Radio Le Mans.
Daily schedule UK times, add an hour if en France, schedule subject to changes on the day.
Radio Le Mans Scehdule for the day
Radio Le Mans.
Daily schedule UK times, add an hour if en France, schedule subject to changes on the day.
My First Beer in Le Mans, or not!
For a very long time alcohol has been a large part of my life.
I worked in and managed many pubs. I spent years serving pints and watching people at the bar after a long day. I fostered countless friendships over a beer. Every relationship I've had started in places where alcohol was part of the backdrop. I even run a website called Beermountain.
If you would have asked me a few years ago whether I would ever stop drinking, I would have laughed at you.
Then last year, things changed.
Last year I received a liver tumour diagnosis. Suddenly there were far more important things to think about than what beer I might be drinking at the weekend. Surgery followed and, thankfully, I was later given the all-clear. During that time, I stopped drinking and lost a lot of weight getting ready for the surgery.
There was never a plan to give up drinking forever. I just had other things happening in my life.
As time passed, something happened. I stopped missing it.
I recently tried having a small drink. Not because I wanted to, but because I thought I should. After all, drinking had been part of my life for years.
What happened surprised me.
I didn't enjoy it. I didn't tolerate it and it made me sleepy. The pleasure I hoped for wasn't there.
That led me to ask a question I had not really considered before.
What was it that I actually enjoyed about drinking?
For years I had watched customers come into pubs after work and order that first pint. I could see the happiness on their faces. But I wondered if it was ever really about the alcohol.
The feeling that you get from that first pint happens before the alcohol has had a chance to do anything.
What people are actually experiencing is the end of the working day. The release of tension. The company of friends. The familiar surroundings. The ritual. The reward after a hard day.
The alcohol gets the credit. But the feeling was already there.
I've realised something similar about my own life.
When I look back at the good times, I'm not really remembering the beer. I'm remembering the people, the conversations, the laughter, the motorsport, the journeys.
The beer happened to be there, so I assumed it was central to the memory.
Or maybe it wasn't.
Which brings me to Le Mans.
Anyone who knows me will understand why this matters to me.
For many years, arriving at Le Mans has meant opening and drinking an ice cold beer. It's part of the ritual. The journey is over, the campsite is set up, friends are close, the Le Mans week has started.
The first beer at Le Mans isn't just a drink. It's a signal that you've arrived.
But this year may be different.
My mates will still be drinking. The atmosphere will still be there. The race will still be there. The laughter, the stories, the late nights and the sound of racing cars disappearing into the darkness will all still be there.
The only thing that may be different is what's in my glass.
And perhaps that's what I've learned.
For years I thought alcohol was responsible for many of the best moments in my life. Now I think it may simply have been there while those moments happened.
The friendships were real. The relationships were real. The adventures were real. The beer was often just the scenery.
So I don't know whether I'll have a drink when I arrive at Le Mans this year.
I might. I might not.
The experience and the ritual still mean something to me. But if I do have one, it will be because I genuinely want one — not because I feel I need one.
That feels like a very different relationship with alcohol than the one I had in the past.
The biggest surprise of all is that after decades of drinking, I no longer think of myself as someone who has stopped drinking alcohol.
Instead, I now think of myself as someone who has discovered that the important things were never in the glass.
When I look back at the best memories of my life, I don't remember what I was drinking.
I remember who I was with. I remember where I was. I remember the conversations, the laughter, the friendships, the relationships, the races, the pubs and the adventures.
The beer was there. But it wasn't the reason those moments mattered.
It turns out that what made those memories special was never what was in the glass. It was who I shared it with, and where life took me while I was holding it.
Cheers,
Chris 'Bingo' Ring
Beermountain
Setram Tram info
Since May 4th, travelling with Setram has become even simpler thanks to contactless payment .
No need to buy your ticket in advance or look for change: simply validate your bank card (CB, Visa or Mastercard) directly on board the trams, on the dedicated (light grey) validators .
You can change the language at the bottom of the page
Surviving the Heat at Le Mans — What to Do When It Gets HOT!
🌡️ Heat Warning — This Is Serious
Temperatures at Le Mans can reach 35–40°C during race week.
This is not just uncomfortable. It is dangerous. Read this before you go.
(written by Chris Ring 27 May 2026)
Le Mans in June/July is not always the scorching festival of heat that some people expect — it can rain heavily, it can be cold at night, and the weather changes fast. But in recent years, race week has seen genuinely extreme temperatures. In 2025 it hit the high 30s. Conditions like this can make a tough week dangerous, especially for people who aren't used to it and are camping, drinking, and not sleeping enough.
