Ferry Bookings 2021

for those of you with ferry bookings for June 2021.

Brittany Ferries are allowing bookings to be pushed forwards from June to September.

This is useful for those wanting to not travel in 2021 and start making plans for 2022

Moving the booking forwards delays the final payment until after the 2022 bookings open up, which should be mid July.

Once the 2022 bookings are open you can then move the booking forward to June.

This is not what we were all hoping for, but it now seems the race happening this year in a form that we can attend is doubtful.

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

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The Race

A report on the race from Lowdrag aka Trackside Tony

The race?

Was there one? 

The LMP1 was a walkover, but the LMP 2 was interesting. I was most inspired by the IDEC car, which crashed in practice, was rebuilt, suffered a lap penalty at the start, and still finished well. I was inspired by the three girls in the Richard Mille LMP2 Oreca who finished in the top 10 in their class and 13th overall. It is time a woman was given an LMP1 seat, and raced in F1 too.The wins of Aston Martin in both pro and amateur were impressive too. But my overall feeling? One of depression, deflation, being let-down, one of seeing the end of racing as we know it, and - yes, wondering at my age if I shall be here to see it all. I have no interest in electric cars, seeing them as a stop-gap cul de sac, and hydrogen I see as the future, but neither make a noise that stirs my soul - in fact no bloody noise at all. On the aerodrome next to the circuit we have a hydrogen station, and by 2024 all buses here at Le Mans will be hydrogen powered. My time has passed, the security has made life untenable as a press photographer, and I have put my cameras away and I don't think they'll be back out again. I was refused press passes after 25 years of writing four page articles every year - because I was not important enough. One can no longer take photos at Mulsanne, not at the entry to Indianapolis, because it is too dangerous. Indeed, the holes in the fencing have been filled in to stop a camera being used and red paint is on the armco to warn us we are in a zone rouge. Gone are the days when I took photos like this, standing on the wall outside the fencing at the golf club. 70/200 at three metres or so. I shall be around as long as God wills, but the lack of interest is showing 

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NEWS FROM THE TRACK!

Our new trackside reporter 'Lowdrag' has been out to the Mulsanne Corner to see the work that has been done to the corner. He also had a look in our favourite bar. 

Lowdrag writes...

Well, once again it seems that Jeannine is still running the show, and frankly I think that she'll only leave in a box. She's been there since she was 21 and that's about 45 years now. She is part of the history of Le Mans for many of us.

Mulsanne:

It will be a brave man who tries to use the rumble strip twice, or even once. 

I really cannot understand what they have tried to achieve here. In the past it was a 60 mph 2nd gear corner, and the idea was to make it less a 90 degree bend. The new gravel trap is deeper, but I can't say that it looks any better to me. 

The first photo shows the approach, with the dailt road on the left, a stupid gravel trap, and the racing line on the right. 

In the second I am standing looking back up the Mulsanne, and you can see the tyre wall which is at the end of that silly gravel trap. I'm off  the racing line on the interior of the racing line. 

Next I am standing on the wall on the inside of the bend. You can see the gravel trap and the change to spectator viewing.

Many thanks to Tony "Lowdrag" for the photos of Mulsanne Corner and the news from the track.

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September

AGM SEPTEMBER 2020:

Many of you would have now seen the announcements from the ACO and ticket agents about the race in September. It appears that a race will still happen but the logistics of how race goers will be able to watch the race are changing. Unfortunately the organisers of the AGM do not feel it would be safe or possible to have an AGM in September.
But, we did have a successful virtual AGM before the Virtual race in June and many thanks go out to those who organised it and to those who joined in. It is hoped that those of you who are going to the race have a great time and those watching from home also get to enjoy it. Hopefully you will be having mini Le Mans campsites in your gardens and enjoy a few French beers, mergeuz and baguettes. We would like to see photos of your race weekend and there will be a few prizes available, watch this space.
June 2021 is less than a year away now and many are making plans to attend then. Ferries are being booked, tickets transferred, costumes designed and menus thought about. Again, please do share your plans with us.
Let us hope we will all meet up soon in our favourite field in France to enjoy our passion for friends and racing.

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ACO NEWS

Latest news from the ACO.

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Covid-19

UPDATE


The race has been postponed until September 19/20th

ACO link





Keep well and safe.
Let us hope we all can meet in a field in France soon.

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2020 Dates and times revised

Guide to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2020 race



The 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans WEC will be held in September 2020 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France.

IMPORTANT DATES WILL BE ADDED HERE

Wednesday 16th September  

09:30 - 18:00 Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Circuit)



Thursday 17th September  
On Track

08:30 - 09:30 Road to Le Mans Free practice
10:00 - 13.00 Le Mans 24 Hours Free Practice 1
14:00 - 17:00 Le Mans 24 Hours Free Practice 2
17:15 - 18:00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Qualifying
18:30 - 19:00 Road to Le Mans Free Practice
20:00 - 00:00 Le Mans 24 Hours Free Practice 3

Fri 18th September 
Off Track
Visit to the WW2 crash memorial, more to  follow






Fri 18th TBC. Classic British Welcome at St Saturnin  www.classicbw.org/ 


Friday 18th September 

08:30 - 08:50 Road to Le Mans Qualifying 1
09:10 - 09:30 Road to Le Mans Qualifying 2
10:00 - 11:00 Le Mans 24 Hours Free Practice 4
11:30 - 12:00 Le Mans 24 Hours Hyperpole
13:00 - 13:45 Porsche Carrera Cup Free Practice 1
14:15 - 15:10 Road to Le Mans Race 1
15:45 - 16:30 Porsche Carrera Cup Free Practice 2
17:30 - 18:30 Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying



Saturday 19th September  
On Track RACE DAY!

09:15 - 10:00 Porsche Carrera Cup Race
10.30 - 10:45 Le Mans 24 Hours Warm-Up
11:30 - 12:25 Road to Le Mans Race 2
12:45 - 14:12 Le Mans 24 Hours Start procedure
14.30    Start of the 88th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours
Please note the new start time

14.30 Start of the 88th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours
Please note the new start time

Sunday 20th September 
Race day, 14:30 End of the 88th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours

Again, please note new finish time, this may affect your journey home if you leave after the race!

Please let me know of any other important dates, I will keep this post updated.

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2020 AGM

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