Test weekend - who's going?

[smokie]

I am...ferry and hotels booked... 

[Fran]

Blimey Smokie - you are a bit keen!  Giving the Mrs a treat again this year?! 

[smokie]

I promised her one holiday together this year...and this is it

[Snoring Rhino]

I never put you down for the Romantic type Smokie - a Special Valentines present was it.

[keithk]

I'll be there is anyone camping or has any idea which camp site is open and for how long? I plan to stay out there as last year and don't want to have to move camp sites twice as I have MB tickets for the race??

[knetter]

Usually it is not MB that is open for the test weekend, last year I think it was Beausejour! But I don't think they'll let you stay for 2 weeks in between.

[knetter]

I am...ferry and hotels booked... 

What weekend, the one at Paul Ricard or the one at Le Mans itself! I think Paddy is going to Paul Ricard last weekend of March

[keithk]

Usually it is not MB that is open for the test weekend, last year I think it was Beausejour! But I don't think they'll let you stay for 2 weeks in between.

When does it open and close? I have tickets for MB from the Monday before the race so it would be 7 days I emailed the ACO and will call them tomorrow re the camping passes for pre Qual.... If not I'll stay on a local site and then move to MB on the Monday

[knetter]

MB is open the monday before the race, you can get on the site on saterday/sunday if you are lucky. Remember they will cash in some extra money for monday and tuesday. But knowing the French, they will kick you out of the site after the test weekend and tell you to come back 7 days later. Bonjour!!

I would go for a local site from the start!

[keithk]

MB is open the monday before the race, you can get on the site on saterday/sunday if you are lucky. Remember they will cash in some extra money for monday and tuesday. But knowing the French, they will kick you out of the site after the test weekend and tell you to come back 7 days later. Bonjour!!

I would go for a local site from the start!

Yep that’s what I think. I was just trying to find out if anybody knows what the deal is with the test weekend camping.

I may not be making myself clear,  the question is about the test weekend NOT race week, as I explained in my first post I have MB tickets for the race week. I will be camping in Le Mans for the test or Pre Qual weekend 3rd -4th of June and was asking if anybody knows:-

a. How to get camping passes and emailing the ACO didn’t help so I will call them today.
b. When the campsite opens?
c. When the campsite closes?
d. Did they shift people off during the week before the main campsites open?

I just don’t want to have to set up camp three times I going to have to do it twice and that will cut down on drinking time!

[jpchenet]

Camping passes for the test weekend are available from the Rotunda. About €20 seems to ring a bell but that was two years ago and was when the test weekend was still in April.

That year they used P16, which is by Chapelle inside the track. Goodness knows if that's even still there after the rebuild of the village.

Smokie and Fran both went last year so they may be able to shed some light on where they saw was being used for camping.

[keithk]

The ACO have just emailed me to say its "blue P16" but cannot tell me when they open or close!

[jpchenet]

I can't remember if we arrived on the Friday ro the Saturday. I know we left on the Monday.

[Kpy]

I just don’t want to have to set up camp three times I going to have to do it twice and that will cut down on drinking time!

I live only 200 miles from Le Mans, so I don't normally stop over for the test w/e. I did stay a few years ago, when it was still round about 1st May. I rented a small house, as it was as almost as cheap as camping. I posted here and found a couple of guys who shared the house and the rent. That way it was cheaper than camping, and I made some new friends - Hi Baz!
Maison Blanche campsite will certainly be closed until race week - Smokie had to "break in" to get set up on the Sunday before the race last year - and you know it won't be open for test w/e.
I do know of a private campsite with restaurant and bar near the circuit, which will be open throughout the period. PM me if you want details.

[Gilles]

I just know where Smokie slept last year for PQ, and it wasn't in a campsite