Support Races LM 24. - VW BEETLES AT LM??????

[Strasse]

Just started creating/researching my completely new www.le-mans-guide.co.uk for 2024 and came across what I think is the first viewing of what the 2024 Support Races are:

Ligier European Series Heat on Sun 9 June - somehow, during practice weekend

then Lamborghini and usual Road to Le Mans Michelin Cup during the week

BUT THEN ....Fun Cup France!!!! VW Beetles at Le Mans on the Full Circuit??????
This is their web site: http://www.funcup.net/PAGES/accueil.php

This is all from: https://racingcalendar.net/circuit/circuit-de-la-s... - who I gratefully acknowledge

This is all early days yet so things will change - they always do with the ACO at LM

Are they trying to "popularise" the LM experience? - If they really want to exite the punters how about 20 PANOZ charging round the Circuit de Sarthe?

Best Regards
Strasse

[Oldwolf]

Didn't VW Beetles happen once before? I have a very vague recollection but pretty sure I wasn't at the circuit when they raced so don't have any pictures.

FYI I looked at the link below and couldn't see any mention of it
https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/lemans/support-races

[FredericRobinson]

There was a long (4 or 6 hour) fun cup race one of the covid years, not sure if it was the closed year or the restricted one.
Looks like the sort of racing that would be great to do but not to watch to me, the novelty would wear off pretty quickly

[Strasse]

Oldwolf

that was last years cars and dates - ACO always tends to be quite late putting things up on the web site.......


we will await their PR machine


Regards

Strasse

[FredericRobinson]

I think there was a massive entry last time, and presumably 3 or 4 drivers per car, lots of lovely entry fees for the ACO

[FredericRobinson]

If they did have another endurance race the only time they could do it would be Friday afternoon, this would be a very bad thing if it interferes with the track walk/cycle and the Mulsanne car show

[Oldwolf]

Strasse said:

Oldwolf

that was last years cars and dates - ACO always tends to be quite late putting things up on the web site.......


we will await their PR machine


Regards

Strasse

Thanks, obviously reading is not a strong point for me

[RL17]

Friday morning racing is a waste of time too - nice to have open track and a break - it dragged opening til almost 3pm a while back.

No way could they do a full Friday racing as Marshalls need a break.

Maybe they could do it at midnight after test day.

[Strasse]

Funny isn't it .....in olden days ( what was it three years ago?) we had a Friday we could enjoy.

Classic British Welcome at St Saturnin, then a drive round the circuit taking in the pop-up car shows, burn-ups and the Mulsanne Corner event then off to Town on the tram to enjoy the atmosphere and the Drivers Parade, a few drinks and a good meal. Then back to the campsite for errr....well we won't discuss the rest but we all know what we mean.

Now what have we got....at the very least some very poor Town's People who don't get to benefit financially from the Brits having a night on the town!

To balance it a bit we do get to be able to walk/run/bike round the whole circuit on Friday but the ACO can't work out whether they want track action on Friday morning....shame no one talks to the spectators! Of course on top of that you have the delights of which ticket you need or more importantly what ticket you can get hold off.

ACO have done a good job improving the Food Outlets and the Fan Zones and the Concert Area but they seem to have thrown the baby out with the bath water.

Everything has gone Corporate and they are trying to follow the big money of the Major Auto Manufacturers. Unfortunately they have a history of having the financial memory of a gnat!!!

...still as I say on the website CALM DOWN AND HAVE ANOTHER BEER!!!


BUT I'll still be there starting on 8th June 2024....it is a drug and we are still adicted to Le Mans.

Moan over
Regards

Strasse

[RL17]

There's this - goes past Restaurant Des Hunaudieres and wrong way round Whitehouse kink plus an early appearance from Eric Cantona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQsVUjxWYiM

[Vette_1978]

FredericRobinson said:

There was a long (4 or 6 hour) fun cup race one of the covid years, not sure if it was the closed year or the restricted one.

Wasn't the closed year, we were there and only LM cars on track, I don't remember anything support related at all. It was the restricted year, we watched the start of this on the Friday, was a massive field, watched from Arnage, looked like a laugh, but coming down Mulsanne they'd probably be making phone calls and texting the missus it'd take so long.

[bodysnatcher]

Vette_1978 said:

FredericRobinson said:

There was a long (4 or 6 hour) fun cup race one of the covid years, not sure if it was the closed year or the restricted one.

Wasn't the closed year, we were there and only LM cars on track, I don't remember anything support related at all. It was the restricted year, we watched the start of this on the Friday, was a massive field, watched from Arnage, looked like a laugh, but coming down Mulsanne they'd probably be making phone calls and texting the missus it'd take so long.

The VW fun cup was a 5 hr race on the Friday in August 2021.
This was by way of compensation for the VW fun cup race usually held on the Bugatti circuit in April that had been cancelled that year.

it does look like they are going for a 4 hour race on Friday in 2024.- as a marshal this fills me with dismay. No down time for my mates.
Makes me glad last year was my final one.

[LawrieC]

Strasse said:

Funny isn't it .....in olden days ( what was it three years ago?) we had a Friday we could enjoy.

Classic British Welcome at St Saturnin, then a drive round the circuit........

So the marshals don't get a day off either, just so that a few rich kids can thrash a VW round the track. Is that really motorsport?