LM24 Le Mans 2023 - 10/11 June - Who Is Going? (Closed) - Page 41

JT240Z · 12 May 2023, 18:15 (Ref:4155739)

What are paddock and gridwalk tickets? Not use to having to purchase extra tickets to visit the paddock area nor goi to the gridwalk at IMSA events. Entry tickets cover everything except parking and camping in most cases at IMSA events. Some have grandstand tickets but not all.

Victor_RO · 13 May 2023, 04:41 (Ref:4155788)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT240Z

What are paddock and gridwalk tickets? Not use to having to purchase extra tickets to visit the paddock area nor goi to the gridwalk at IMSA events. Entry tickets cover everything except parking and camping in most cases at IMSA events. Some have grandstand tickets but not all.

With hundreds of thousands of people trackside, access to this kind of thing kinda has to be limited by selling separate (and more expensive) tickets; I can see why people coming from other events might not like this thing, but I can see the organizers' point of view as well considering the comparative crowds.

And even with that, a friend who worked as a photographer at the race last year told me that the gridwalk was insanely crowded in '22, it's likely going to be even worse this year.

**Aysedasi** · 13 May 2023, 08:36 (Ref:4155808)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT240Z

What are paddock and gridwalk tickets? Not use to having to purchase extra tickets to visit the paddock area nor goi to the gridwalk at IMSA events. Entry tickets cover everything except parking and camping in most cases at IMSA events. Some have grandstand tickets but not all.

Yep. No access to the paddock area behind the pits unless you can sneak in (as I have a few times) and certainly no chance of getting on the gridwalk unless your pockets are as large as Victor's clearly are!

Mike E · 13 May 2023, 17:33 (Ref:4155873)

No paddock access even on the Friday?

dwh43scale · 13 May 2023, 18:31 (Ref:4155878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

And even with that, a friend who worked as a photographer at the race last year told me that the gridwalk was insanely crowded in '22, it's likely going to be even worse this year.

Re 2022 - we watched from the ACO tribune and it was very crowded.

JT240Z · 13 May 2023, 18:51 (Ref:4155881)

Can't say that it would be the same as Le Mans but gridwalk at the Petit sure is crowded too.

dwh43scale · 13 May 2023, 19:05 (Ref:4155882)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT240Z

Can't say that it would be the same as Le Mans but gridwalk at the Petit sure is crowded too.

Looking forward to confirming in October ...

JT240Z · 13 May 2023, 20:14 (Ref:4155895)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Looking forward to confirming in October ...

Glad to hear that you'll be there. I wish we could have a group gathering just like the folks at Le Mans. Maybe not as many people but still would be nice.

**Aysedasi** · 13 May 2023, 20:34 (Ref:4155896)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike E

No paddock access even on the Friday?

Nope. Just the (crowded) pitlane. Access to the support acts, I assume. As I say, access to the paddock has been restricted for a long time now - unless Hugh Chamberlain is there and leaves a gate from the pitlane open.....

Simmi · 13 May 2023, 21:02 (Ref:4155903)

There's a two-layer paddock right? Because you can certainly get in to the area with the hospitality units and see drivers coming out of the garages/trucks. There's even a bar in there.

Mike E · 13 May 2023, 21:55 (Ref:4155915)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

There's a two-layer paddock right? Because you can certainly get in to the area with the hospitality units and see drivers coming out of the garages/trucks. There's even a bar in there.

That's the bit I mean

**Bentley03** · 14 May 2023, 05:06 (Ref:4155928)

I see FP4 on the Thursday evening has been cut to just one hour, 10-11pm, according to the programme on the ACO website.

Simmi · 14 May 2023, 08:27 (Ref:4155936)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I see FP4 on the Thursday evening has been cut to just one hour, 10-11pm, according to the programme on the ACO website.

So they can save money on those tyre warmer electricity bills maybe

Doesn't bother me at all. While useful for teams to an extent (especially if someone still needs night laps), from a fan perspective it's a completely dead session. I think mostly it's a slightly bitter reminder of how they changed quali.

They've already stripped two hours from Test Day running and this would be be a third hour lost. I'm sure the new Hypercar teams won't love it, but generally I tend to think there's too much track time during the build-up. I think quite a few teams might just park it for FP4 now. We saw a bit of that previously.

