Quick and Dirty 2025 trip….

[Simoncopson]

Hi Guys

My thoughts are turning towards the 2025 trip. I went this year with my son and we took the best part of a week, going on Wednesday and back on Monday. It was a nice relaxed trip with enough time to bed in before the crowds arrived (!)

I don’t think I’ll have the leave next year so I’m thinking of doing a really short trip. What do you guys reckon be optimum itinerary is? I’m thinking of getting there Friday late afternoon and leaving Sunday after the race. Maybe a hotel kip on the way back as I’ll be the only driver.

Probably sounds a daft question but would be interested in hearing any hacks and tips! Will probably travel
light this time so minimal camp set up.

Anyone ever just arrived Saturday and kipped by the track? Guess we’d just need a parking space for that?

Cheers!

[Truckosaurus]

If you leave shortly before the finish you can beat the crowds and easily get back to the channel ports Sunday evening.

It doesn't have to be that much before, even 30 mins to go. You can still be in range of the Radio Le Mans signal to hear the end.

Arrival time depends on when you can leave on the Friday (or Thursday etc.). If you just want a hit'n'run, perhaps cross the channel Friday evening and stay in a hotel somewhere like Rouen and then head to LM very early doors Saturday.

[//j17]

You certainly can just book a parking space, arrive Saturday morning, grab some (uncomfortable) kip in the car Sat. night, head home Sunday.

Another option that might be a little more comfortable is to take the train. I've had friends do both Eurostar to Paris/change stations/SNCF to Le Mans, and foot passenger Portsmouth Le Havre/SNCF to Paris/change stations/SNCF to Le Mans - and you can catch the tram right outside Le Mans station to/from the circuit.

If you decide to do a Friday arrival make sure you go for a campsite with marked, allocated pitches so you know your space will still be there when you arrive!

[djone101]

I did a quick trip in 2019 when my son's exam schedule meant we couldn't leave until Friday afternoon.
We had a night in a cheap hotel in Rouen (from this experience I would certainly say don't go the the Formula1 in Rouen)
Arrived on Saturday morning, we had a parking spot in Blanc (which isn't there any more) and kipped in the car overnight.
We had a Pathfinder so we had enough room for an air mattress in the back - found a quiet corner of a supermarket car park in Arnage.
Drove back on Sunday but did treat ourselves to a nice hotel as time was back on our side then (from this experience I would say do stay at the Hotel du Tribunal in Mortagne-au-Perche)

[Aysedasi2]

Simoncopson said:

Anyone ever just arrived Saturday and kipped by the track? Guess we’d just need a parking space for that?

We did that for years - but that was back in the 80's/90s. The guys would kip in the cars in the car park or even put up a small tent when no-one was looking. Probably wouldn't get away with that any more.

[Northcote67]

My first trip to Le Mans was a Page & Moy Coach trip in the early nineties, started drinking at Victoria station on Friday evening before continuing on the train to Dover and the ferry over to France, we didn't stop until we left on Sunday, slept maybe two or three hours all weekend but do still remember experiencing Le Mans before it changed drastically, the old fair ground and being able to sneak up to the crash barriers at some part of the track and the gendarmes when noticing me being quite polite and not asking me to move until I'd taken a few photos, I still have the entrance ticket and string lanyard at home somewhere, absolutely stupid when you look back but great fun as a twenty something even though the weekend was carnage.
Nowadays It's a leisurely trip to Le Mans over Tuesday night ferry and back Monday afternoon.

[Truckosaurus]

Northcote67 said:

...started drinking at Victoria station ....

A fine start to any anecdote.

[Output Flange]

Truckosaurus said:

If you leave shortly before the finish you can beat the crowds and easily get back to the channel ports Sunday evening.

Unless you’re on one of the campsites, as they stopped people leaving for a few hours just before the race ended.

[Truckosaurus]

Output Flange said:

Unless you’re on one of the campsites, as they stopped people leaving for a few hours just before the race ended.

Indeed. Although if you were in the campsites and wanted an early exit it was always wise to move your car somewhere else, even before they started trying to be clever with the traffic.

[Simoncopson]

Truckosaurus said:

If you leave shortly before the finish you can beat the crowds and easily get back to the channel ports Sunday evening.

It doesn't have to be that much before, even 30 mins to go. You can still be in range of the Radio Le Mans signal to hear the end.

Arrival time depends on when you can leave on the Friday (or Thursday etc.). If you just want a hit'n'run, perhaps cross the channel Friday evening and stay in a hotel somewhere like Rouen and then head to LM very early doors Saturday.

Thanks! I like the idea of a stop at Rouen, that could work well. Any idea what the traffic is like on raceday? Guess its pretty horrific?

[Simoncopson]

//j17 said:

You certainly can just book a parking space, arrive Saturday morning, grab some (uncomfortable) kip in the car Sat. night, head home Sunday.

Another option that might be a little more comfortable is to take the train. I've had friends do both Eurostar to Paris/change stations/SNCF to Le Mans, and foot passenger Portsmouth Le Havre/SNCF to Paris/change stations/SNCF to Le Mans - and you can catch the tram right outside Le Mans station to/from the circuit.

If you decide to do a Friday arrival make sure you go for a campsite with marked, allocated pitches so you know your space will still be there when you arrive!

Thanks! Getting to the campsite early Friday is a good shout, a bit of time to settle in as nothing much is happening on track. Might end up next to the 'soundsytem' though we're really unlucky!

