My thoughts on Le Mans Classic Legends 2026:

🏁 Le Mans Classic 2026 — Beermountain Review

A great event that left many wanting more. We look at what worked, what didn't, and what the organisers should hear.

If you only looked at the photographs from Le Mans Classic 2026, you'd think it had been another perfect weekend.

Historic Ferraris sliding through Dunlop, the unmistakable scream of the Mazda 787B echoing down to Tertre Rouge, packed paddocks, beautiful sunsets and thousands of enthusiasts enjoying one of the world's greatest historic motorsport events.

And to be fair, for many people it was exactly that.

But spend a little time reading through the Le Mans Classic Facebook groups, Reddit threads, forums and other online discussions afterwards, and a different picture begins to emerge. Not one of a failed event, but one that left many long-time visitors feeling something had changed.

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🏎️ The Racing Is Still Spectacular

Let's start with the positives.

Very few people criticised the quality of the cars.

The historic machinery remains second to none, and hearing icons like the Mazda 787B back on full song was enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. The paddock was full of incredible machinery and, as always, enthusiasts spent hours simply wandering around soaking it all in.

Photographers returned home with stunning images, owners proudly shared stories from their journeys across Europe, and there was no shortage of smiles.

The magic of Le Mans Classic hasn't disappeared.

So why the disappointment?

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💬 So Why The Disappointment?

Reading the comments, the criticism wasn't aimed at the cars. It was aimed at the experience around them.

One recurring complaint was the amount of downtime on track. Many visitors felt there were long periods with little happening, especially compared with previous editions.

The new alternating format — pre-1975 cars one year, later-era cars the next — also split opinion. Some welcomed the extra focus, but many missed the variety of seeing every era together. Several long-time visitors said the previous "full house" format simply felt more special.

Smaller grids didn't help. Some races felt shorter and less dramatic than visitors had hoped.

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💷 Paying More... For Less?

This was perhaps the strongest theme running through the post-event discussion.

Visitors questioned whether extras such as paddock access represented good value, while others pointed to rising prices for camping, food, drinks and parade laps.

Several comments summed it up in almost identical words.

"Pay more, get less."

When that phrase appears repeatedly across multiple independent discussions from people who don't know each other, it is worth paying attention to.

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👁️ The Spectator Experience

Le Mans has always involved plenty of walking, but several practical issues frustrated visitors this year.

Among the most common complaints:

• Long periods with little on-track action
• Arnage closed during the evenings
• No food or drink facilities around Tertre Rouge
• Limited information away from the start/finish area
• Security perceived by some as unnecessarily strict
• General admission spectators finding fewer good viewing locations
• Increasing corporate and hospitality areas reducing public access

One particularly interesting point was information.

Unless you were close to the pits or start/finish, many people simply had no idea what was happening during the races. Who was leading? Had there been an incident? Which class was on track? There seemed to be a widespread desire for better live timing, more screens, or improved circuit-wide commentary.

In 2026 — when live timing apps are standard at every club motorsport event in the country — the absence of decent real-time information at Le Mans Classic felt conspicuous.

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🏢 Is Le Mans Becoming Too Corporate?

This question wasn't aimed solely at Le Mans Classic.

Many regular visitors also noted that this year's 24 Hours felt noticeably more corporate — more hospitality areas, fewer unrestricted viewing spaces, a sense that the event is increasingly designed around those who have paid significantly more than the standard entry price.

Whether that perception is entirely fair or not, it reflects something real. The balance, for many long-term visitors, feels like it is shifting away from the traditional enthusiast experience that built Le Mans its reputation in the first place.

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🔄 Would People Come Back?

This is where the discussion became genuinely interesting.

Very few people said they had a bad weekend. Most still loved the atmosphere. Most still enjoyed the racing. Most still came home with fantastic photographs and good memories.

But quite a few also said something along the lines of:

"If this had been my first Le Mans Classic, I probably wouldn't return."

That is a very different type of criticism from simply complaining about queues or prices. It speaks to something more fundamental about first impressions, perceived value, and whether the event is still converting new visitors into the lifelong devotees that the Le Mans community is built on.

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💭 My Thoughts

Le Mans Classic remains one of the greatest historic motorsport festivals in the world. There really isn't anything quite like it.

The cars are extraordinary. The setting is unique. The atmosphere — even in a year when things didn't quite click for everyone — is something that you won't find anywhere else.

But the organisers should pay close attention to the feedback from regular visitors. Not because the event is failing — it clearly isn't — but because the people making these points are not casual attendees. They are passionate enthusiasts who have been coming for years, who travel from across Europe and beyond, and who care deeply about the event being the best it can be.

The concerns aren't about the racing itself. They're about value, accessibility, information and the overall spectator experience.

Historic motorsport is built on passion. People travel thousands of miles because they love these cars and this place. That passion deserves to be met with an experience that feels worthy of the journey.

Hopefully the feedback from 2026 will help shape an even stronger event next time. Because everyone making these criticisms seems to want the same thing.

Not a different Le Mans Classic. Just a better one.

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📣 What Did You Think?

Were you at Le Mans Classic 2026? We'd like to hear from you — whether your experience matched what's described here or was completely different.

Share your thoughts in the Beermountain Facebook group or contact us directly. The best responses will be added to this page.

📨 Share Your Le Mans Classic 2026 Experience

What worked? What didn't? What would make you come back — or not?

Join the Discussion → Contact Us →

Bingo
Beermountain

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Radio Le Mans Scehdule for the day

If you’re heading to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there’s one thing you should not be without:
Radio Le Mans.

Daily schedule UK times, add an hour if en France, schedule subject to changes on the day.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

https://www.setram.fr/fr/bGjx-Paiement-sans-contact.html

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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.

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🚰 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.

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☀️ 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.

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🏕️ 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

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🆘 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.

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👥 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

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🎒 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

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🎒 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.

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💡 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.

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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.

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👕 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

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🚩 Flags — £22.50 each (includes UK postage)

• Original Beermountain flags
• Genuine pieces of Le Mans campsite history

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🎉 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.

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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

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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.

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Drivers Parade info:

 

https://www.grande-parade-des-pilotes.com/

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