This post covers what to do, what not to do, and what to watch out for in yourself and the people around you.
🚰 Step 1: Water. Lots of It. Constantly.
This is the single most important thing. In extreme heat your body loses water faster than you think — and by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
- Drink at least 2–3 litres of water per day in normal heat. In 35°C+ heat, more.
- Carry a water bottle everywhere — to the circuit, to the grandstands, at night
- Drink water before you feel thirsty — if you're thirsty, you're already behind
- Eat regularly — food helps your body retain water
- Electrolyte tablets or sachets are worth packing — they replace salts lost through sweating and make water go further
⚠️ About the beer: Alcohol dehydrates you significantly. A beer in extreme heat costs you more water than it gives you. This does not mean don't drink — it means drink water alongside the beer, not instead of it. A pint of water for every pint of beer is not a bad rule of thumb.
☀️ Step 2: Sun Protection — Non-Negotiable
- Sunscreen — SPF 30 or higher, applied before you go out and reapplied every two hours. Most people apply it once and forget.
- A hat — a wide brim hat is far more useful than a cap. Your neck and ears burn faster than your face.
- Sunglasses — eye damage from UV is cumulative
- Lightweight, loose, light-coloured clothing — dark colours absorb heat. Cotton or linen is far better than synthetic in extreme heat.
- Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm if you can — this is when UV is strongest and temperatures peak. Use it as your nap window.
🏕️ Step 3: Keep Your Tent Cool
A tent in direct sun in 35°C heat can reach 60°C inside. This is not an exaggeration. A closed tent in full sun will be uninhabitable and dangerous.
- Put up a tarp or awning over your tent if you can — shade is worth its weight in gold
- Open all vents and doors during the day to let air flow through
- Face your tent door away from the prevailing sun direction if possible when pitching
- Don't sleep in a closed tent in extreme heat — if you have a sleeping bag, leave it open or don't use it at all
- A battery-powered fan makes a significant difference for sleeping
- Wet a cloth or bandana and put it on your neck or wrists — the cooling effect is immediate
🆘 Step 4: Know the Warning Signs — Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
These are the two conditions to watch for. Heat exhaustion is serious. Heatstroke is a medical emergency.
Heat Exhaustion — Act Quickly- Heavy sweating
- Pale, cool, clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness, weakness, dizziness
- Headache
What to do: Move the person to a cool, shaded area immediately. Loosen clothing. Give cool water to drink. Apply cool, wet cloths to skin. Fan them. If they don't improve within 30 minutes, treat as heatstroke.
Heatstroke — Call for Help Immediately- Body temperature above 39°C
- Hot, red, dry or damp skin
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Confusion, slurred speech or loss of consciousness
- No longer sweating despite the heat
🚨 Heatstroke is a medical emergency
Call the circuit medical services or French emergency services (15 for SAMU, 18 for fire/paramedics, 112 from any mobile) immediately. While waiting: move them to shade, cool them down with water, wet cloths and fanning. Do not leave them alone.
👥 Step 5: Look After Your Mates
Heat affects people differently. Someone in your group may be struggling before they realise it themselves — the confusion that comes with heat exhaustion can make people unaware of how badly they are doing.
- Check on people who are quieter than usual or seem confused
- Make sure everyone in your group is drinking water regularly — not just beer
- Be particularly careful with anyone who is older, has underlying health conditions, or is taking medication
- If someone doesn't look right in the heat, act early — don't wait to see if they get worse
🎒 What to Pack for Hot Weather
- Large reusable water bottle — at least 1.5 litres
- Electrolyte tablets or sachets (Dioralyte, High5, SiS etc)
- SPF 30+ sunscreen — more than you think you'll need
- Wide brim hat
- Sunglasses
- Light, loose, light-coloured clothing
- Cooling towel or several bandanas
- Battery-powered fan for the tent
- Tarp or shade shelter for over the tent
- Paracetamol — useful for heat headaches
- After-sun lotion — you will burn even if you try not to
🎒 Medication and health
- Some medication can change the way the body regulates temparature
- Be aware of this and how it may affect you, especially if you have asthma, heart disease, or diabetes
- Keep your mediaction cool if you can, medicines like insulin, inhalers and EpiPens can be affected by heat
- Don't forget to take your medication and keep hydrated.
