Grandstands

[aricus654]

Hi!

The last few years I've had seats in Dunlop. I know that seats aren't everybody's thing.

I might have to try a different view.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Aricus

[Canada Phil]

Hi Ian,
         If you want a seat I suggest pick one of the stands along pit lane, Drivers Left gives a view of the pits and all the "action" for the build up to the start. dry in the event of rain.
Giant TV lets you keep up with what is going on out on the course.
Do wear ear protectors as the French commentator yelling at the top of his voice and the shite acoustics of a concrete stand is hard on the ears and interrupts Hindy and crew.
Standing on the terraces in front with the great unwashed is a different experience perhaps best avoided with young and impressionable boy.    At least until the crowd thins out.
If you are lucky,  later with no other cars around ,you will catch the two Corvettes nose to tail thundering up the canyon.
Phil

[jimclark]

"Does anyone have any recommendations?"

Unplant yerself and experience the place.  


"you will catch the two Corvettes nose to tail thundering up the canyon."

'Would rather have weathered this storm ('not a 'vette fan and 7 litres of noise...nay, music...rather than 5.5)...  

http://www.bestcarinf.com/manufacturers/ford/ford-gt40/ford-gt40-le-mans-1966/ford-gt40-le-mans-1966-10.jpg

[landman]

Hi!

The last few years I've had seats in Dunlop. I know that seats aren't everybody's thing.

I might have to try a different view.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Aricus

If you want a totally different experience try T34.

Seats there enable you to look directly down over pit lane once the crowds start to thin out a couple of hours in to the race.

When I looked on the ACO's website there weren't that many remaining so you might have to look at the agencies.

Paul.

[championaudi]

I would have recommended T34 as Ok you cannot see into the garages but to look down onto pit stops & the paddock was ideal ,especially for end of race 'parc ferme' pics , all the 'common pleb' seats sold out on ACO general public 1st day of sale !!!

agencies might still have some , I have had to move to T23 which seems like a good place to watch 'chips boys' trail slowly in..........

[Canada Phil]

Hi!
The last few years I've had seats in Dunlop. I know that seats aren't everybody's thing.
I might have to try a different view.
Does anyone have any recommendations?
Aricus

If you want a totally different experience try T34.
Seats there enable you to look directly down over pit lane once the crowds start to thin out a couple of hours in to the race.
When I looked on the ACO's website there weren't that many remaining so you might have to look at the agencies.
Paul.

Hi Paul,
          Of all the stands T34 would be my last choice.Having had the opportunity to sit in the T34
( above the pits) I found it totally useless for following the race and other than the front row you can not see the pit stalls anyway. Many must disagree with my opinion as there are people up there.
Phil

[Barry]

2 things to remember about T34:

A head for heights is a help.
If it's very hot and sunny you fry, no shade midday/ afternoon.

[PAFC OK]

We use T4 and have always enjoyed it there, not too different to Dunlop though so not much help 

As has been said, getting out around the circuit is always best, and, like us, I'm sure you do, but its nice to have a guaranteed seat in out of the weather, whatever it is, and somewhere you don't have to fight the crowds.

I cant see too much wrong with Dunlop tbh but a change might be nice.

[Kristof]

Over the years, I've had tickets for several grandstands.

T23 (Maison Blanche) : sat there for years, which for me still is one of the best grandstands to sit and take pictures as you're able to shoot over the fence and the sight at night when the cars are going on to the main straight is still one of the best at LM.
T20 (Leonard) : was there last year, good view on start/finish, Ford chicanes and podium. Sucked for pictures (as do most of the grandstands on the start/finish)
T34 (Stands) : been there for a few years, for me a great view over start/finish straight (you just miss the pitstops), podium and good to shoot from. When the crowd thins out, you're right above the action in the pits on the front row.
T05 (Dunlop) : no comment needed I guess
T04 (Panorama) : good view, but sucks for photography as the fence is too high.  Dunlop is way better 'cause you can shoot over the fence
T14 (Barnato) : good view on start/finish, exit pitlane and onto Dunlop chicane but sucks for photography

Always booked grandstand tickets so we wouldn't be in the rush to get a good spot at the start of the race, and get a place to be out of the sun/rain. Also at the evening, when the night starts to set you'll get into almost all grandstands if you have a ticket.  Spent many nights in Dunlop grandstand or stands opposite the pits.

Don't panic if there are no tickets available anymore at the ACO site. Last year tickets for T34 were still sold at the shop in the museum on Wednesday and Thursday (and probably for other grandstands too).

[lynxd67]

Don't forget that the ACO is building four new stands this year after the Porsche Curves.

[mgmark]

If grandstand seats are your thing, then pick the flavour you think you'll like from the map and comments below, and is available - on the rare times (twice) that I have bought a stand seat, I have always felt drawn more to it because I'd paid for it to the detriment of seeing the race from different locations and angles as much I would normally do and like. However, potentially very useful if you have a young lad in tow to allow for recuperation.

As an earlier post recommends though, do think about unplanting yourself and wandering - experience the terraces and, of course, you can access pretty much all of the grandstands for free wherever there are spare seats during the qualifying sessions (most of them have plenty, although Dunlop tends to be pretty packed most of the time).  That way you can then enjoy the views during qualifying, see which work best for you, and better inform next year's choice.

MG Mark