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Despite
the many changes to the Le Mans circuit over the
years, there are still some fantastic opportunities
for the plucky race fan to see the action up close
and at its most dramatic. However it is considerably
easier if you're armed with some local knowledge,
a good pair of shoes and a penchant for sleep deprivation!
Follow this guide and you can’t go wrong.
Grandstands,
Pit
Straight, Dunlop
Chicane, The
Esses, Tertre
Rouge Approach,
Tertre
Rouge, Mulsanne
Straight,
Mulsanne
Corner, Indianapolis
& Arnage,
Porsche
Curves, Ford
Chicane
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Grandstands

view
from the grandstands opposite the pits
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These are referred to as tribunes at Le Mans.
They are situated at the exit of the Ford Chicane,
opposite and above the pitlane, at the exit of
the Dunlop Chicane and The Esses outfield. It
is worth noting that access to the tribunes is
not restricted during Wednesday and Thursday’s
qualifying sessions; the separate tribune tickets
become valid from Saturday morning. A grandstand
seat will provide a guaranteed good view of the
start and finish of the race and a place in the
shade to regroup on Sunday morning, especially
useful considering the temperature regularly gets
into the 30s through June. However, if you prefer
to sample the circuit in its entirety a seat in
a tribune may not represent good value for money
for you.
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Pit Straight
There are concrete steps running the length
of the pit straight in front of the tribunes.
These serve as a free seating area enabling those
without grandstand seats to view the action from
this spot. It's extremely crowded at the beginning
and end of the race but try to squeeze yourself
in for the closing stages and you will be rewarded;
once the last of the competitors rolls into park
ferme the marshals open up the gates in the 8ft
wall that borders the track, signalling a mass
track invasion. Follow the crowd down to the finish
line to see the winners presented with their trophies
on the podium.
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Dunlop
Chicane

Dunlop
Chicane though the infield fencing
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The Dunlop
Chicane, within very easy reach of the ACO village,
was modified for the 2006 season to bring the track
speeds down. However, the new tighter left-right
chicane still provides many thrills and spills,
arguably more than before the modification. Position
yourself on the infield 50 yards down the hill from
the entry to the chicane for a clear insight into
the undulations and racing line of this section
of track. Watch the drivers attempting to keep their
braking tidy during the fast right-handed approach,
all under the backdrop of the famous Dunlop bridge.
Another prime spot is on the outfield at the chicane
exit (in front of the Dunlop tribune) where many
a driver will be caught out getting on the power
too early.
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The
Esses
The famous Esses cut their way
through a natural amphitheatre that provides spectacular
views of this challenging sweeping section of track.
Take up position on the infield banking beyond the
point where the Bugatti circuit peels off to the
right. Here you will be able to follow the cars
all the way down the hill from the Dunlop bridge
and up through the left handed section of the Esses.
Then watch as they blast away from you, sweeping
right and disappearing into the trees. Tetre Rouge
Tribune, situated on the outfield, provides an elevated
view of the Esses and must be sampled during Wednesday
or Thursday night qualifying when this flood lit
section of the circuit will look particularly impressive.
Walk a hundred yards further down the track and
you will find yourself amongst the trees at the
exit of the Esses. A bit of careful positioning
and you will notice that this is one of the few
locations at Le Mans that offers a photo opportunity
genuinely unimpeded by catch fencing. Catch a shot
of the cars as they accelerate up the hill and on
down to Tetre Rouge.

infield
view of the Esses |

outfield
view of the Esses |
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Tertre
Rouge Approach

Tertre
Rouge approach from the exit of the Esses
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The area between the Esses and
Tertre Rouge was completely redeveloped in 2007
at the same time as the Tertre Rouge corner itself
was revised. Viewing here is excellent thanks to
a huge embankment to the infield that runs the full
length of the straight. Wide walkways slope gradually
to the top of the spectator area where there can
be found a number of ample viewing platforms suitable
for disabled spectators. The ageing and cramped
pedestrian underpass that has always served this
part of the circuit was also replaced for 2007.
In its place is a well-lit and wide underpass, again
served by gradual concrete slopes on both sides
of the circuit. The cars are full throttle for this
short burst and ear splittingly loud. Worth bustling
your way down to the front of the busy enclosure
if that’s your thing!
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| Tertre
Rouge

Tertre
Rouge from the embankment
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The Tertre Rouge
corner marks the point where the purpose built racetrack
joins the public road and the surrounding viewing
areas signal the extremities of the ‘General
Enclosure’. The layout of the corner was heavily
modified for the start of the 2007 season to increase
the size of the run off area. The right hander is
shallower than its former self and the cars now
carry a great amount of speed through the heart
of the corner, the drivers letting the cars drift
out from the apex as they make the transition onto
the public road section of the course. The embankment
mentioned in the previous section runs all the way
round the inside of Tertre Rouge and offers views
all the way up to the Esses, down through Tertre
Rouge and on to the Mulsanne. Refreshment and merriment
lie only yards away when at Tertre Rouge; exit the
General Enclosure, turn left under the circuit and
you will find a lively trackside bar dubbed the
‘Stella Bar’ by many a seasoned campaigner!
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Mulsanne
Straight
Access to the Mulsanne is prohibited,
the track being kept secure by race officials (stationed
at the various posts) and the local police, both
of whom will take a dim view to any attempts to
break through the trees to the circuit. Nevertheless,
there are still viewing opportunities waiting to
be exploited, it will just require a little endeavor
and organisation.
It is possible to get within a
few feet of the action at the Auberge des Hunaudieres
or Shanghai des 24 Heures restaurants situated a
couple of hundred yards before the braking zone
of the first chicane. The legendary Auberge des
Hundaudieres used to offer dramatic trackside seats
from where you could enjoy good food and drink.
Unfortunately green covers attached to the catch
fencing obscure the view (although if you are lucky
they will have been eased down!) and getting a table
can be problematic during track time as the restaurant
tends to be taken over by corporate hospitality.
However, there is still an open air public bar at
the rear of the property; clamber up onto the benches
for a glimpse of the cars going flat out down the
Mulsanne. For directions see the eating/drinking
section of the Le Mans guide.