💡 Le Mans-Specific Tips
- The circuit has water points — find out where they are near your campsite and use them
- The supermarkets sell large water containers — buy one early in the week and keep it filled at your pitch
- The night racing is your friend — the temperature drops significantly after midnight. This is when you want to be at the circuit. Use the heat of the day to rest, sleep and rehydrate.
- The medical centre is inside the circuit — know where it is before you need it
- Never leave anyone in a closed car — in 35°C heat a closed car reaches dangerous temperatures within minutes
☑️ The Short Version
- Drink water constantly — before you're thirsty
- Sunscreen, hat, light clothing every day
- Keep your tent shaded and ventilated
- Rest during the hottest part of the day (11am–3pm)
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion — act early
- Look after your group — check on each other
- Use the night for the circuit — it's cooler and it's Le Mans
Heat-related illness is preventable. The steps above are simple, well established and backed by NHS and public health guidance. The Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the greatest experiences in motorsport — a bit of preparation means you spend the week enjoying it rather than recovering from it.
T Shirts and Flags
⚠️ Limited Stock — Once It's Gone, It's Gone
I have a small stash of original Beermountain gear. This includes some of the earlier bottle green Beermountain shirts as well as the later designs — all proper old-school Le Mans era kit. Nothing here will ever be remade.
👕 T-Shirts — £55 each (includes UK postage)
- 2XL only
- Includes the 2013 "Squadron Issue" shirts
- Fruit of the Loom premium, printed with pre-weathered effect
- Roundel, Union flag and service numbers on sleeves
- Full back print — "Beer Disposal Squad" artwork
- Plus some of the earlier bottle green Beermountain shirts
🚩 Flags — £22.50 each (includes UK postage)
- Original Beermountain flags
- Genuine pieces of Le Mans campsite history
🎉 Bonus
Buy any 2 or more items and I'll throw in some Beermountain bunting for free.
Or make me an offer for a bundle.
These are genuine bits of Beermountain history — ideal for Le Mans trips, camps, or just owning a piece of the early days.
To order or make an offer, contact Chris 'Bingo' directly:
editor@beermountain.com
The Merguez Warning — Essential Reading Before Le Mans
There is a spicy red sausage at Le Mans. It is called merguez. It is grilled on open braziers at every campsite, every food van and every corner of the circuit from Wednesday morning until Sunday night.
It smells incredible. It tastes incredible. It costs about three euros. At 2am, standing near the Porsche Curves with a beer in your hand and the sound of prototypes in the distance, it is the greatest food on earth.
It will also, if you are not careful, completely ruin your Saturday.
We have written a full guide. It covers:
- What merguez actually is and why it catches people out
- The Merguez Américaine — the baguette stuffed with sausages and frites, which is peak Le Mans cuisine and should be on every bucket list
- The vegetarian merguez option available in French supermarkets (genuinely good)
- The Beermountain Merguez Protocol — a set of simple rules that will protect you
- The checklist (print it out)
- And a link to the Socks Story — the greatest piece of Le Mans writing on the internet, describing a 1998 debut that did not go entirely to plan
⚠️ Official Beermountain Advice
Read the guide before you go. Ideally before your first encounter with the merguez van. The Socks Story is funnier when it hasn't happened to you.
Read the Full Merguez Warning →
Filed under: things we wish someone had told us before our first Le Mans.
Then and Now - Do it right!
(updated May 2026 by Chris Ring aka Bingo)
Le Mans Then vs Now — And How to Do It Right in 2026
If you’ve been before, you’ll already feel it.
If you haven’t… you’ll notice it anyway.
Le Mans has changed. Not overnight—but not slowly either. The shift since COVID has been real, and it’s not going back.
This isn’t a bad thing, but some might say it is!.
But it does mean you need to approach the week a bit differently.
🕰️ Then vs Now — What’s Actually Changed?
Then (The Old Days)
Camp where you liked (more or less)
Buy tickets at the gate
Huge open viewing areas
Minimal facilities
Cheap food (mostly terrible)
Organised chaos everywhere
Now (Modern Le Mans)
Allocated pitches — stay inside your box
More restricted viewing areas
Proper fan zones with big screens
Clean, organised, well-run campsites
Better food… but you’ll pay for it
And yes—it feels more “corporate”.
But here’s the trade-off:
Showers that actually work
Toilets you don’t fear
Transport that functions
A circuit that can handle massive crowds
It’s different—but in many ways, better.
⚠️ The Big Shift: You Can’t Just Wing It Anymore
This is the key takeaway.
