Le Mans 24 crowd level

[Julian Thompson]

On site with some friends. We have been before a good number of times, but not last year (did classic instead).

It seems ridiculously, uncomfortably busy as a general admission “pleb” without any VIP anything. Got stuck in several people-jams at pinch points (one of them pretty nasty up near Tet-rouge just after the start) and generally everything seems so overwhelming that we couldn’t wait to get back to the camp site.

Seen a bit of racing but it’s hard won. Feel like this might just be my last visit.

Anyone else comment? Is it just me?

[Julian Thompson]

DJFish said:

Julian Thompson said:

Got stuck in several people-jams at pinch points (one of them pretty nasty up near Tet-rouge just after the start) and generally everything seems so overwhelming that we couldn’t wait to get back to the camp site.

We were sat in TR camping earlier and all of a sudden there was a flood of people walking through and using the loo.
It looked like they’d just opened the gates to the general public for whatever reason.
Our hosts were not happy having paid through the nose for the privilege & security of staying there.

Was it just sheer weight of foot traffic?
If so the ACO need to Start limiting the amount of people they let in the TR gates, or the amount of tickets they sell in general.

We tried to watch the start from TR & it was heaving, busier than I’ve ever seen it and not particularly enjoyable.

They tried to send a red car out of that exit, which constricted the flow of people coming from TR and the result was human gridlock. There was a guy in front of the car trying to clear the way and he thought it was funny as I got clear, so I know he had no idea how nasty it was. I’m sure he found out once they got in the middle of that.

[Julian Thompson]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Definitely the ACO selling too many tickets. They're trying to play off corporate requirements (All the Hypercar teams) against normal fans.

Hmm, not sure - looks more like tonnes of normal punters like us to me, rather than anything corporate.

It’s fantastic that it’s popular but in the end there is a limit if they don’t want to open up more of the circuit and put in infrastructure.

If they don’t want to do that then it’s either a) ballot for tickets, b) increase the price to dull the demand or c) let the numbers keep growing until it’s horrible and it self regulates downwards, hoping that nobody gets hurt in the mean time.

[Julian Thompson]

Seems fine today though - back to normal levels of crowd - maybe less even. Can’t understand it!!

[Julian Thompson]

Overall we still had a brilliant time. The Saturday was far too busy around the start, but other than that no problem and the Sunday just never got anywhere near as busy, for whatever reason.

Definitely agree about staying until Monday - we are still here and will be taking in the scenic route home with another stop overnight on the way.