Le Mans 26 Advice (for a beginner)
Discussion
First time poster, long time lurker!
Booked to be at LM24 this summer with some mates and it’s the first trip we’ve done. Booked Beausejour, travel out Thursday, return Monday.
I’ve had a look through lots of the LM camping threads (most of which seem about 10-15 years old and paint a picture of carnage) and overall, it looks promising for a good trip.
Does anyone have any key, sentient advice from experience of trips more recently with camping, any key things to be aware of, anything well worth taking etc. or anything we’ve likely forgotten/overlooked etc?
I’m aware of Strasse’s rather excellent “le-mans-guide” which seems to hold some great details (even if it looks spectacularly early 00s) and I know of Beer Mountain’s guides (though sadly very outdated). Any other guides are welcomed!
Cheers!
Booked to be at LM24 this summer with some mates and it’s the first trip we’ve done. Booked Beausejour, travel out Thursday, return Monday.
I’ve had a look through lots of the LM camping threads (most of which seem about 10-15 years old and paint a picture of carnage) and overall, it looks promising for a good trip.
Does anyone have any key, sentient advice from experience of trips more recently with camping, any key things to be aware of, anything well worth taking etc. or anything we’ve likely forgotten/overlooked etc?
I’m aware of Strasse’s rather excellent “le-mans-guide” which seems to hold some great details (even if it looks spectacularly early 00s) and I know of Beer Mountain’s guides (though sadly very outdated). Any other guides are welcomed!
Cheers!
guy_proc said:
First time poster, long time lurker!
Booked to be at LM24 this summer with some mates and it s the first trip we ve done. Booked Beausejour, travel out Thursday, return Monday.
I ve had a look through lots of the LM camping threads (most of which seem about 10-15 years old and paint a picture of carnage) and overall, it looks promising for a good trip.
Does anyone have any key, sentient advice from experience of trips more recently with camping, any key things to be aware of, anything well worth taking etc. or anything we ve likely forgotten/overlooked etc?
I m aware of Strasse s rather excellent le-mans-guide which seems to hold some great details (even if it looks spectacularly early 00s) and I know of Beer Mountain s guides (though sadly very outdated). Any other guides are welcomed!
Cheers!
In general the whole experience is much more civilised than 15-20 years ago, whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on your point of view!Booked to be at LM24 this summer with some mates and it s the first trip we ve done. Booked Beausejour, travel out Thursday, return Monday.
I ve had a look through lots of the LM camping threads (most of which seem about 10-15 years old and paint a picture of carnage) and overall, it looks promising for a good trip.
Does anyone have any key, sentient advice from experience of trips more recently with camping, any key things to be aware of, anything well worth taking etc. or anything we ve likely forgotten/overlooked etc?
I m aware of Strasse s rather excellent le-mans-guide which seems to hold some great details (even if it looks spectacularly early 00s) and I know of Beer Mountain s guides (though sadly very outdated). Any other guides are welcomed!
Cheers!
In my view things went from boisterous and great fun to a bit loutish to boring and too dull over that time, but it all depends on personal experience
guy_proc said:
First time poster, long time lurker!
Booked to be at LM24 this summer with some mates and it s the first trip we ve done. Booked Beausejour, travel out Thursday, return Monday.
I ve had a look through lots of the LM camping threads (most of which seem about 10-15 years old and paint a picture of carnage) and overall, it looks promising for a good trip.
Does anyone have any key, sentient advice from experience of trips more recently with camping, any key things to be aware of, anything well worth taking etc. or anything we ve likely forgotten/overlooked etc?
I m aware of Strasse s rather excellent le-mans-guide which seems to hold some great details (even if it looks spectacularly early 00s) and I know of Beer Mountain s guides (though sadly very outdated). Any other guides are welcomed!
Cheers!
Take a good quality cool box, throwaway BBQ's, a portable gas stove and kettle if you want tea or coffee, a portable table etc. Believe it or not I get all this plus a large tent, sleeping bags and beer in a 911 ;-)Booked to be at LM24 this summer with some mates and it s the first trip we ve done. Booked Beausejour, travel out Thursday, return Monday.
I ve had a look through lots of the LM camping threads (most of which seem about 10-15 years old and paint a picture of carnage) and overall, it looks promising for a good trip.
Does anyone have any key, sentient advice from experience of trips more recently with camping, any key things to be aware of, anything well worth taking etc. or anything we ve likely forgotten/overlooked etc?