Old Le Mans rewarded turning up and figuring it out.
Modern Le Mans rewards having a plan.
If you don’t adapt, you’ll spend half the week:
Stuck in queues
Missing good stuff
Wondering why it feels hard work
✅ How to Do Le Mans Right in 2026
(also see other posts about this)
1. Use the Early Week Properly
Don’t save everything for the weekend.
Explore the circuit
Visit the village
Do exhibitions and displays
Get your bearings
By Saturday, it’s busy. By Sunday, it’s chaos.
2. Treat Friday Like a Main Event
Friday isn’t a filler day anymore—it’s one of the best days of the week.
Do it properly:
Pit lane walk
Track walk / cycle
Drivers parade in town
Displays and events around the circuit
Skip Friday, and you’ve missed a huge part of Le Mans.
3. Use the Fan Zones
You might not want to—but you should.
They’re:
Well placed
Easy to follow the race from
Good for food and drink
Perfect for:
Night stints
Meeting points
Taking a break without missing the race
4. Get Off-Site At Least Once
Le Mans isn’t just the circuit.
Use the tram and go into town:
Old town (Cité Plantagenêt), SEE MORE HERE
Bars and restaurants
Drivers parade atmosphere
It’s part of the experience—not an optional extra.
5. Socialise at the Campsite
The circuit is for the race.
The campsite is for everything else.
Chat to neighbours
Share a beer
Wander a bit
That’s where Le Mans still feels like Le Mans.
🚧 Arrival Day — What Actually Happens
No matter how well you plan… expect a bit of chaos.
Typical experience:
Traffic building near Arnage and Beauséjour
Confusing routing near campsites
Slow-moving entry queues
Ticket checks that vary wildly
Early in the week:
You may end up explaining your own ticket to the steward.
Later in the week:
They’ve seen it all before and wave you through.
Just go with it.
🎟️ The Steward / Security Rule (Important)
There is one universal truth at Le Mans:
No two stewards (Security at gates) will react the same way.
The rules about bringing alcohol and bottles in are complex and not consistant !
You might find:
One lets you through without looking
Another checks everything twice
Another invents a rule on the spot
Don’t argue.
Smile, nod, adjust, move on.
⛺ Campsite Reality
Modern camping is more structured than it used to be.
Key rules:
Stay inside your marked pitch
Keep your car and gear within your space
Talk to neighbours before spreading out
Encroaching = arguments
Talking = usually fine
Private sites are more relaxed—but still organised.
🍺 Campsite Etiquette (Unwritten Rules)
Say hello to your neighbours
Bring beer (this helps… a lot)
Don’t take over shared space without asking
Respect that some people really care about their setup
Do this right, and you’ll make friends quickly.
🛒 The Supermarket Run (Do This Right)
Almost everyone makes the same mistake:
👉 Trying to shop before setting up camp
Don’t.
Instead:
Get into your pitch
Set up your base
Then go shopping
Also worth knowing:
Parts of the circuit close during race week
Some supermarkets become awkward to reach
Beer deals are often handed out at the entrance—take the vouchers
🚗 The Drive Down — Where It Really Starts
Le Mans doesn’t start at the circuit.
It starts somewhere between the ferry and the first green sign.
You’ll notice:
Cars that look “like yours”
Subtle nods between drivers
Convoys forming naturally
By the time you’re close:
Everyone’s smiling
Everyone’s ready
It’s part of the ritual.
Don't forget your Stickers! CLICK HERE
🚫 Leaving Early? Plan It Now
This catches people out every year.
Recent changes mean:
Movement from campsites may be restricted before the end
Traffic builds heavily just after the finish
If you need a quick exit:
Park smart (edge of circuit if possible)
Plan your route in advance
Don’t assume you can just leave when you want
Get it right and you’re gone in 15 minutes
Get it wrong and you’re stuck for hours
❤️ Le Mans Is Still About People
For all the changes, this hasn’t shifted.
Le Mans is still:
Groups of friends returning every year
New people joining in
Campsite conversations that last hours
You can turn up knowing no one…
…and leave with plans for next year.
🔁 The Cycle Never Really Ends
You leave on Sunday.
By Monday:
You’re replaying moments
Talking about what you’d do differently
Half-planning next year
That’s just how it works.
🧭 Final Thought
Yes, it’s more organised.
Yes, it’s more expensive.
Yes, it’s less chaotic than it used to be.
But if you approach it the right way…
It’s still one of the best events you’ll ever experience.
See you there.
