WHERE TO WATCH
WHERE TO WATCH ON THE CIRCUIT

This is the largest/biggest motor race in the world - it has more entrants and they race over the longest circuit in the world.   

The circuit is 8.5 miles long.  The 24hrs, plus practice and qualifying needs 1,700 marshals. 

It is, in my opinion, the GREATEST MOTOR RACE IN THE WORLD!   

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE LE MANS.


THE BEST PLACE TO WATCH  . ..it all depends!  Here are some suggestions based on:

ACTION - normally the corners cause the OFFS.  You occasionally get an off at the end of the Mulsanne Straight at the right angle MULSANNE CORNER BUT THE MOST OFFs I  have seen over the years occur at INDIANAPOLIS (usually at least 5 over Practices/Qually/Race).   You normally get a few at the FORD CHICANE and also just on the way up to DUNLOP BRIDGE where a few drivers overcook it and spin/go into the kitty litter.  There are of course the unexpected like MARK WEBBER's & Peter Dumbreck's FLYING LESSONS (CLICK HERE FOR INTERESTING ARTICLE) after the 2nd chicane on the MULSANNE but you would only see that on the SCREENs; as access is very difficult/impossible on the MULSANNE STRAIGHT (except from the Hotel Arbor - which costs, is difficult to get to and has limited space).


RACING ACTION - you always get LMP1 - now HYPER /LMP2 cars pushing through the GTs at the corners and occasionally a bit of argy bargy causes an off - at the usual places INDIANAPOLIS/ARNAGE, FORD CHICANE and first left  corner before DUNLOP BRIDGE.  However, there is nothing like the raw (pun intended, but these days the raw is pathetic! PANOZ where are you?) power of a LMP 1 blasting past a GT on the MULSANNE STRAIGHT but you usually only get to see that on a SCREEN.  You can get good overtaking "POWER"  shots immediately  after the FORD CHICANE as they blast up the START/FINISH STRAIGHT and in the PORSCHE CURVES and at TETRE ROUGE as they blast down the start of the MULSANNE STRAIGHT.


RACING ACTION IN THE RAIN - you NEED TO BE NEAR A SCREEN.  Not unusual to have rain on the MULSANNE STRAIGHT and none on the START/FINISH so the racing is ALWAYS INTERESTING. INDIANAPOLIS in the rain is usually good for an incident or two.  MULSANNE CORNER in the rain is also worth a visit as you often get an OFF  due to no braking grip as they come into the corner.  However, there is no shelter from the rain at either site so you need good waterproofs.  BUT both sites have SCREENs so YOU WILL SEE ALL ON TRACK INCIDENTS.


BEST FOR PHOTOS - INDIANAPOLIS has really improved with the new extended viewing area so you can get good shots of the cars coming up from Mulsanne Corner.  Dawn and Dusk can be very evocative if there is a bit of mist coming off the trees. The cars are at their slowest into/out of ARNAGE and there are places where you can get a "fence free" shot.  I personally like the "framing" and general look of photos into and out of DUNLOP BRIDGE and somewhere you might not automatically think of - THE ESSES.  You can get very good shots  from both sides of the track.


UNUSUAL PLACES - THE WHEEL in MAISON BLANCHE - very worthwhile - there aren't many queues during Practice but sometimes they can't be bothered to open it!!!  I just go when there is no queue.  Photos are great day and night and sometimes you get a fender bender or an off just below you as they attack the FORD CHICANE.

AS A REAL TREAT THERE IS A HELICOPTER FLIGHT - very memorable but you do need to have your camera gear all sorted before you climb in!


THERE IS A DESCRIPTION AND PICTURES OF ALL THE VIEWING SITES BELOW SO................ENJOY 

PLEASE FIND BELOW LINKS TO EACH OF THE VIEWING SITES - THE SITES ARE ALSO DISPLAYED IN CIRCUIT DIRECTION ORDER BELOW THE BUTTONS.
START/FINISH STRAIGHT 
Worth the effort – on foot
This is the main viewing area. It is split into two – inside track and outside track. Obviously it gets very crowded (rammed would be more accurate) about an hour and a half before the start of the race 1600 Saturday,  and again starting an hour before the finish 1600 Sunday. Most other times it is not a problem finding space.
CIRCUIT TV SCREENS- one next to Tribune 21 ,opposite Race Control on the airfield side & one top end of the Pits on the Village side.

