Activities

SCRUTINEERING AGAIN ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY:

In view of the huge popular success of Sunday scrutineering, a 2010 innovation, the technical checks will begin on Sunday 5^th June 2011 at 14h30 and will finish at 19h00. The second day’s scrutineering will take place on Monday 6^th June between 09h30 and 17h30.

The major works on the ‘Quinconce des Jacobins’ for the construction of a cultural centre, mean that scrutineering will again be held on the Place du Jet d’Eau on Les Jacobins at the foot of the majestic Le Mans cathedral.
 

 VISIT OF THE PITS on FRIDAY:

On Friday, between 10.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m., the Organisation invites all the spectators who have a General Enclosure, Grandstand, VIP….weekend ticket to discover the pit lane. A huge success, on no account to be missed…!

GIANT SCREENS:

There are 11 of them, thus enabling the spectators to follow the developments of both the practice sessions and the races all over the circuit. They are situated at the following spots: 

• On the straight line of the pits, opposite the grandstands,
• On the straight line of the pits, next to the Welcome,
• Opposite the Dunlop Grandstand,
• Outside the Tertre Rouge bend,
• Inside the Mulsanne bend,
• Inside the Arnage bend,
• At the braking point of the Raccordement
• At the level of the starting line
• In the Village…

THE DRIVERS’ PARADE:

To honour and acclaim all the Le Mans heroes in a festive atmosphere…. this is, above all, the main concern of CLASSIC AUTOMOTIVE, organiser of the Parade since 1996!

Inhabitants of Le Mans, of the Sarthe County, of Paris, spectators from all over metropolitan France, and also from the United Kingdom, from Holland, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, even from the U.S. and Japan: the spectators of this Big Parade appear from all over the globe, - fans, first and foremost, of the motor car universe, and of the “24 Heures” in particular.

In order to warm up the crowd of over 180,000 spectators who come to watch the Parade, CLASSIC AUTOMOTIVE does not think twice about turning to particular genres of music to add to the festive mood in the town centre, as was the case for the famous “Pena del Sol” ensemble, who got everyone dancing the very ‘hot’ Flamenco in the streets of Le Mans.

In the same way, music from Brazil thrills the Parade, inevitably leading the crowd into dancing the samba. Or again, it can be to the sound of the Breton ‘binious’ (like bagpipes) or the Bavarian double bass. All this makes for a party atmosphere, each year more colourful and more festive!

The biggest piece of luck you can have during this Parade is to see your heroes close-up: for example, get a close look at the mocking Luc Alphand shouting in the streets of Le Mans, or again smile at the mischievousness of a Johnny Herbert, or laugh out loud at the provocations of an Emmanuele Pirro, always more of a trouble- maker than ever.

This is the Parade: first and foremost, it is a moment of pure bliss! Then, more bliss! And still more bliss! With a lot of simplicity and an enormous amount of conviviality. “Le Mans “remains “Le Mans”.

At a time, when on certain circuits, the big names in motor racing cut themselves off from others, and are more and more invisible to the public, the greatest endurance race in the world, on the contrary, does not hesitate to parade its heroes in the streets of Le Mans. It therefore comes as no surprise to see, each year, a record number of people in the streets openly demonstrating their love affair with their champions. 

Web : http://www.grande-parade-des-pilotes.com/index.php

THE SUPPORT RACES on SATURDAY:

As in 2009 a Le Mans legend race will be run in the morning of Saturday 11^th June. It is open to cars having raced at Le Mans, or Le Mans-type cars complying with the models having competed in the event in the past. Some sixty cars are expected to turn up.

A round of the Ferrari Challenge will also be held as a curtain-raiser to the Le Mans 24 Hours. This competition is open to the 458 Challenge and the F430 Challenge. Some sixty cars bearing the Prancing Horse badge will do battle in a 45-minute heat. The Ferrari Challenge practice sessions will take place on Wednesday 8th June from 20h30 to 21h30, and on Thursday 9^th June from 17h30 to 18h30.
 

A SMALL TRAIN:

From the town centre, it is possible to take the tramway to the East entrance of the circuit. Inside the circuit, a small train links the different campsites to the Village, making it possible to move around easily and free of charge.

THE VILLAGE:

A real life is to be found in the Village during this weekend, around a central square and over more than 16,000 m².

A magical place where all the fans rub shoulders with one another, where one strolls around, looking for souvenirs – the T-shirt or one of the other items bearing the official “24 HEURES DU MANS” label – the by-products of the major makes, the accessories, photos, etc. You will also find several spots where you can have something to eat and drink.

Also to be found on site are toilet and shower facilities.