24h Le Mans
Every year, during the first two weeks of June, all roads lead to Le Mans! Whether you are a die-hard fan or a curious visitor at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, here is some information to get to La Sarthe and experience the biggest endurance race in the world.
A one week stay...
Traditionally, events takes place over a week's time. You are an aficionado of the race and want to experience every minute, every second of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We then invite you to start your week with the technical and administrative verifications that have taken place since 2012 at the Place de la République in downtown Le Mans. From those special moments when cars and drivers mingle with the crowd, to the free practices and qualifying sessions at which the pressure reaches new heights, to the popular parade of drivers and finally to the start of the race on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.…you will not miss anything!
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is offering week long passes that are valid for Test Day (Sunday, June 1st) and from June 8th through the 15th, including the practice evenings (Wednesday the 11th and Thursday the 12th) and pit lane (Friday the 13th). It's an opportunity to immerse oneself in the middle of an exceptional world event.
More info at 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans tickets
A weekend trip...
If you are more amateur to car racing than the aficionado, you can attend the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a long weekend. You will enjoy the opening of pit lane on Friday, June 13th during which drivers will be available to sign your posters, ball caps, t-shirts and photo memorabilia. You can then go to downtown Le Mans to experience the drivers parade. Since 1995, this is a must on the eve of the start where drivers, collector's cars, supercars and race cars line up from the Place des Jacobins.
More info at 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans tickets
By road...
Many people go by car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. To facilitate parking as well as access to the various spectator zones, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest suggests four zones described as follows:
Zone Jaune/Yellow Zone: South parking, as well as at Mulsanne and Arnage. Preferable if you wish to watch the race from the virages d'Arnage and Mulsanne. Shuttles are made available free of charge between the virages and the grandstands, the village and the attractions (concerts and carnival). Book your location.
Zone Rouge/Red Zone: North parking. Preferable if you come from Paris, downtown Le Mans, Alençon, Rennes or if you wish to go to the Chapelle (3), Panorama (4), Dunlop (5), Wimille (11), Benoist (12) grandstands or the attractions zone (concert and carnival). Free parking during the Wednesday, June 11th and Thursday, June 12th practices. Book your location.
Zone Verte/Green Zone: Interior track parking. Preferable if you come from Tours, Orléans, or if you wish to go to the Stands (34) grandstand or be near the village and paddocks. Book your location.
Zone Bleue/Blue Zone: West parking. Preferable if you come from Nantes, Angers, Arnage or if you wish to go to the Barnato (14), Chinetti (15), Sommer (16), Durand (17), ACO (18), Lagache (19), Léonard (20), Tavano (21), Wollek (22) and Raccordement (23) grandstands. Book your location.
From Paris - 205 km - 2 hours (A11)
From Rouen - 210 km - 2 hours 15 minutes (A 28)
From Nantes - 183 km - 1 hour 40 minutes (A11)
From Rennes - 161 km - 1 hour 35 minutes (A81, E50)
From Caen - 160 km - 2 hours (A88, A28)
From Tours - 102 km - 1 hour 30 minutes (A28)
From Alençon - 53 km - 40 minutes
From Bordeaux - 425 km - 4 hours 20 minutes (A28, A10)
From Lyon - 574 km - 5 hours 11 minutes (A89, A71)
From Marseille - 883 km - 7 hours 50 minutes (A7, A6)
By train...
If you are looking for another option, rail transportation is a perfect alternative. The Le Mans train station is on the Paris-Montparnasse line at Brest and is served by the TGV, Intercités, TER Basse-Normandie, TER Centre and TER Pays de la Loire networks. Journey times are as follows:
From Paris Montparnasse - 54 minutes
From the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport - 1 hour 40 minutes
From the Orly airport - 1 hour 30 minutes
From Rennes - 1 hour 15 minutes
From Nantes - 1 hour 15 minutes
From Lille - 2 hours 30 minutes
From Lyon - 3 hours
From Marseille - 4 hours 45 minutes
From Grenoble - 4 hours 15 minutes
From Brussels - 3 hours 30 minutes
From London - 4 hpurs 30 minutes
Since the establishment of the tramway on November 17, 2007, the accessibility of the 24 Hours circuit has been optimized. Also, from the SNCF train station, it only takes 18 minutes to reach the Antarès-MMArena station situated 150 meters from the East entrance of the circuit (Garage Vert/Green Garage). The tramways function from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and it is easy to make it downtown to attend the grand parade of drivers.
More info at voyages-sncf.
Pierre-Yves RIOM / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE). The Le Mans tramway services are provided by the Le Mans public transportation company: SETRAM.
INFORMATION
24 HOURS OF LE MANS - June 14 & 15, 2014