[Simoncopson]

djone101 said:

I did a quick trip in 2019 when my son's exam schedule meant we couldn't leave until Friday afternoon.
We had a night in a cheap hotel in Rouen (from this experience I would certainly say don't go the the Formula1 in Rouen)
Arrived on Saturday morning, we had a parking spot in Blanc (which isn't there any more) and kipped in the car overnight.
We had a Pathfinder so we had enough room for an air mattress in the back - found a quiet corner of a supermarket car park in Arnage.
Drove back on Sunday but did treat ourselves to a nice hotel as time was back on our side then (from this experience I would say do stay at the Hotel du Tribunal in Mortagne-au-Perche)

Thanks! Checked out the hotel, looks very nice! I've got a 5 series Touring so might just be able to sleep in it....

[Simoncopson]

[quote=Northcote67]My first trip to Le Mans was a Page & Moy Coach trip in the early nineties, started drinking at Victoria station on Friday evening before continuing on the train to Dover and the ferry over to France, we didn't stop until we left on Sunday, slept maybe two or three hours all weekend but do still remember experiencing Le Mans before it changed drastically, the old fair ground and being able to sneak up to the crash barriers at some part of the track and the gendarmes when noticing me being quite polite and not asking me to move until I'd taken a few photos, I still have the entrance ticket and string lanyard at home somewhere, absolutely stupid when you look back but great fun as a twenty something even though the weekend was carnage.
Nowadays It's a leisurely trip to Le Mans over Tuesday night ferry and back Monday afternoon.

Reminds me of my first trip in 91. Did the coach trip from Northampton. Didn't sleep a wink Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Have done some Glastonburys since but none of them wiped me out like that trip. Lol

[Simoncopson]

Truckosaurus said:

Indeed. Although if you were in the campsites and wanted an early exit it was always wise to move your car somewhere else, even before they started trying to be clever with the traffic.

Yeah we tried to leave Hippodrome at about 3pm this year only to find we couldn't. Think we got out at about 5pm in the end, although it was easy to get onto the motorway once we were moving.

[RL17]

There were a few small tents in car parks this year- including one about 2 feet away from my twin exhausts when we drove off around 1 am.

Loads of people stay out all night reclined on Porsche curves or Indianapolis and are all fully wrapped in sleeping bags with polythene for weather protection etc

Of those 2 parking at Indianapolis/Arnage - ticket or gratuit is better bet or get a parking ticket at Panorama etc. Porsche curves is a bit of a trek and Beasejour was a nightmare for traffic virtually all Sunday ad loads headed home early this year (or rather tried too 😀)

[Northcote67]

Simoncopson]orthcote67 said:

My first trip to Le Mans was a Page & Moy Coach trip in the early nineties, started drinking at Victoria station on Friday evening before continuing on the train to Dover and the ferry over to France, we didn't stop until we left on Sunday, slept maybe two or three hours all weekend but do still remember experiencing Le Mans before it changed drastically, the old fair ground and being able to sneak up to the crash barriers at some part of the track and the gendarmes when noticing me being quite polite and not asking me to move until I'd taken a few photos, I still have the entrance ticket and string lanyard at home somewhere, absolutely stupid when you look back but great fun as a twenty something even though the weekend was carnage.
Nowadays It's a leisurely trip to Le Mans over Tuesday night ferry and back Monday afternoon.

Reminds me of my first trip in 91. Did the coach trip from Northampton. Didn't sleep a wink Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Have done some Glastonburys since but none of them wiped me out like that trip. Lol

[HardtopManual]

I did quick and dirty this year. Eurostar to Paris then TGV to Le Mans on Friday night. Same return journey after the race on Sunday. Minimal camp setup (bivvy, mat and sleeping bag). Take a folding bike so you can get around easily.

[Simoncopson]

HardtopManual said:

I did quick and dirty this year. Eurostar to Paris then TGV to Le Mans on Friday night. Same return journey after the race on Sunday. Minimal camp setup (bivvy, mat and sleeping bag). Take a folding bike so you can get around easily.

Really like the sound of this! Where did you bed down on the Friday night? Did you have a camping ticket or did you just find a casual space?

[HardtopManual]

With a bivvy you'll be able to sneak into any circuit campsite, Beausejour probably easiest. Saturday night I was on the bit of grass by Porte Est. Slept for 4 hours and woke up as the marathon safety car ended.

[MiniMan64]

Aysedasi2 said:

Simoncopson said:

Anyone ever just arrived Saturday and kipped by the track? Guess we’d just need a parking space for that?

We did that for years - but that was back in the 80's/90s. The guys would kip in the cars in the car park or even put up a small tent when no-one was looking. Probably wouldn't get away with that any more.

Nearly ever grass verge in Expo parking had a tent on it Saturday night this year.

We did a very whistle stop tour this year, ferry to Dieppe Friday night, got down there Saturday morning and parked in Expo. Watched the race and was very lucky to have a bed in a friends house Saturday night, back to the circuit in the morning for an hour or two and left at 1pm, back to Dieppe for a ferry at 6pm, home at 4am. Work at 7.

It wasn’t ideal but due to my job I’m never going to manage anything more, if we do it again I’ll plan to bring an estate or a roof tent and sleep in Expo.

I certainly wouldn’t consider going anywhere near a campsite for a weekend only flying visit.