Well worth walking up to the top of the Pit Straight, just in front of the Museum.  There is free “standing room” on the airfield/museum side of the circuit opposite the pits all the way up to Dunlop Bridge.  You have great views down the Start Finish straight and you also see the cars sweeping into and under the DUNLOP BRIDGE.  There is always a friendly crowd there and it is well worth sharing a bit of banter especially with the Enthusiastic Danes. 
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START/ FINISH STRAIGHT & GRANDSTANDS 

Obviously, if you have a Grandstand ticket then that is the best place to watch the Start/Finish of the Race.   The seats are by Grandstand ie T23, all numbered (Row (RANG) and Seat(PlACE).  This year 2023, the GRANDSTAND TICKET & GENERAL ENTRY (WITH DATES)  ARE ON THE SAME TICKET - THIS IS NEW.   My ticket says"Valable du 6 (14h00) au 11 juin 2023 (18h00 ) + Journee Test du 4juin".   Remember that anyone can sit in a Grandstand seat up to Saturday Morning,  providing the Grandstand is left open that is and the steward isn’t being a pain!       I have a Grandstand seat but travel around the rest of the circuit, during the Race, to experience the action at the different corners. Please find below my viewing suggestions.

DUNLOP CURVE 

Worth the effort – on foot

Good free vi ewing both sides of the circuit. There is always good action to be seen on the Dunlop Curves as the cars slow (or not as the case may be) before “cresting” the Dunlop Bridge (they go under it). There are also some good views on the airfield/museum side looking down from just before the Dunlop Bridge back down to the start line. As a point of interest you can’t see the track from on or by the side of the Dunlop Bridge – they’ve covered it in!    **CHANGE BY ACO FOR 2022 - NO PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE AT TETRE ROUGE - ONLY CARS **


DUNLOP CURVE/BRIDGE
 TO TERTRE ROUGE 

ESSES worth the effort – on foot
Excellent viewing from both sides of the track all the way up to the Tertre Rouge Corner. The ESSES is a good photo location as the cars swoop on up to Tertre Rouge.

There are two ways to get to the inside of the track in this area. The first is to carry on “up” the inside of the circuit from the Village. i.e turn left when you come out of the tunnel from the main Entrance. Or the second - you can stay on the airfield/ museum side of the track and just keep on walking ‘til you get about 100m from Tertre Rouge Corner where there is a tunnel under the circuit.  

DISTANCE - Start Line to Tertre Rouge is about 20-25 minutes walking time.

CHANGE FOR 2022 - ONLY VEHICLES THRO' TETRE ROUGE ENTRANCE.  - PEDESTRIANS USE TRAM OR WAK DOWN TO HOUX ANNEX ENTRANCE NOTE – You can NOT exit the circuit here, there is no longer a Pedestrian Entrance, at he Tertre Rouge.


SEE NEW ROUTE BELOW  FROM THE ACO issued 23 May 22

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MULSANNE STRAIGHT with 1st & 2nd CHICANES

Trackside viewing is a challenge  and access is difficult.

The end of Avenue Antares is about the only place, inside the circuit, where you can get a glimpse of the cars as they head down at speeds of over 200 mph from Terte Rouge toward the 1st Chicane on the Mulsanne Straight. It is really “external” as it is outside the Ticketing Area, past the tram stop at the Stadium, along Avenue Antares. However, very few people go there, so maybe it is not worth the effort.


There is also an opportunity to hear and, if the green blanking screen has been pulled down, see the cars screaming down the Mulsanne Straight at Auberge des Hunaudieres or Shanghai des 24 Heures restaurants which are situated a couple of hundred yards before the braking zone of the first Chicane, but on the outside of the circuit. They are very heavily booked during the race with corporate events/groups dominating the proceedings, but there is a chance you might get a table during practice and it is worth a drink when there are no Race Cars on the circuit – Friday is a good time.


There are no drivable routes to view the Mulsanne Straight. Most adjacent properties are private and meeting Gendarmes is likely to be involved - best left to the more experienced “serial” Le Mans…..ers!  This is the "DARK OPS" you might hear about on  the Pistonheads Le Mans site.

