Drive from Beasejour to Panorama parking on Saturday
Discussion
What would be a good time to leave the camp and go to Panorama parking(the one across the highway from Tertre Rouge camping) before the race on Saturday?
The idea is to make the drive with plenty of time to park and enter the circuit grounds comfortably, but also not have to get up and go too early and be tired for the 24 hrs that follow.
The idea is to make the drive with plenty of time to park and enter the circuit grounds comfortably, but also not have to get up and go too early and be tired for the 24 hrs that follow.
We want to have the car there for the 24hrs as our base, take/unload the chairs/sleeping bags, clothes, food and water, and whatever else we might need throughout the 24 hrs. We don't sleep during the race, just nod off in the chair for 10 minutes at a time.
The plan is to watch along the Ford Chicane-Tertre Rouge route for the entirety of the race.
Last year we lost a good hour and a half going to the car and back.
The plan is to watch along the Ford Chicane-Tertre Rouge route for the entirety of the race.
Last year we lost a good hour and a half going to the car and back.
My crew will be driving in from about half an hour away. Whether they like it or not, we'll be up and leaving pretty early. In the past, with reserved spaces in Parking Blanc, we used to drive in about 10-10.30, but we'll be on route before that. We may even be really early and catch some breakfast on route.
Based on going to Le Mans for the last 20 years the best time to move the car on Saturday would be...Friday morning. I've been down with people who did an early (c. 8/9am) run from Houx just to get fresh bread and pastries on the Saturday morning. They made it back in time for a late lunch...
Saturday you still have 'no days off work' campers arriving in addition to the 'day trip' French fans - and all those with any experience try to do it early to beat the traffic, which just means the traffic is bad all day. The obvious route from Beausjour to Panorama would be up between Maison Blance and Bleu...which is a corporate hospitality wasteland this year so probably going to be nose to tail luxury minibuses 24/7.
And Friday you don't generally want to be driving around the circuit roads much after lunch time. They are busy with 'Friday off work' camping traffic and you also get people playing with the traffic - some in a fun way, some in an agressive way, many s
tfaced and falling into the road even at lunch time. Though given the MB/Bleu area will be that corporate wasteland with all the dirty, common people shuffled out of the way it may not be an issue.
If it was me - drive the car up to Panorama lunch time on Friday and walk from there to the Tertre Rouge tram stop, head in to town for a nice lunch, stay (drink through) the driver's parade, followed by another nice meal, then the tram home to Antares (walking away from the circuit to the Eperon stop so you get a seat and don't have to stand all the way like those getting on at Republique).
Saturday you still have 'no days off work' campers arriving in addition to the 'day trip' French fans - and all those with any experience try to do it early to beat the traffic, which just means the traffic is bad all day. The obvious route from Beausjour to Panorama would be up between Maison Blance and Bleu...which is a corporate hospitality wasteland this year so probably going to be nose to tail luxury minibuses 24/7.
And Friday you don't generally want to be driving around the circuit roads much after lunch time. They are busy with 'Friday off work' camping traffic and you also get people playing with the traffic - some in a fun way, some in an agressive way, many s
tfaced and falling into the road even at lunch time. Though given the MB/Bleu area will be that corporate wasteland with all the dirty, common people shuffled out of the way it may not be an issue.If it was me - drive the car up to Panorama lunch time on Friday and walk from there to the Tertre Rouge tram stop, head in to town for a nice lunch, stay (drink through) the driver's parade, followed by another nice meal, then the tram home to Antares (walking away from the circuit to the Eperon stop so you get a seat and don't have to stand all the way like those getting on at Republique).
We have driven from Arnage to Rouge (now Panorama) every year since 2009. Yup the traffic jam around the top of the circuit is heaving, about an hour in near stationary traffic if we leave it much past 9am. But have always made it by about 11:30.
Have always gone anti-clockwise (via Mulsanne/Ruaudin) - must try decipher the ACO map and see if it is worth trying Arnage village, Porsche curves etc?
ps - notice someone in the ACO IT department can spell Waze - there is an attempt to keep you entertained while in the jam by using their links here.
Have always gone anti-clockwise (via Mulsanne/Ruaudin) - must try decipher the ACO map and see if it is worth trying Arnage village, Porsche curves etc?
ps - notice someone in the ACO IT department can spell Waze - there is an attempt to keep you entertained while in the jam by using their links here.
Edited by Dukla2000 on Thursday 25th May 10:54
davidd said:
//j17 said:
then the tram home to Antares (walking away from the circuit to the Eperon stop so you get a seat and don't have to stand all the way like those getting on at Republique).
Genius 
Dukla2000 said:
We have driven from Arnage to Rouge (now Panorama) every year since 2009. Yup the traffic jam around the top of the circuit is heaving, about an hour in near stationary traffic if we leave it much past 9am. But have always made it by about 11:30.
Have always gone anti-clockwise (via Mulsanne/Ruaudin) - must try decipher the ACO map and see if it is worth trying Arnage village, Porsche curves etc?
ps - notice someone in the ACO IT department can spell Waze - there is an attempt to keep you entertained while in the jam by using their links here.
Last year we were going around the circuit on Sat morning, and went via bus from Mulsanne towards the pits, bus no 5 I believe. We had to exit the thing and walk the last few kilometers because it was just jammed up completely. I would hope the shorter, clockwise route between the airport and the main straight would be somewhat better.Have always gone anti-clockwise (via Mulsanne/Ruaudin) - must try decipher the ACO map and see if it is worth trying Arnage village, Porsche curves etc?
ps - notice someone in the ACO IT department can spell Waze - there is an attempt to keep you entertained while in the jam by using their links here.
Edited by Dukla2000 on Thursday 25th May 10:54
Also, awesome advice everyone! Last year was a bit of a madhouse for us, this year we have more time and will def check out the town and eat at a local restaurant.
Alex_227 said:
Last year we were going around the circuit on Sat morning, and went via bus from Mulsanne towards the pits, bus no 5 I believe. We had to exit the thing and walk the last few kilometers because it was just jammed up completely. I would hope the shorter, clockwise route between the airport and the main straight would be somewhat better.
Also, awesome advice everyone! Last year was a bit of a madhouse for us, this year we have more time and will def check out the town and eat at a local restaurant.
In 2018 we went out from Epinettes to the supermarket on the Saturday morning before the race. Ended up parking in Expo as we couldnt get back for the race start.Also, awesome advice everyone! Last year was a bit of a madhouse for us, this year we have more time and will def check out the town and eat at a local restaurant.
It could take you hours to get from Beausejour to Panorama. Not forgetting that I think the road to enter the car park is one way, and usually in the direction of Expo.
Chrisgr31 said:
It could take you hours to get from Beausejour to Panorama. Not forgetting that I think the road to enter the car park is one way, and usually in the direction of Expo.
I think the road was two way last/most years (I normally camp in Bleu Sud so have to use/cross it). Having one way traffic would actually be sensible (you could split the road to give long queue lanes for car park/camp site traffic one side while keeping the other open for through traffic) and the traffic flow is organised bu the French/ACO - so almost certainly two way! 
Chrisgr31 said:
...
Not forgetting that I think the road to enter the car park is one way, and usually in the direction of Expo.
Correct, and around D323/D338 junction and Avenue Panorama/Avenue Georges Durand is complete carnage. Not forgetting that I think the road to enter the car park is one way, and usually in the direction of Expo.
But Top Tip: get to the south cemetery and approach Avenue Panorama up Rue Etienne Falconet. Beyond my skills to get a suitable screenshot/map in here but hope waze/your satnav will help, or OpenStreetMap here.
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