For me, no magic has been lost at all.  It's still incredibly good value when you go for the full week.  And the races themselves have been vastly better over the last 2 years (and that's what I go for).  But the ticketing experience is becoming a lottery, even for those who have supported the ACO through thick and thin for many years.  That's what saddens me.  

You're right of course Geoff.  I suppose I can be grateful for the fact that I don't camp.  I have my accommodation sorted, car parking sorted too.  Trouble is that health issues now make it imperative for me to have a grandstand seat and the facilities on offer in T17/T18 make it a no brainer.  Booking for 2023 was fine, for 2024 not quite as good but I did OK, but this time, really bad.  As I said, if the playing field was completely even I'd take it with a pinch of salt, but hearing of people (in various parts of Europe) having secured their tickets long before the online ticket office was supposed to open - that simply isn't right.  

Not for me - compared to last year it was a complete disaster.    Was in and waiting long before 10 am CET and of course then got bounced out and was made to wait the best part of an hour to get back in again.  By that time there was next to nothing left in T17/T18.  I ended up with 2 tickets together in T17, 2 tickets together in T18 and a single 'orphan' ticket in T18.  A lot of use when there will be three of us.   Complete shambles with tales of people getting in to the online ticketing and buying tickets long before the 10 am start.  Like pretzel, I'm beginning to wonder why I am bothering to maintain my 27 year membership of the ACO.  This year it has got me absolutely nowhere. 

I had a call last year as well. 

Thankfully the ACO have largely had this under control for the last 2 years.  But in 2022 it was a nightmare.  I was in the front row and couldn't see anything at the start or the finish. 

This was my 37th Le Mans.  Every year since 1986 except 2020 and 2021.  I'm one of those who doesn't camp - in fact, I've never camped and I suppose that being the case I don't miss it and certainly don't want to do it at 67 years of age and in the weather we experienced at LM this year.  I had a great time, primarily because for quite a while it didn't look as though I would make it.  I've had some serious health issues over the last two and a half months and if dates for meetings and procedures had fallen differently, I simply wouldn't have got there.  In the end I had to adjust my plans, travel over with my son and his partner.  It was a shorter trip but nonetheless an enjoyable one.  It also made me realise just how crucial it was (for me) to have seats in the right grandstand (T17) with the available facilities.  Will I be there in 2025? - health permitting, you betcha!  

PS  Werner, Arnage camping was cropping up on the ACO resale site fairly regularly even in the few weeks before the event.  I bought Mulsanne camping for a friend when I bought my own tickets way back last year. 

The one thing I really noticed was that it was much cooler this year - all week. 

In Expo and Mulsanne/Arnage car parks too. 

I had a great time with my son, his partner and a friend of many years in our group.  Tickets were bought direct from the ACO (both I and my son's partner are members).  We don't camp and have stayed in the same location now for 15 years.  It was particularly good because due to some health issues, I was very close to not making it and had to cancel my plans to drive over as the solo advance party, so we went in my son's Shogun instead, which caused some last minute hiccups with the ferry booking!  I didn't find it any busier than last year but then again we had GS seats in Durand with it's associated facilities.  The toilets alone were worth the price of my membership this year.  All being well ((((fingers crossed) we'll be back again next June. 

Loads have been available on the resale site and a surprising number looking for new homes on Pistonheads. 

Download and install the Telegram app which is available for iOS, Android or from the Microsoft Store for your pc.  Once installed and run, add in this link:-  

t.me/lemans_resale_advisor

You will then not only be notified of every ticket that goes up on the resale site, but you will be given a direct link to the purchase page.  You still need to be quick though, many tickets are gone inside a minute or two.  

Use the Telegram app for notifications of all tickets coming up for resale.  You may yet get lucky.  There have certainly been a few Arnage campsite tickets over the last few weeks.  You just have to use the app and be quick when they come up. 

You can also show your membership card via the app (which is pretty much the only use that the app has). 

Yep.  Just go to one of the member points (outside the rear of T17/T18 and if they still do it there, down at the Espace Club at the Dunlop Bridge), show your membership card and you should receive your wristband.  That's how it's been for a number of years, anyway. It's normally the first thing I do when I get to the circuit. 

Yep, there have been a lot of tickets up.  Each day I wake up to about 60 notifications overnight on the Telegram app.