I m aware of Strasse s rather excellent le-mans-guide which seems to hold some great details (even if it looks spectacularly early 00s) and I know of Beer Mountain s guides (though sadly very outdated). Any other guides are welcomed!
Cheers!
Walk up to the bars at Arnarge on Mad Friday, also bring bikes if you have room, or you can hire them at the fan zone at BJ
As mentioned above a radio with decent earphones - the channel is very informative. Other items are a good camping chair, powepack for your phone and a pack away pocket groundsheet for flexibility if you don’t take your chair, a torch and a microfibre towel so it dries quickly and takes up less space.
Welcome to Le Mans 2026, you’re going to have a great time, hoping this will be the start of many trips to the circuit.
So like many of us your camping at Beausejour this year, on arrival at the site expect delays, the friendly staff will want to see your campsite tickets, one per car and also a general entrance for each person. They will also search your car for bottles, normally it’s just a look in your boot, bottles can easily be hidden under your gear, the staff get pretty bored after the first couple of hundred cars.Generally you will be directed to a camping pitch, wait for a few minutes till the guides gone and then decided if you want to remain at that pitch or as an alternative drive on through the campsite, it’s huge and find your own spot. It’s pretty decent in the wooded area nearer to Porsche curves, but much further from toilets and showers.
Once sorted consider marking out your little bit of England with poles and hazard tape, everyone seems to do it.
Tents are up and kettles on, as discussed now is the time to get the radio out and tune into John Hindhaugh at Radio Le Mans, his commentary is going to make your weekend.
Suitably refreshed now’s the time to see some racing, the nearest point is at the end of the campsite at Porsche curves. But like the rest of us you’re going to want to go up to where it’s all happening near the grandstands and fan zone areas near the start & finish line.
To get around the circuit use the free buses, beats walking. There is a shuttle bus that drives round the campsite and takes to the campsite entrance. From there other bus service will take you to the pits or out to Arnage and Mulsanne all free.
As others have said don’t try to do to much, a good place to be is down on the terraces near the start line, get there early. Bring your camping chair and some snacks and Let Radio Le Mans take your through the start. It’s Amazing.
After grabbing a couple of hours sleep, if possible ,you’re going to wake up the next day and suddenly realise there’s still another 12hrs till the finish,unbelievable.
But like all good thinking’s it will come to the nail bighting grand finally and finish.
At the end of the race the campsite exits are closed for a couple of hours to reduce congestion so allow for this when driving home.
Have a great time….. what’s the dates for 2027
So like many of us your camping at Beausejour this year, on arrival at the site expect delays, the friendly staff will want to see your campsite tickets, one per car and also a general entrance for each person. They will also search your car for bottles, normally it’s just a look in your boot, bottles can easily be hidden under your gear, the staff get pretty bored after the first couple of hundred cars.Generally you will be directed to a camping pitch, wait for a few minutes till the guides gone and then decided if you want to remain at that pitch or as an alternative drive on through the campsite, it’s huge and find your own spot. It’s pretty decent in the wooded area nearer to Porsche curves, but much further from toilets and showers.
Once sorted consider marking out your little bit of England with poles and hazard tape, everyone seems to do it.
Tents are up and kettles on, as discussed now is the time to get the radio out and tune into John Hindhaugh at Radio Le Mans, his commentary is going to make your weekend.
Suitably refreshed now’s the time to see some racing, the nearest point is at the end of the campsite at Porsche curves. But like the rest of us you’re going to want to go up to where it’s all happening near the grandstands and fan zone areas near the start & finish line.
To get around the circuit use the free buses, beats walking. There is a shuttle bus that drives round the campsite and takes to the campsite entrance. From there other bus service will take you to the pits or out to Arnage and Mulsanne all free.
As others have said don’t try to do to much, a good place to be is down on the terraces near the start line, get there early. Bring your camping chair and some snacks and Let Radio Le Mans take your through the start. It’s Amazing.
After grabbing a couple of hours sleep, if possible ,you’re going to wake up the next day and suddenly realise there’s still another 12hrs till the finish,unbelievable.
But like all good thinking’s it will come to the nail bighting grand finally and finish.
At the end of the race the campsite exits are closed for a couple of hours to reduce congestion so allow for this when driving home.
Have a great time….. what’s the dates for 2027
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff