🌡️ 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.
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
💡 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.
