Getting your Camping Tickets
Perhaps one of the trickiest aspects about Le Mans is getting the right tickets.?
So, if this is all new to you, your options are:
Mark and his Team Langoistine are the prefered supplier for "Team Beermountain".
They can supply Camping and General admission tickets or stay at thier private enclosure at the Tertre Rouge Corner.
Also agents for Le Mans Classic tickets and camping along with their Private Camping at Tertre Rouge
Also agents for Le Mans Classic tickets and camping along with their Private Camping at Tertre Rouge
Brian and his team have remained close to many Beermountain members
over the years. Its a personal service, and a good one. You can buy
tickets alone to any campsite, or stay in their all mod cons enclosure
Getting your General Admission Tickets
Any of the above agents and direct through the ACO are good ways to get your General Admission Tickets. The agents will be able to put a package together for you with your camping and admission tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a member of the ACO to buy tickets directly from them?
No, any one can buy tickets from the ACO directly. The ACO have a special "Club 24" package which if you join, gets you reduced price tickets, access to a special members visitor centre, plus race information and other benefits. Unfortunately the approach to ticket and campsite choice remains random, and this can be a lottery.
What tickets will I need to watch the race?
As a minimum you will need an "Enceinte General" (general admission) ticket for each person. This gets you into the circuit and general viewing areas. Beyond this you may need a camping pass, and you can also buy tickets to the grandstands. You will always need a general admission ticket, whatever other tickets you have purchased. They are now bar coded and scanned as you enter and leave the circuit. Do not try and copy them or think you can share them around.
How many campsite tickets will I need?
As a general rule, at least one per vehicle. Most campsites allow you to pitch as many tents as you like as long as your car/motorhome has a pass, but now many are adding a 7x5m space allocation which may be marked out when you arrive. Over the past few years many sites have become marked out spaces - these are either numbered on your ticket (Maison Blanche, Camping Houx) or allocated on arrival (Houx, Beausejour). A few are still unmarked, for example Mulsanne.
The tickets for the campsites seem to be sold out...
Yes, this happens every year for the best campsites. You need to book early! Try the ACO and a couple of travel agents. If all else fails, you could just bring a sleeping bag and sleep trackside, but we don't recommend this. You can usually camp up to 30 minutes away in a number of places, so don't despair!
Can I camp in one of the car parks?
Technically no. You will more than likely be prevented from doing this, but sleeping in the car is always an option. We have heard of officials patrolling, but this must be quite hard if you are in a motorhome. Use common sense and you should be fine.
Which grandstands are the best?
This is all down to personal preference. Generally, the closer to the start/finish line the more expensive. The grandstand over the top of the pit sounds great, but has no view of the pits itself, so isn't really as good. The best in our view is the ACO (J) grandstand, but this is for members only (including "Club 24") and is limited to 2 tickets per member.
What about pit walk tickets?
You can but these, but for their cost we don't see the advantage - the pits are open to all on Friday, so the only advantage is on the morning of race day when you have access to the pit up to 1 hour before the race starts.
Which campsite do you recommend?
There is no right or wrong answer here. See our guide to campsite form and choose the one that best suits your needs.. Have a read of our reviews in the campsite section and if you are in any doubt ask questions in our forum.
How much are the tickets?
The ticket prices are not normally set until October each year. You can reserve tickets without paying until such a time as the prices are fixed. Check the ACO web site for the direct price and use this to judge the fairness of any deals you enter into.
I've bought my tickets, how do I keep them safe and ensure they don't blow away when I'm upside down on the fun fair rides?
You can by plastic pit pass holders which go around your neck and keep everything secure at stalls all round the track. A full size one will make you look a bit like Paddington Bear, a look frowned upon by old hands. Just fold your ticket so that the bar code is showing and use a smaller sized one.
Do I really need a grandstand ticket?
No. Lots of people think it's better to move around the track and watch from a number of standing locations. However, if you want a clear view of the start/finish you will be lucky to see anything without one, as you are likely to be in a standing crowd about 20 people deep unless you arrive trackside a few hours in advance of the start.
Whatever you decide to do, best of luck, and hope it all works out!