MULSANNE CORNER
Worth the effort but you need  a Car or a Bike
A bit of a trek, traffic wise in the car, but well worth it. You could also use the Shuttle Bus (Route 5) from the area by the Tram Terminus but be aware this can get rammed. 
ROUTE - It is not very well sign posted. To get to Mulsanne go via Arnage/Indianapolis then continue down the D139 (this will be one way during the race). It is normally signposted.

I’m unwilling to give turn by turn directions because they keep changing the final part of the route. However, it is on Rue du Stade, Mulsanne so maybe the satnav can help. Parking is actually down the turn for the Mulsanne Sports Centre, which you pass on the left hand side. Keep going down a dusty track to a large parking area under the trees and then continue into the forest. There you will get parked by a series of flag waving stewards. You then walk through a ticket gate. There is then about a 5 minute walk from the carpark to the Mulsanne Corner. The corner has a good Circuit TV viewing area.

General Entry Tickets work on the whole Circuit, AT ALL TIMES. You just have to be scanned in and remember to get scanned out or the ticketing computer gets all confused and you end up practising your French!!! 
You are supposed to have Mulsanne/Arnage Car Park sticker (about €18) to get in but….in 25 odd years of going, there seems to be no fixed rules….....just what the Stewards fancy doing.

ROUTE TO ARNAGE CORNER AND ON TO MULSANNE CORNER DURING RACING

ARNAGE  - INDIANAPOLIS CORNERS

MUST DO IF POSSIBLE   

Well worth going here to see night practice or any time during the race. It is also very ethereal at about 0500 “O my God” time when it is sometimes slightly misty as the cars “roar” through the trees into the Indianapolis turn (or not as the case may be) then quickly arrive at Arnage Corner and then scream away up towards Porsche Curves some 3 kms up the road.    A breakfast of sorts (coffee, omelette, frites and rubbish tomato sauce!) can be had from one of several temporary cafes just below the banking. Again this viewing area has a Circuit TV screen.  

CIRCUIT TV SCREEN WAS MOVED  IN 2022 - it is now on the other side of the road at Indianapolis.


PARKING at Arnage/Indianapolis just follow the signs to PARK. Then again follow the signs to walk to the Arnage Corner entrance. You then walk through a ticket gate - General Entry Tickets work on the whole Circuit, at all times. You just have to be scanned in and remember to get scanned out or the ticketing computer gets all confused and you end up practising your French!!!


AGAIN - You must have a Mulsanne/Arnage Car Park sticker (about £18) to get in the field car park but ….in 30 odd years of going, there seems to be no fixed rules…just what the Stewards fancy doing. See GENERAL LE MANS WARNING below.


  GENERAL LE MANS WARNING
No two Le Mans stewards react the same - 
be they checking for glass beer bottles at an circuit entrance or letting you park in a carpark you have already paid for! Everything is totally subject to the vagaries of the French ACO Stewards. This will become a recurring theme so just get used to it.  As you can imagine, a circuit this big, over 8.5 miles, and all its outer areas needs hundreds of stewards. There is turnover and inevitably some are not as well briefed as they should be. 
 So patience “mon brave”!!!.... it’s all part of the charm of Le Mans!  
Have another beer and calm down!
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PORSCHE CURVES

This is another good place to watch the race as the cars come belting up from Arnage Corner. More safety work was done in 2016 -18, part of which involved adding a new type of safety barrier in the run off area abutting the external (outside part of the track). This has all severely restricted the public viewing area at Porsche Curves. There is a private camp site here that is unaffected by the changes, so now the only public viewing area in this part of the circuit is accessed from the Beausejour Camp Site (commonly know as BSJ) on the inside of the circuit.

MAISON BLANCHE  

The area to the left of the Maison Blanche Entrance used to have the support race pits but this has now moved because of the building of the Porsche Centre. There is a small area of banking from which you can see the run up to the Ford Chicane.  It is at the back of Maison Blanche, almost straight in front of you as you come into the entrance.  
This used to have a Circuit TV screen.- now gone in 2022!

FORD CHICANE

This viewing area has been significantly affected by the new Porsche Experience Centre (which has very similar facilities to the Porsche Centre at Silverstone). You can get a good view from right in front of the Porsche Centre and also to the side at the start of the Chicane and all the way along going toward the Finish Line direction 'til you get to the first of the Grandstands (T23)
You are now back at the Start/Finish Straight.
ACO Website Track Description & History BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
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