Mulsanne
chicane, accessed from the Hotel Arbor
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The less well known Hotel Arbor
presents a better spectating opportunity. It sits
alongside the Mulsanne straight on the circuit outfield
only a couple of hundred yards after the second
chicane. Parking is permitted in the hotel car park
for a fee of 10 Euros per person. From there, the
chicane can be found only a short stroll away through
the trees. This is an excellent spot to watch from,
particularly as there never seems to be anybody
else there! Parking is at the discretion of the
hotel and information listed here is purely based
on their setup in previous years.
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Mulsanne
Corner

Mulsanne
corner
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Your General Admission ticket will
give you access to the Mulsanne Enclosure although
getting there is another issue. The 90-degree right-hander
marks the end of the Mulsanne straight and the spectator
area follows the track for about 200-300 meters
as the cars accelerate down the narrow section towards
Indianapolis. The view over the corner itself is
helped by a small embankment that just gives you
enough elevation to take some photos over the catch
fencing. The entry to Mulsanne corner is a very
heavy braking zone so you can expect to see plenty
of overtaking and maybe the odd driver overdoing
things and utilising the run off area.
To get to Mulsanne follow the directions
to Arnage (see below) then continue down the D139
(this will be one way during the race). In approximately
1.5 Km you will reach a crossroads. Look out for
a ‘P Mulsanne’ sign directing you to
turn left. Take the left turn and follow the narrow
lane for into the outskirts of Mulsanne village.
The final left turn that leads to the parking area
is easy to miss so once again look out for the ‘P
Mulsanne’ sign. The left turn is just after
an area of open ground and approximately 400 m before
the junction with the N138. It takes you up a dusty
track to the large parking area under the trees,
some 300 meters after the corner. Alternatively
see the getting
around section for details of the free shuttle
bus.
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Indianapolis/Arnage

Indianapolis
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As with the Mulsanne
corner the complex at Arnage is accessed by a separate
enclosure, admission being covered by your General
Admission ticket. Although a fair distance from
the ACO village, this zone is reasonably accessible
and well worth the effort. The enclosure runs from
the apex of the cambered Indianapolis left-hander
to the entrance to the extremely tight 90-degree
right-hander of Arnage. There is grass banking alongside
the track that allows you to get close to the action,
especially at Arnage, where you are right on top
of it. You won’t know what Le Mans is all
about until you’ve seen some night racing
from here. Watch the cars burst out of the trees
at Indianapolis flooding the area in light before
jumping on the brakes for Arnage, desperately trying
to shed some speed for the uncompromising corner,
brake discs glowing in the dark. You can hear the
cars accelerate up through the gears long after
they disappear back into the surrounding forest.
This is what endurance racing is all about. Just
try to get to Arnage for Wednesday or Thursday night
qualifying or ideally after 2am on Sunday morning
because the crowds at peak times can be a real drag.

Arnage
apex through the fencing |

Arnage
exit |
To get to Arnage
corner follow Rue de Laigne in a southerly direction,
passing the Maison Blanche campsite on your left
and the Bleu campsite on your right. At the roundabout
turn right onto Rue de Ruadin and follow the road
for approximately 1.5 Km. Before entering the built
up area of Arnage village take a left turn signposted
‘P Arnage’. Follow this road for approximately
2 Km until you arrive at Arnage corner. Follow the
one-way system as it bends to the right. Parking
can be found on the right hand side in two fields.
Alternatively see the getting
around section for details of the free shuttle
bus.
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Porsche
Curves
The Porsche Curves
are a series of sweeping corners starting where
the racetrack curves to the right to leave the public
road. An enclosure here called Porsche Exterior
offers a view of the outside of this up hill corner
and can be accessed from the road leading to the
Beausejour campsite. Looking back up the road section
of the circuit its possible to see almost as far
as Arnage in the distance. Further round the track
you will find the Ciruit de Alain Prost Karting
that lies adjacent to the Karting Nord campsite.
Conveniently, the kart track’s pit lane roof
can be accessed via steps at the back of the building.
This gives a great elevated view of the Le Mans
circuit. Turn around and you can also watch the
public karting where the skill levels are drastically
lower but the crashes come immeasurably more frequently!
See the karting
section of the Le Mans guide. This spot lies outside
of the General Admission enclosure so you don’t
need to show your ticket, although on race day there
is sometimes a steward demanding 5 Euros for admittance.
It seems to be a little known spot so enjoy some
crowd free spectating at all but the busiest times.

view
from Porsche Exterior |

view
from the kart track pit building |
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Ford
Chicane

Ford
Chicane exit from infront of the Maison Blance
Tribune
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The final
challenge on the circuit is the double left right
complex known as the Ford Chicane. Stick to the
outfield where you will find shallow banking (just
high enough to see over the armco) that stretches
right into the Maison Blanche campsite as far as
the exit to the Porsche Curves. The Maison Blanche
grandstand nestles conveniently over the Ford Chicane
offering excellent raised views of this action packed
area of the circuit. If you can't get into the grandstand
try getting down to the catch fencing in front of
it to get some close up views of the cars powering
onto the pit straight.
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