24h Le Mans
Your first time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans? As many a seasoned spectator will tell you, there are a number of things that you must see and do to make sure that your trip to the Circuit de la Sarthe is a memorable one. Here is our selection of seven things that you must not miss over the week at the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans.
If you thought that your only sight of the cars competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans would be from your grandstand seat or track-side vantage point, then think again! The practice and qualifying sessions and the race itself are obviously the highlights, but there are plenty of opportunities during the build-up to the world’s greatest endurance race to get up close to the cars and drivers! Yes, you can see the cars at close quarters and have a chat with your favourite drivers and get their autographs.
Your first chance will be during the two days of Administrative and Technical Verifications, otherwise known as “scrutineering”. All the cars and drivers are required to undergo several checks which will be performed on Sunday 11 and Monday 12 June at the Place de la République in the centre of Le Mans. On Tuesday, an autograph session is organised for fans at the circuit. The pit lane is open to the public on Friday for a final chance to see the cars up close. Head into town again on Friday evening for the great Drivers’ Parade which always generates a carnival atmosphere on the eve of the big race.
Take a trip down memory lane and discover the heroes that built the Le Mans legend. Since the beginning of the year, the Le Mans 24 Hours Museum belongs to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The museum is home to 120 vehicles that encapsulate the history of motoring in La Sarthe and the success of this international race. Iconic names from the 1920s to the present day, such as Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Matra, Audi and Peugeot, are all represented.
The museum is also hosting a temporary exhibition on the 1967 French Formula One Grand Prix, held at Le Mans’ Bugatti circuit, until the end of the summer. So why not make the most of your stay in Le Mans to visit the exhibition and admire the ACO’s collections. Your General Enclosure ticket includes free admission to the museum.
The unique Le Mans atmosphere stretches far beyond the circuit enclosure, and the city streets during scrutineering. Lots of fringe events are organised independently or in conjunction with the ACO in the surrounding villages for the enjoyment of motor racing fans!
Prime examples are the "Arnage dans la course" and "Virage de Mulsanne" events and, of course, the not-to-be-missed "Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome".
“Arnage dans la course” offers an exciting programme
For the fourth year in a row, “Arnage dans la course” will take place on the Thursday of race week. The spotlight at this year’s event will be on Henri Pescarolo and Matra.
Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome pays tribute to Marcos
On the eve of the 24 Hours, the village just north of Le Mans will host almost 1,000 vintage and modern-day classics.
Jaguar in the spotlight at the Mulsanne corner
A collection of prestige cars, autograph sessions, parade, open-air concert... the Virage de Mulsanne association has once again put together an exciting programme. This legendary spot at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit will be buzzing on Friday 16 June with Jaguar as the guest of honour.
Gradually, as the week goes by and the start of the big race draws near, the temporary campgrounds that spring up all around the Bugatti circuit fill out to form a true international village. Visitors from near and far set up for the week to enjoy the magic of Le Mans without having to stray far from their tent! A stroll around the campgrounds during the quieter moments in terms of track action – on Tuesday, Wednesday morning or Friday, for example – can offer some astonishing sights.
Le Houx (on the outside of the Bugatti circuit, near the tramway terminus) and Beauséjour (on the inside of the circuit, at the Porsche Curves) are the places to be. Here you can admire the finest cars and chuckle at the craziest temporary structures. Don’t be surprised to see, in the shade of the pine trees, a TVR club, a Corvette C3, rare Ferraris, or outstanding specimens of German engineering such as the M3, M4, M5 or M6, and not forgetting a range of modern and vintage Porsches.
Share your photos on social media with the hashtag #LeMans24!
Seasoned visitors to the 24 Hours of Le Mans develop habits over the years. Some spend hours on end on the slope down from the Dunlop Bridge while others hang out around Arnage to see the brake discs glow in the dark. The Circuit de la Sarthe offers many vantage points where you can watch the practice sessions and the race. Or you could try something completely different – the sky’s the limit!
Head on over to the Ferris wheel near the Porche Experience Center to enjoy a magnificent view of the Ford Chicanes and the start of the Pit Straight. Or aim even higher by taking a ride in a helicopter! Fly over the circuit for the equivalent of two laps and discover the legendary Mulsanne Straight from the sky.
Some of the best moments to admire the cars on the track are offered at sunset and sunrise, as the light subtly changes. Sunset is a particularly special time. Whether sitting just past the Dunlop Bridge, on the hill on the inside of Tertre Rouge or at the Porsche Curves, everyone appreciates this magical moment, watching the daylight diminish into darkness as the cars head off into the night.
But don’t miss the sunrise! In the early hours, from 5.30 or 6 o’clock, daylight returns whereas the cars have never been away. What is undoubtedly the finest morning of the year is all the more enjoyable at the Ford Chicane, with the emerging sunlight outlining the car bodies in its golden glow.
Tension mounts as the competitors group together behind the safety car, then, at 3 o’clock on the dot – they’re off! The start is a highly emotional moment that drivers, teams and spectators have been anticipating for weeks, months or, in the case of the more hard-core fans, for 365 days!
Twenty-four hours later, the racers who have braved the challenges of the night, overcome technical hitches and found sufficient resources to survive the world’s most demanding race finally see the chequered flag. Spectators can access the track and get within a few metres of the podium to share the joy of the winners and admire the sense of pride and accomplishment of all the drivers and mechanics who have come through the 24 hours and crossed the finish line. A final moment of communion... before we start looking forward to next year.
