has been at road level for many years, no standing in the hedge any more but if you book a table then the proprietor allows you to view from the first floor rooms. When we were last there in 2021 we timed our meal over dusk so got to see that fabulous transition from day to night time racing at 200mph while we tucked into our foie gras just 10m from the track!

[Aysedasi2]

Bobo W said:

The screen has been at road level for many years, no standing in the hedge any more but if you book a table then the proprietor allows you to view from the first floor rooms. When we were last there in 2021 we timed our meal over dusk so got to see that fabulous transition from day to night time racing at 200mph while we tucked into our foie gras just 10m from the track!

Nice work. And foie gras to go with it, just about perfect.

We ate our splendid lunch during the break between morning and afternoon sessions on the Test Day, but it was a leisurely lunch and it was fun to both hear the cars go past and see the screen moving in the wake of the cars as they went past at the start of the pm session.

[VladD]

Bobo W said:

VladD said:

Aysedasi2 said:

Not sure about during the race, but we watched the whole of Test Day from the Auberge des Hunaudieres last year. We did have a booking for lunch though.... The place was almost deserted, we only saw about 10 people all day - including a certain Robin Donovan).

I think I've read somewhere that for the race the ACO (I assume) put up a screen so that you can't see the track from there. Would be good if someone can confirm.

The screen has been at road level for many years, no standing in the hedge any more but if you book a table then the proprietor allows you to view from the first floor rooms. When we were last there in 2021 we timed our meal over dusk so got to see that fabulous transition from day to night time racing at 200mph while we tucked into our foie gras just 10m from the track!

Thanks both, that's useful to know.

[Mark B]

Thanks Steve (Bobo W) I presume this could be the plan again? Sounds just about perfect :-)