**Bentley03** · 14 May 2023, 09:02 (Ref:4155939)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

So they can save money on those tyre warmer electricity bills maybe

Doesn't bother me at all. While useful for teams to an extent (especially if someone still needs night laps), from a fan perspective it's a completely dead session. I think mostly it's a slightly bitter reminder of how they changed quali.

They've already stripped two hours from Test Day running and this would be be a third hour lost. I'm sure the new Hypercar teams won't love it, but generally I tend to think there's too much track time during the build-up. I think quite a few teams might just park it for FP4 now. We saw a bit of that previously.

Yep, completely dead session for spectators, apart from dedicated photographers, but it is an important session for teams needing to complete their night laps, and for that reason I'm surprised they've reduced it to one hour (not that it bothers me, I'm unlikely to have remained trackside to the bitter end for that session).

**Aysedasi** · 14 May 2023, 09:37 (Ref:4155942)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

There's a two-layer paddock right? Because you can certainly get in to the area with the hospitality units and see drivers coming out of the garages/trucks. There's even a bar in there.

Yes, I wasn't thinking of that bit as it is all hospitality and a very expensive bar.

**Aysedasi** · 14 May 2023, 09:42 (Ref:4155943)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Yep, completely dead session for spectators, apart from dedicated photographers, but it is an important session for teams needing to complete their night laps, and for that reason I'm surprised they've reduced it to one hour (not that it bothers me, I'm unlikely to have remained trackside to the bitter end for that session).

I would certainly have stayed to the end, as always, whether it was out at Arnage/Indianapolis or Mulsanne Corner as we're always at one of those places for the evening sessions, but it's the first time I can recall that session being truncated? It's still a mystery to me why the ACO persist with Hyperpole, thus rendering the sessions that follow it relatively pointless for spectators. They obviously think it adds to 'the show' whereas most of us purists were very happy with 6 hours of qualifying over 3 sessions.

Oh well, I guess I'll get to bed an hour earlier....

**Peter Mallett** · 14 May 2023, 11:18 (Ref:4155951)

This has no doubt been discussed previously but any idea when the bus services (road train) start? Can't find it on the official site.

**Aysedasi** · 14 May 2023, 13:05 (Ref:4155965)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

This has no doubt been discussed previously but any idea when the bus services (road train) start? Can't find it on the official site.

I've found this for bus services. It's a bit small, but I can just read it. Not sure that it relates to the road train though....

**Peter Mallett** · 14 May 2023, 14:02 (Ref:4155971)

I think you'll find it's last years.

Victor_RO · 14 May 2023, 14:18 (Ref:4155974)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

There's a two-layer paddock right? Because you can certainly get in to the area with the hospitality units and see drivers coming out of the garages/trucks. There's even a bar in there.

Yeah, from past experience that part is (or at least used to be) open to GA tickets until Friday evening.

Mike E · 14 May 2023, 15:00 (Ref:4155978)

Just checked the long range forecast. Partly cloudy, max 22C, 25% chance of moistness. Very agreeable.

GTfour · 14 May 2023, 15:14 (Ref:4155981)

Hello Tenthers, I was wondering, being in the process of obtaining tickets via the non-official way and not having been to Le Mans for the last three years:
How do you get your tickets? I reccon no langer by snailmail...

**Aysedasi** · 14 May 2023, 16:48 (Ref:4155989)

I bought mine direct from the ACO in the two parts, entry and grandstand and then a month or so later the parking. In each case the tickets were delivered about a week later. I elected to have paper rather than electronic tickets although I do have a couple of additional electronic tickets.

It's fairly late to be trying to source tickets?

GT6 · 14 May 2023, 18:19 (Ref:4155994)

Yep these days it is direct from the ACO

Simmi · 14 May 2023, 19:02 (Ref:4155996)

With agencies no longer able to guarantee stuff I think ACO membership - buy direct is the way many (myself included are going). That said after last year ACO membership will be going through the roof I imagine.

It will be interesting to see to what extent this surge is just based around the 100th edition. I think it's far more than that and I'd expect next year to be a sell-out too.

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